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Cigar Box Guitar #2- Meets the Nation.

Just completed my 2nd build. This one is a Macanudo box built with an Oak neck and Jatoba headstock, fretboard, heel, bridge and tail piece. It's strung up with a set of Gitty's low G's. There is a piezo pickup inlayed into the bridge between the top of the lid and the bottom of the bridge. The action on this one is a little taller than my 1st build (about .040 over the fret wires). I'm thinking this should make it a little easier to slide. (If I only knew how to slide!)

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Permalink Reply by Craig Howard on March 23, 2014 at 10:23am

Congrats..very nice work and it looks great.

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Permalink Reply by Rand Moore on March 23, 2014 at 12:44pm

Hi Dan,

Is that really only your second CBG build? Well, did you buy the neck/headstock? Or, are you an already accomplished wood worker/cabinet maker? It's taken be a couple years and dozens of builds to hone my woodworking skills to the point where my necks/headstocks begin to approach the beauty of this one. Still my headstocks aren't as nice as this.

Of course, having access to a nice wood-shop full of powered tools helps. Most of my instruments are still built on what used to be my computer desk and most my tools are hand tools. However, when I visit the States in the Summer I can usually build several instruments pretty quick with the electric tools at a woodworking club I joined last year. Still, building with a bunch of power tools requires a fair amount of learning and skills building. I expect a few more summers before I can consistently build instruments with power tools as nicely as I can build with hand tools.

Anyways, that looks like one sweet 3-stringer. A great build for your CBG #2.

-Rand.

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Permalink Reply by Dan Mullen on March 23, 2014 at 2:14pm

Thanks guys!

Yep, Randy that's #2 and everything except the box and hardware parts was made from scratch. It's my sawdust therapy! I do cheat a bit on the headstocks, I make them on a cnc router. But in my defense, I built the cnc router from scratch about 10 years ago. Even with the use of the power tools, I have found myself using alot more hand tools on these builds then I do when making furniture. Hand planes, sanding blocks, files, scrapers, hand saws, carving tools and chisels have all been used to make these necks and fret boards.

Dan

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Permalink Reply by Rand Moore on March 24, 2014 at 6:08pm

Ei-yah! CNC machines! Next thing you know they'll be printing them out on 3D printers! That technology is pretty much here today... Anyone doing that on CBN?!

-Rand.