#1 resource for Cigar Box Guitars, Free Plans, How-To, Parts & More!

EASY TO BUILD CIGAR BOX GUITAR: AN UNCLE CROW STYLE CBG IN ONE HOUR!!

Today we're going to have a step-by-step cigar box guitar building class! The total time to build is about one hour, not including the introduction video, or video 8, where we're just playing the guitar.

Build a three string, slide cigar box guitar with the following items:

Materials

wooden cigar box - $3
1x2 - $1
three eye bolts, 3/16" x 3" , 24 thread - $1.50
six #8 washers - $.98
three wing nuts, 3/16", 24 thread - $.98
three 6/32 machine screws with matching nuts - $.98
machine bolt, 1/4" x 2" long - $.98
guitar strings, one pack - $5
three wood screws - 1 1/2" long - $.98

These items are really much cheaper than i list here. most of them are bought in bulk, so for just a little more money you could build a LOT of guitars. The prices listed above are the average hardware store price, if you were to buy the item in small numbers in individual bags from the pegs in the fasteners section.

Tools

drill
1/2" paddle bit for three sound holes (you could use 1/4 bit with six holes)
regular smaller drill bits
phillips bit
hand saw (box saw is best)
sand paper

Additional items

guitar picks can be bought at most box stores
slides can be bought at home depot. go to the cabinet section, and ask for a 2" long 3/4" steel spacer. they cost $1.50, and are the best slides i've ever used!!

WORKSPACE, SUPPLIES AND TOOLS

NECK

NECK, EYE BOLT TUNER INSTALLATION AND BODY BLOCK

MOUNTING THE NECK AND SOUND HOLES

FRET CALCULATION AND FRET MARKERS

Fret Markings: THANKS TO DAZEDLEMONPIE, the following fret measurements have been transcribed for us, and i've copied and pasted them here.

"i just written down all the fret measurement from part 5 of the video, I thought I would share it with those interested in building one.

The following are based on scale length of 59cm

59cm multiply .9439 (or any other scale length) equals your first fret location. It should be marked as follows:

55.6cm
52.5cm
49.6cm 0
46.8cm
44.2cm 0
41.7cm
39.3cm 0
37.1cm
35cm
33.1cm 0 (G chord)
31.2cm
29.5cm 00
27.8cm
26.2cm
24.8cm
23.4cm
22.1cm
20.8cm
19.6cm"

STRINGING IT UP, STRINGS AND EYE BOLT TUNERS

TUNE IT UP AN PLAY!

PLAYING THE CIGAR BOX GUITAR : COLLECTIVE SOUL - "SHINE"

43 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Crow on May 18, 2010 at 4:04am

hey guys, someone requested that i set these videos in order, in a blog entry, to make it easier for them to be viewed.

hope you have as much fun watching them as it was to make them!!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Brady Scott on May 18, 2010 at 8:56am

Nice simple build man. Those pants are pretty awesome too, lol. Thanks for putting this all together.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on May 18, 2010 at 11:30am

Excellent!!! I posted a link on my FB page.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Rev. Nix on May 18, 2010 at 5:01pm

I think im going to build 2 more of these tomorrow. The one i build for that kid played nice.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Crow on May 18, 2010 at 11:59pm

@ rev nix
you've started building your own? let's see them!!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Medicine Man CBG's-Mikel Doktor on March 10, 2012 at 8:45pm

http://www.cigarboxnation.com/photo/albums/old-crow-cigar-box I love this style. I find I play it more than my other CBG's. Great post Crow.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Dave Onastik on May 19, 2010 at 5:27am

Awesome videos crow! I like the simplicity and the results.

When you mentioned handmademusic.com, were you refering to handmademusic.noisepages.com?

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Crow on May 19, 2010 at 6:04am

no, i meant the handmademusicclubhouse.com site, the other NING site hosted by ted crocker. i joined there recently, so i'm trying to address them too.

Dave Onastik said:

Awesome videos crow! I like the simplicity and the results.

When you mentioned handmademusic.com, were you refering to handmademusic.noisepages.com?

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Rev. Nix on May 19, 2010 at 9:28am

http://www.cigarboxnation.com/photo/crow-copy-1?context=user

Crow said:

@ rev nix
you've started building your own? let's see them!!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Rev. Nix on May 19, 2010 at 9:30am

Got 2 more necks cut might slap them on tonight after the show.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by MichaelS Country Boy Guitars on May 19, 2010 at 9:42am

I had thought that the neck thru the box with some space made a better sounding guitar.... until, I was in a music shop and he had 2 dulcimers, one with the neck under the soundboard and one with it on top, like your cbg's. I was impressed with the sound and both were loud and clean as they should be, learn something new all the time. Nice fun quick builds

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ginwheel Johnny on May 1, 2011 at 11:24am

Okay, i m such the typical guy...didnt pay attention to uncle crow's stringing instructions..almost gerrotted myself, but my babygirls cbg got her a good science mark for homemade instruments...thx for postin these crow...my next one will be better...lol