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Permalink Reply by Steven Miller on July 15, 2009 at 3:14pm

Welcome to the crazy world of Cigar Box music.
Try: Your local cigar store they often have boxes available and are usually willing to give or sell them reasonably. Try: eBay for specialty boxes, but know what you want in size and material before shopping.
What made of: For acoustic instruments, solid wood boxes with relatively thin sides and top sound best. Plywood is OK, cardboard is no good. If it will be resonator or electrified, any material will do. Some makers like to experiment with various metal boxes and cookie tins. You can also make the box out of almost anything, but then it would be something other than a cigar box guitar.
Please visit my web site www.CarolinaFiddle.com, I have photos of lots of instruments I have made, and also some pdf files on how to make cigar box instruments, which may be helpful.
Best Regards, Steven

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Permalink Reply by BT Cohosh on July 22, 2009 at 9:22am

Welcome!

If you have trouble finding a "real" cigar box, try looking at a craft store. I don't know if the cigar box purse craze has hit the UK, but here in the US you can get unfinished "cigar" boxes with dovetailed corners and thin tops for under $5 at some craft shops. That's what I ended up making my first instrument out of, and it worked great.

If the bare wood is too boring for you, you can dress it up with good UK beer labels varnished on.

Heck, now that I mention it, I'd kinda like to try that....

Have fun!

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