How to Build A Cigar Box Violin/fiddle (or at least one way to do it)

So for a while now I wanted to branch out a little for CBGs and build me a violin. Well the time finally came and it was hard for me to find videos, forums, or anything on the building process (Yes even on this site it was hard) So I decided that if I was going to do a build I better makes some videos and a blog post or something about it. So that is what I did. The videos are not as "polished" as I like but I kept have technical difficulties with my cameras and mics and stuff, but I think in the end there is still a lot of good information for anyone wanting to take on a fiddle build.

Here is video 1 "How to build a Cigar Box Violin"
https://youtu.be/MEUKO9sUf5I

Video 2 "Sound Check"
https://youtu.be/5Ho-XjHqCB4

My Blog post on my website that has good pictures and explanations of the process and also some plans in pfd that, you can print out ;)
http://www.hiltsbilt.com/2017/10/26/build-cigar-box-violin/

Well, I hope you guys like the information, thank you all for all the good stuff that is already on this site:)

I had to make a fix

So I have noticed that over the last 2 weeks of playing that the top of the fiddle was starting to bow in and the back was bowing out. There was just not enough support with the 3mm top and bottom. So I had to add some bracing. on the bottom plate, I added a peace on 1/8th mahogany that spans all the way across, that way it would take out the bow that the wood was starting to "remember". On the top plate, I added a small piece of 1/8 mahogany to prevent the sound post from ever punching through and to help support the bridge. So far so good, it seems to have done the trick. Guess that's why flat top acoustic guitars have all that bracing since there is not a curve top to spread out the weight.

Replies

Justin Hilts November 6, 2017 at 11:05am

I had to make a fix

Update!

So I have noticed that over the last 2 weeks of playing that the top of the fiddle was starting to bow in and the back was bowing out. There was just not enough support with the 3mm top and bottom. So I had to add some bracing. on the bottom plate, I added a peace on 1/8th mahogany that spans all the way across, that way it would take out the bow that the wood was starting to "remember". On the top plate, I added a small piece of 1/8 mahogany to prevent the sound post from ever punching through and to help support the bridge. So far so good, it seems to have done the trick. Guess that's why flat top acoustic guitars have all that bracing since there is not a curve top to spread out the weight.
Michael Fred Johnson November 5, 2017 at 7:49am

Like the idea of the sound holes/cut outs to allow bowing.Just been repairing an old violin now I know what to do with the old nut/fingerboard etc.Great build.
- Justin Hilts > Michael Fred Johnson November 6, 2017 at 11:04am
  
  Thank you, I want to find an old beat up violin to fix up, I think that would be fun. Then I also want to build a more traditional violin with an archtop but just not with the "classic shape" lol.
RTZGUITARS November 1, 2017 at 5:04am

good thing this is a how to cus i'm using the sound hole waist idea
- Justin Hilts > RTZGUITARS November 1, 2017 at 1:35pm
  
  Ya, I like it. saw a picture somewhere of someone who did that
Jim Morris October 31, 2017 at 7:35pm

Good job! Thanks for sharing.
- Justin Hilts > Jim Morris November 1, 2017 at 1:35pm
  
  Thank you, no porblem
Gary Stenzel October 31, 2017 at 7:20pm

I like your website! I really like the "tipping" effect when you mouseover the images.
- Justin Hilts > Gary Stenzel October 31, 2017 at 7:29pm
  
  Thank you
Gary Stenzel October 31, 2017 at 6:37pm

That's inspirational! (For me.) Been wanting to build a fiddle for a while. Very nice!

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Update!