Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mark on March 11, 2014 at 3:41pm

Many of us that build are non smokers.  You have two options for getting cigar boxes..  1.  Call all of your local cigar/smoke shops.  Many of them cell the leftover boxes for a couple bucks (make sure to read here on the nation which types of boxes are recommended.  2.  Your second option is to get a box off of ebay (more expensive).  Or go to Cigarboxdeals.com (see the link to the right of this post.  For a bass you are probably going to want a relatively larger box, and you will definitely want to amplify it.  You can build it completely on your own, or I would recommend either the book titled "Cigar Box Guitars" or "Handmade music factory."

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on March 11, 2014 at 3:43pm

I don't smoke either, live in a country where alcohol and tobacco are "prohibited" yet available, and I manage to get boxes. If you have friends who smoke cigars, ask if they have any boxes for donation. Go to your local cigar shop, if there is one, and ask if they have any big empty boxes for sale / free. Tell em what you want it for. Go to local flea markets, pawn shops, swap meets, etc. Put the word out. Network. Some liquor stores also sell cigars, do the same there. If there is a decent liquor store nearby, they probably also have wooden wine crates; ask for one of those, as they are far larger, and thus more suitable to bass. Join the Bass Group here, and start cruising through their discussions. Heck, there's even video of a bass made from a 5 gallon plastic water jug! Get creative in your thinking.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Darren Wolbold on March 11, 2014 at 8:13pm

You can use any type of box really, I have seen a wine box used for a bass and it seamed to work

I bass might be better with a bigger box so keep you eyes open for random boxes that can be transformed into a guitar

Also you can make your own box

My Blog

http://darrenscigarboxguitars.blogspot.co.uk/

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Groucho on March 12, 2014 at 6:25am

I've got a wine case that I'm planing on making a bass out of. 

A buddy of mine just finished making a sweet guitar out of an old silverware box.  I have found a cigar shop near me that gives away their empty boxes for free.  And most of the the other tobacco shops sell their empties for about $2 a pop.  I've also got a candy tin I plan to use someday. 

Keep your eyes out for anything that looks like it might make a good resonator/cool guitar.  It doesn't always need to be a cigar box.  Good luck!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by David on March 12, 2014 at 6:33am

Thanks everyone for the respones. I didn't realize there was so many different options. I'm leading towards building a box because my local cigar/liquor store has had some incidents recently. What would be some good dimensions for a box?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on March 12, 2014 at 6:46am

Bass boxes are proportionally bigger. 20" x 13" x 4" would be one good size for a wine box bass.

You can get boxes online from here: https://www.facebook.com/winecrates

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by the anonymous pick on March 12, 2014 at 7:37am

wine  boxes  ,   drawers  ,  tea  boxes ,  shoeshine boxes ,  crates  , homemade  boxes, speaker boxes ,  solid wood  ,  tin   cookie    boxes  , barrels ,   washtubs,   plastic  office   water bottles  / jugs. 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by TN Twang on March 12, 2014 at 8:42am

good list.

You know, I've got a shoeshine box that I hardly use...

TN

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by the anonymous pick on March 12, 2014 at 11:13am

yup  .. and   with a mag  pickup  ,,  the  wood  thickness wouldnt really  matter  as  per resonation  .

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by TN Twang on March 12, 2014 at 8:39am

I've seen a couple of basses made from silverware boxes--one an "upright" bass, one a bass guitar. You can buy 'em at "antique mall" places or just steal them from your wife.

Haven't tried it myself. Looks like you might have to thin out the box lid to get a decent soundboard.

TN

P.S. I own an acoustic bass guitar (Epiphone El Capitan). It's a BIG sucker. You need a big sound box to get an acoustic bass tone.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Chuck Dubman on March 12, 2014 at 12:49pm

Metal bowls, Goodwill.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by TN Twang on March 12, 2014 at 2:52pm

Yeah, I've got to realize that good solid metal works well to direct the sound out the front. Also, I need to see if Goodwill has some semi-busted furniture that could be re-sawn for necks or box sides. Guess I'll give 'em a visit in the AM. (They're a good group and deserve our support.)

TN

• ▶ Reply

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• Next ›
• Page