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Building a Cigar Box Guitar 101

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This group is for discussing the basics of CBG building for newer builders - where to start, what to do, common pitfalls, tips and techniques.

Keep in mind that new builders can find other great informative articles on CBG building, as well as most of the parts you'll need, over at C. B. Gitty Crafter Supply!

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Cutting deep boxes in half

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Attention 1st time builders!

Started by BrianQ.. Last reply by MadGomer Feb 27. 2 Replies 4 Likes

Brickhouse CBG Wiring

Started by Ian Boyd. Last reply by Ian Boyd Dec 11, 2023. 1 Reply 0 Likes

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Comment by Simon Cartlidge on May 3, 2016 at 1:54am: Hey guys, need to pick some brains. I've got two builds, virtually identical. The only difference being the one has a slightly smaller box and the piezo is hot glued in whereas the other was superglued. They both sound great acoustically but when I plug them in to the amp, the hot glued one sounds very clear & treble-y. Almost tinny in comparison to the other which has quite a warm sound. Any ideas why I should get two such different sounds from a virtually identical setup?

Comment by Paul Craig on May 2, 2016 at 8:50pm: Might be able to make a bottom piece that locks the top down. That'll give me something to do for the next couple of days.

Comment by Paul Craig on May 2, 2016 at 8:48pm: I have some aluminum flat bar in my shop. I can bend it to the shape of my radius-ed fingerboard and use a heavy rubber band to hold it in place, hopefully.

Comment by tdq on May 2, 2016 at 8:44pm: While not a CBG, I used a sharpie on my Weissenborn before I had a capo for it - it "works" but it does dull the sound considerably. Something sharpie sized, but metallic and smooth would work better.

Comment by Paul Craig on May 2, 2016 at 8:33pm: Sharpie or pencil would be good if I had a flat fingerboard. Guess I'll buy one and try it out.

Comment by Thomas "Duck" Petry on May 2, 2016 at 6:07pm: Same "Sharpie" Wayfinder. It just worked out that it was close enough to the string height that it would act like a sliding nut on the neck and function as a poor mans capo. One of those "gee, I wonder if this would work" moments.

Comment by Brian Revels on May 2, 2016 at 2:10pm: If the string height and intonation is good I don't see why it wouldn't work.

Comment by Thomas "Duck" Petry on May 2, 2016 at 12:54pm: Put a sharpie under the strings on my first fretless build just to see if it would work (yes it did, but I didn't see the need for it). Not building fretted instruments haven't bothered to research the need for a capo.

Comment by Paul Craig on May 2, 2016 at 10:06am: Has anyone used a capo on a CBG with success or has anybody made one for CBG's or other similar instrument?

Comment by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on April 25, 2016 at 7:38am: Thanks Wayfinder. I always prefer to check first. Think I'll go ahead and order one then. Perfect and thanks again.