I have a cigar box that "appeared" to be solid wood. The top looks like a glossy natural oak. When I drilled the sound holes, it looks like the oak is only a thin veneer and the rest is mdf. The holes are beautiful but I am concerned with how it is going to sound. What are your thoughts?

Views: 1618

Comment

You need to be a member of Cigar Box Nation to add comments!

Join Cigar Box Nation

Comment by Scott McGilliard on June 8, 2016 at 8:28am

I built a guitar from a corrugated cardboard shipping box and it sounded really good.  I also built one from a kitty litter box (the box the litter comes in) and reinforced the inside with regular plywood and it sounds good too.

Comment by Joe Caruso on April 4, 2016 at 5:49am

Rusty - happy the verdict was a great sounding box! I started building my own boxes for fun out of scraps - and I do have some poplar veneer and thin mdf lying around - will have to give it a shot - would have never thought of it without your story. Thanks! 

Comment by Mark Lindsay on March 29, 2016 at 10:33am

You're very welcome. I got caught up in the wood vs pressboard vs MDF debate too, but then started paying attention to what people were actually building and, more importantly, actually playing. I just didn't hear a ton of difference between them. A cigar box guitar is supposed to sound unique - if we wanted to create something that rivaled a store bought 6-string, we would be building them and not bothering with the cigar box in the first place. At the end of the day, it's still just a stick in a box - don't overthink it.

Comment by Rusty Summer on March 28, 2016 at 11:10am

That was helpful Mark. Thanks.

Comment by Mark Lindsay on March 28, 2016 at 9:00am

I posted a video on this very topic about a year ago. For future reference, here you go...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9mKqGZMvg0

Comment by Rusty Summer on March 28, 2016 at 7:03am

BusyHands Slim, it actually worked out really well. It has quite a warm tone to it. I still don't like the mdf for long term durability reasons but it turned out beautifully in this case. 

Comment by Busyhands Slim on March 28, 2016 at 6:28am
My guess is that it will sound about like all the "solid wood" boxes, which are actually plywood. The acoustics of any box this size are going to be pretty poor compared to a real guitar body, but that's what cigar box guitars sound like, so that's what we get. Let us know how it works out.
Comment by Fomhorach on March 25, 2016 at 2:53pm

Yes. The head of the guitar reflects the maker. And yes, instruments are works of artists. 

I like it.

Comment by Rusty Summer on March 25, 2016 at 10:22am

Nope, it is actually kind of a trademark of my guitars. I drill a recessed hole in the headstock so they can be hung up as a piece of art.  It is also where I attach a guitar strap. I have designed a frame (haven't built one yet) that allows you to display your gitty like the art that it is. It uses one of the pegboard hangers you find in the grocery store. 

Comment by Fomhorach on March 25, 2016 at 9:27am

Is that a coin embedded in the head?

The Essential Pages

New to Cigar Box Nation? How to Play Cigar Box GuitarsFree Plans & How to Build Cigar Box GuitarsCigar Box Guitar Building Basics

Site Sponsor

Recommended Links & Resources


Forum

crossover guitar.

Started by Timothy Hunter in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 21. 11 Replies

Tune up songs

Started by Ghostbuttons in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 9. 5 Replies

Duel output jacks

Started by Justin Stanchfield in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 8. 6 Replies

How to Get Your Own Music on Spotify

Started by Cigar Box Nation in Feature Articles. Last reply by Southern Ray Feb 21. 2 Replies

CB Bass Guitar

Started by Mi Rankin in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Justin Stanchfield Jan 27. 5 Replies

Latest Activity

A.D.EKER commented on A.D.EKER's video
Thumbnail

Im Troubled (Tribute) Mc K Morganfield by BCB - A.D .Eker 2024.

"Thank you Poorness ! for loving it ! appreciated!"
10 hours ago
Southern Ray replied to Timothy Hunter's discussion just came accross this pickup idea on youtube.
" Very interesting. Thank you Timothy!"
10 hours ago
Kent Thurston updated their profile
11 hours ago
Southern Ray posted a photo

Punch Project!

She now sports gold metal CBGitty knobs, speaker and an Artec 2.5 watt speaker. Finished this in…
12 hours ago
Southern Ray posted a photo

Project Punch!

Gonna finally get back on this long-delayed project that is more than half complete. (The matching…
12 hours ago
Poorness Studios liked A.D.EKER's video
14 hours ago
BrianQ. left a comment for Rob (Uker) Porras
"Hope this helps?"
14 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on Doug Thorsvik's photo
Thumbnail

Dueling Flatheads

"I appreciate the kind words Papa D! I have always loved the look of these cigar boxes. Glad to have…"
17 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on A.D.EKER's video
20 hours ago
A.D.EKER posted a video

Im Troubled (Tribute) Mc K Morganfield by BCB - A.D .Eker 2024.

The recorded History By Alan Lomax for the library of Congres of the Blues, from Mc Kinley Morganfield (Aka Muddy Waters) the in this take recorded Tribute ...
20 hours ago
Papa D commented on Doug Thorsvik's photo
Thumbnail

Dueling Flatheads

"Beautiful..Nice work Doug.."
yesterday
Papa D commented on Papa D's photo
Thumbnail

american1 Sun Glo

"Thanx AGP & Doug..  4 more coming soon"
yesterday

Music

© 2024   Created by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

\uastyle>\ud/** Scrollup **/\ud.scrollup {\ud background: url("https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/963882636?profile=original") no-repeat scroll 0 0 transparent;\ud bottom: 25px;\ud display: inline !important;\ud height: 40px;\ud opacity: 0.3 !important;\ud position: fixed;\ud right: 30px;\ud text-indent: -9999px;\ud width: 40px;\ud z-index: 999;\ud}\ud.scrollup:hover {\ud opacity:0.99!important;\ud}\ud \uascript type="text/javascript">\ud x$(document).ready(function(){\ud x$(window).scroll(function(){\ud if (x$(this).scrollTop() > 100) {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeIn();\ud } else {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeOut();\ud }\ud });\ud x$('.scrollup').click(function(){\ud x$("html, body").animate({ scrollTop: 0 }, 600);\ud return false;\ud });\ud });\ud \ua!-- End Scroll Up -->