Hi everyone, my name is tim.

I have been playing guitar on and off ( mostly off tune) since i was about 13 when my step father found a handmade guitar under someones house when he was installing telephones back in 1973.

 I have seen Cigar Box Guitars around over the years and always wanted to have a go with one. So i figure now is the time to start and after reading through the forums here and a intensive 3 week google self education binge it time!

I am going to start with some plans and ideas for the build. So here goes. Some/most of these ideas i have borrowed from this site so if i ever forget to mention who's idea i am pinching please forgive me.

I have 1.2M 40mmx18mm Tasmanian oak for the neck. i also have a 1.2M 40mmx8mm piece for fret boards.

I am going to use Wayfinders split pin fret method . I have some found booker rod cutoff i can use for the bridge and i will use a 5 or 6mm bolt for the nut. I am going to use a 600mm scale length 3 string instrument.

this is the box i have

this is a PDF of the headstock design

Headstock%20plan%20CBG%20first%20build.pdf

any ideas or better ways to do things Please feel free to let me know i am a very open and helpful person. Looking forward to payback all the knowledge i have gained from this wonderful site.

Views: 192

Comment

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

Join Cigar Box Nation

Comment by Jonno on September 3, 2016 at 12:57pm
Pps. Personally I prefer method of just placing straight edge below bottom edge of marked line. With the other way of positioning square half pin width below marked line you must ensure marks are whisper thin. Otherwise line thickness will throw things out. My advice also is to do nothing to prep your box till you have fretboard done. Once fretboard is done you will know exactly where to positiion it in your neck to achieve wherw you want bridge to be. You dont wanna find you got a neck and fretboard done but the bridge is beyond or too close to rear of box. So 1.Do fretboard. 2. Place it on lenght of wood you have for neck and then ascertain where bridge will then be my moving fretboard up or doen neck piece. I would suggest a bridge around 40mm from box end. The further the bridge from box end the more banjoey the sound. So you can then mark position on neck to glue fretboard. And then prep box. You dont wann cut a sound hole in box only to find your bridge is right on top of it. Im a noob too. But I have learned from the mistakes of preppin box with holes etc before establishing bridge placement.
Comment by Jonno on September 3, 2016 at 12:38pm
P.s. Wayfinder recommends putting a small drop of glue or epoxy on either side of oin once you have them glued in place. One downside of gluing frets on is glue stains. A very fine steel wool (Bunnings paint section) works good. Dont use nail polish remover or acetone for glue stains as it might dislodge your frets. After you are all done you can use acetone to get any glue off your square or rule ( you will need to use a thinner straight edge for your last few frets as a metal square might be too wide) Hope you find this helpful. I did a few bung glues trying to judge placement by eye and no straight edge. Chees. Jonno
Comment by Jonno on September 3, 2016 at 12:28pm
I used super glue Timothy and the best method I found was as follows. Mark out your fret positions. Doesnt matter what with but what is important is that you dont mark across the entire width of fretboard. Only place your fretline in the middle. Otherwise when you lay pins down and you have few mm of fretboarf showing either side of pin you will see scribed or pen marks where u marked frets. Establish width of pins and halve it. E.g if pin is 3mm wide then take 1.5mm. Starting from fret 1 (Don't start at last fret at box end.) Lay a metal straight edge 1.5mm below your fretline. Run a bead of glue along fret line that is width of your pin. Lay pin on glue and pull it snug against your straight edge. Place thumb on pin. Wait a few secs and then gently remove straight edge. Wipe any excess glue off straight edge and along fret being carefull not to dislodge it. Fret centre will now be positioned directly over your marked fret line. Repeat till done all frets working downwards towards box. Make sure to wipe any glue off straight edge before doing each fret. Now this is important. I think you will find this method works good and you will become like a well oiled machine doing it. Trying to place pins on without a straight edge will leave som pin centres not directly over fret lines and some not straight. A refinement of this method is not to worry bout placing square half pin thickness beloe fret line. Just place square along bottom edge of marked fret line and run glue bead aling line and use same technique to position. The important thing with this refinement is that in calculating scale lenghth and bridge position the width of your fret line multiplied by the number of frets will mean your bridge position will be an inch or so foreward.

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 Apr 10. 14 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

Latest Activity

A.D.EKER commented on AGP #'s photo
Thumbnail

AGP #530 - ''Pink Floyd''

"Colorfull Build  AGP # the last colorfull song they will  ever build ,the feud is going…"
20 minutes ago
A.D.EKER commented on Poorness Studios's video
Thumbnail

Jose Cuervo | Shelly West cover on 4-string CBG

"its good to hear you are part of the "Old Content" did not get any of this ,but you…"
33 minutes ago
A.D.EKER commented on A.D.EKER's video
Thumbnail

There i was Standing at the ..... BCB - A. D. Eker 2024

"Good morning UJ ,How are you ? hope you are fine! i did say "CrossRoads",Blues Rock its a…"
44 minutes ago
Uncle John commented on J. D. Woods's photo
5 hours ago
Uncle John commented on J. D. Woods's photo
Thumbnail

Current Instrument Line-Up

"Nice line up.  Unusual pick guard on the big git that looks like a Martin.  What is that…"
6 hours ago
Uncle John commented on Ghostbuttons's photo
Thumbnail

Four projects

"Nice, nice trio."
6 hours ago
Uncle John commented on Crazed Fandango's photo
Thumbnail

Frethound 4 String

"Looks great.  That looks like one I could really like playing.  Four strings too. …"
6 hours ago
Uncle John commented on David Hopkins's photo
Thumbnail

Anti-Body Guitars 18,19 and 20

"Great theme, workmanship and guitars!"
6 hours ago
Uncle John commented on David Hopkins's photo
Thumbnail

Angel 2x Anti-Body #17

"Very, very nice.  I hope it got to a good home and that it will be enjoyed.."
6 hours ago
Uncle John commented on Darryl Tuttle's photo
Thumbnail

Old portable heater

"Yup.  Good eye deer.  Maybe find a use for that fan too.  If not on this amp,…"
6 hours ago
Uncle John commented on Doug Thorsvik's video
6 hours ago
Uncle John commented on Dar Stellabotta's video
Thumbnail

Cigar Box Guitar 106 now for sale 🙌

"Looks and sounds good. Built under the solar eclipse!"
6 hours ago

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 -->