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Thinking out loud

I'm thinking about my next build: I have a reasonably nice white Macanudo box (maybe these are Shane Speals' favorites?) which I would like to make into a "nicer" box for a friend's birthday.

I scrounged a bunch of old oak screen panels, one of which had a cool oak "pull" on it, which I am thinking of using as the bridge. The piece is about 3/4" high, which seems a bit high for the standard "flush neck" design, so I'm thinking to drop the neck down below the top and add a fingerboard which will run flush with the top. I have a piece of 1/4" poplar I might use for contrast with the red oak neck, or I may just use 1/4" red oak instead.

'm thinking of using a cool looking trefoil-like hinge as a tailpiece. In the picture, I am mocking up having the through-neck terminate at the bottom of the box, but I don't know how that will work out. I'm also not sure that I have enough room on top in that configuration for the tailpiece and the bridge in my originally-intended location.

I'd really like to do something nicer for the nut than the classic machine bolt, but don't have anything in mind. I'm also painfully aware of the conflict between a nut which is low enough for fretting and using a simple "filed down" headstock: I may need to get into more complicated joinery than I really have skills for to solve that problem. Hope this kind of before-the-fact maundering is useful to others who may be thinking some of the same things!

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Comment by Tres Seaver on February 10, 2010 at 9:05am: I finished the build with a different bridge, and have left the screen pull aside for further thought.

Comment by David Canizaro on February 10, 2010 at 8:30am: I see this is an old post, but I have some thoughts. First off, that looks like a cool design! I found a bunch of wood drawer pulls (very similar to the one you have there) that I was also thinking about using as a bridge. I ran into the same problem that I felt it was too high off the CB. I do like Timothy's idea about drilling holes at the proper height. I think some of the CBGs that terminate the strings at the bridge use the same concept as the through-body guitar, but they do not penetrate the end of the box. Have you proceeded with this build yet?

Comment by Tres Seaver on November 8, 2009 at 1:36pm: You do see some builds here which don't use a "through neck", but terminate the strings at the bridge. The through neck has an advantage of "easy strength", which is why I've been using it so far.

Thanks for the encouragement!

Comment by timothy lee allen on November 8, 2009 at 1:26pm: I've never attemped to build a cigar box guitar. Yet ! The thought alone makes my mind spin. I can see how someone can get preplexed building a three string. When i looked at the photo from the back with the pull on top of the box from the back end i just wondered if a person could just drill three holes through the center of the pull at the proper height. That way you wouldn't have to recess the neck of the three string deeper that flush. It might even solve a problem at the hinge plate. Good luck with you project . I'm sure that you friend will be quite impressed with your craftsmanship . That's a great gift.