#1 resource for Cigar Box Guitars, Free Plans, How-To, Parts & More!

What Cigar Boxes are preferable?

Im curious to know what boxes are prefered. Wood, cardboard? Size? Manufacturer, Label? Wich type and construction give the best sound? I think this post will open a can of worms, but Im curious of others opinions.

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by colin mcgrath on April 20, 2010 at 4:41am

personally tracy i try to stick with boxes larger than the size of a plastic pencil case kids use for school. And have made builds out of boxes as thin as 1 1/4". Using wood boxes seems to be the common choice, but some older boxes are cardboard and those will need extra support inside. I use any manufacturer's box that will provide what i think will work for the build in mind. However I build strictly for fun, build slow and don't mass produce. Joining the building a cigar box 101 group is a helpful choice, seems like you have the basics down from the looks of your builds.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by BT Cohosh on April 20, 2010 at 5:15am

The preferred box is usually the box you've got.

Wood will hold up longer, but I've made a couple of instruments out of cardboard boxes, and they sound fine and have held up for a couple of years now.

Big is usually better, but then, again, I've but some fun guitars from boxes technically probably "too small". The thing to remember is that, after you build, if you're not happy you can usually salvage the tuners/hardware and move on without losing too much.

Most important: have fun.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Diane in Chicago on April 20, 2010 at 6:36am

If you are rummaging through a pile at your local seegar shop, you can tap them with your fingernail or a knuckle. If they sound nice and hard and hollow, good for you. If they sound thuddy and dull, put it back. Some are made from really thick plywood (1/4") and those are generally not my first choice for acoustic. If you are putting in pickups, well, you could build out of a shoebox or a solid plank and still be fine.

My favorite all time boxes are vintage Royal Jamaicas, the big old ones from the 1950s or so. And Don Pepin Garcias. And Padrons. And Indian Tabacs, the orange ones. And . . .

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Tracy Kennedy on April 20, 2010 at 7:17am

Thanks guys. I also just passed up a pile of junk set to the curb down the street and its full of small old wood crates that are built with box joints. They look to be an apprpriate size. And old wood pepsi crates for the old bottles. Im gonna grab them. The crates look to be well aged (i like that look) I think I can cut them down to a good height and slap on a new ply top and bottom and viola' a new cb! Damn I think Im developing an addiction! SHHHH dont tell anyone!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on April 20, 2010 at 9:59am

Macanudo Portofino Cafe if you can get one.

-WY

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by One String Willie on April 20, 2010 at 10:09am

Hi Tracy-

Try using the Pepsi crates as stomp boxes (foot percussion).

I like the Macanudo Portofino Cafe boxes for the few CBGs I've built (they're big and deep), but recently found a Macanudo Prince of Wales box that looks like it should make a good CBG (even bigger, but not so deep).

Have fun!

Best regards, Willie

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by L.J. on April 20, 2010 at 10:29am

I LIKE BOXES WITH A LIL DEPTH. IT SEEMS THE THIN BOXES NEVER SOUND AS PLEASING. FOR THE PAPER COVERED BOXES I LIKE THE ROMEO AND JULIETTA, THEY HAVE PARTICLE BOARD TOPS BUT SOUND REALLY NICE WITH HIGH SLIDE ACTION.I LIKE WOODEN BOXES TOO. BUT I ALWAYS CHECK TO SEE IF THE CORNERS ARE TIGHT, AND IF THE WOOD IS TOO THICK I DONT BOTHER.I SAW CROW PLAY A CARDBOARD BOX 3 STRING THIS WEEKEND THAT SOUNDED GREAT. LOOKED LIKE A TOILET SEAT BOX(ABOUT THAT SIZE), THUMP IT, DONT OVERDUE THE SOUNDHOLE SIZE, YOU CAN ALWAYS ADD MORE OR MAKE THEM BIGGER. ONCE YOU BUST TOO BIG A HOLE ITS A LIL LATE.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Tracy Kennedy on April 20, 2010 at 10:54am

That the other thing Im curious of. How do you calculate the appropriate sound whole size
for the given internal volume of the box to garner the most sound?
L.J. said:

I LIKE BOXES WITH A LIL DEPTH. IT SEEMS THE THIN BOXES NEVER SOUND AS PLEASING. FOR THE PAPER COVERED BOXES I LIKE THE ROMEO AND JULIETTA, THEY HAVE PARTICLE BOARD TOPS BUT SOUND REALLY NICE WITH HIGH SLIDE ACTION.I LIKE WOODEN BOXES TOO. BUT I ALWAYS CHECK TO SEE IF THE CORNERS ARE TIGHT, AND IF THE WOOD IS TOO THICK I DONT BOTHER.I SAW CROW PLAY A CARDBOARD BOX 3 STRING THIS WEEKEND THAT SOUNDED GREAT. LOOKED LIKE A TOILET SEAT BOX(ABOUT THAT SIZE), THUMP IT, DONT OVERDUE THE SOUNDHOLE SIZE, YOU CAN ALWAYS ADD MORE OR MAKE THEM BIGGER. ONCE YOU BUST TOO BIG A HOLE ITS A LIL LATE.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on April 20, 2010 at 11:06am

Ya don't. At least nobody here has as far as I can tell. Its a matter of 'what sounded great after I made it".

-WY

Tracy Kennedy said:

That the other thing Im curious of. How do you calculate the appropriate sound whole size
for the given internal volume of the box to garner the most sound?
L.J. said:
I LIKE BOXES WITH A LIL DEPTH. IT SEEMS THE THIN BOXES NEVER SOUND AS PLEASING. FOR THE PAPER COVERED BOXES I LIKE THE ROMEO AND JULIETTA, THEY HAVE PARTICLE BOARD TOPS BUT SOUND REALLY NICE WITH HIGH SLIDE ACTION.I LIKE WOODEN BOXES TOO. BUT I ALWAYS CHECK TO SEE IF THE CORNERS ARE TIGHT, AND IF THE WOOD IS TOO THICK I DONT BOTHER.I SAW CROW PLAY A CARDBOARD BOX 3 STRING THIS WEEKEND THAT SOUNDED GREAT. LOOKED LIKE A TOILET SEAT BOX(ABOUT THAT SIZE), THUMP IT, DONT OVERDUE THE SOUNDHOLE SIZE, YOU CAN ALWAYS ADD MORE OR MAKE THEM BIGGER. ONCE YOU BUST TOO BIG A HOLE ITS A LIL LATE.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Outhouse Instruments on April 20, 2010 at 1:45pm

I like the big Punch boxes. And I try to get boxes with wooden lids.
The Romeo Y Julieta I get I use for mandos and they are the loudest things I build. Usually louder than your normal inexpensive mando.
Arturo Fuente boxes should be considered standard fare for cbg. The Churchill is a good size and makes a good sound.

Matt