I am just about done with my 1st build but I had a bit of trouble with the strings.  I have never installed guitar strings so this is all very new to me.  I checked out youtube and found a lot of videos on changing guitar strings and tuning.  But the issue I had was trying to figure out what octave of G to tune.  As the strings started to get tight I was able to use my I-phone tuner and start to dial in on G.  I had a bit of trouble with the smallest string finding the right note and then POW, yep my 1st ever guitar string break. Of course I had only purchased one set of strings from Gitty, so I had no replacement.  I found a guitar store about 45 minutes away and was able to pick up a replacement yesterday. Wow, are there a lot of strings to choose from.  I had gotten a set from Gitty that had a .013 as the smallest.  Since it broke I researched a bit more and found that some CBG's use .026 as the smallest string, so the new set is beefier.

Oh yea, one other thing I figured out (too late).  The box is upside down. :I

 

Views: 308

Replies to This Discussion

Welcome to the club Dan. Almost 50 builds in now and still make some basic bloopers from time to time.... Your build looks good and as far as the box goes, upside down = quirky! individual!

there are online guitar tuners you can use to determine correct tuning, though we've all done the octave too high string break thing! (-;

http://www.guitarforbeginners.com/onlinetuner.html

the strings you are using sound a bit too beefy, on a three string i would use 32/36, 24, 16/17

...and the box isn't upside down, it looks good to me! (-;

Hey Dan, great looking build. On one of my favorites so far I used a Partagas box and I love the sound it has. I've been using Gitty's Low Open G "Blues Blaster" string set for my builds, .044, .034 & .026 and really like the sound of them. Keep on building, every box has a different voice inside and there is always something new to try.

One thing to look at when you break a string... are there any "pinch points" from tuner to tail piece.  Especially on the thinner wire strings, a sharp edge at tuner or tail piece, or a groove on nut or bridge that is more "V" than "U" shaped can certainly break a string that would normally tune up to pitch nicely.  a small file and a little dressing might keep this problem from repeating.

 

Nice looking build....

Thanks for the words of encouragement guys.  The strings I have used are 46/36/26.  They seem to sound great now that its tuned properly.  I'm working on build # 2 now and it's coming along nicely.  I just need to learn to play it now.  It seems to need a guitar string to help hold the weight of the neck.  And then again it may just be the fact that I have no idea what I'm doing.  It seems harder to me to hold the weight of the neck up while I'm trying to learn to use my left hand on the frets.

Dan

CBGs tend to be neck heavy.  design alternatives are to go 1) headless and move the mass of the headstock and tuners to the rear of the box or 2) fill the box with wood so as to create a solid body.  Both alternatives move the balance point down the neck...

Or, play with a guitar strap that connects at the headstock instead at the front of the body...

Or, play enough to get used to it.  a few hundred hours ought to do.... ;-0

It's not upside down if it a lefty.. good job tho..sweet

Beautiful guitar, I've yet to actually use a cigar box to make a cigar box guitar, soon though, very soon. The upside down thing will hardly be noticed, don't worry about it. The only thing I would have done different, is the fret mark at the 23rd spot, should have skipped that one and marked the 24th like the 12th with 2 dots as it's the next octave, doesn't really matter though. My last build I put my markers after the 12th on the 14,16,18, 20 position, man was I mad at myself for such a blunder, but then i realized, hey it doesn't matter, build play and have fun!!!

RSS

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


Discussion Forum

Can a box be too shallow?

Started by Sean Murphy. Last reply by Raymond Grimmitt Dec 21, 2021. 3 Replies

Removing box labels

Started by Robert Dawkins. Last reply by Order99 Jul 6, 2020. 8 Replies

Build 2!

Started by Sean Murphy. Last reply by Sean Murphy Oct 28, 2018. 3 Replies

Best/"Easiest " Way to notch out CBG Neck......?????

Started by Brian M Nusser. Last reply by ChickenboneJohn Nov 14, 2017. 16 Replies

First build, not-great results

Started by Sean Murphy. Last reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear Nov 14, 2017. 3 Replies

Neck length

Started by Holly Hodson. Last reply by Thomas "Duck" Petry Nov 9, 2017. 4 Replies

"If you wand to get something done real bad . . ."

Started by Michael Zimmerle. Last reply by Richard Dean Oct 23, 2017. 2 Replies

First build and a broken string.

Started by Dan Mullen. Last reply by Richard Dean Oct 23, 2017. 8 Replies

What type of saw to use?

Started by Anne M. Fridley-Owen. Last reply by Anne M. Fridley-Owen Dec 4, 2016. 3 Replies

*()@%&$! Piezo

Started by Chance. Last reply by Chance Oct 24, 2016. 3 Replies

general

Started by tommy farrar. Last reply by tommy farrar Nov 28, 2015. 2 Replies

Tail - or where the strings are mounted

Started by evanmars. Last reply by Richey Kay Aug 25, 2015. 7 Replies

My fifth build

Started by James A OBrien Apr 7, 2015. 0 Replies

Cardboard Cigar Box

Started by Redbelly. Last reply by Thomas "Duck" Petry Jun 30, 2014. 3 Replies

Just Finished My First CBG. YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (The Sequel)

Started by L. W. Carlson. Last reply by Thomas "Duck" Petry Jun 27, 2014. 3 Replies

Scale Length

Started by Wagner Richter. Last reply by Wagner Richter May 7, 2014. 3 Replies

Connecting a Neck

Started by Thumper Apr 18, 2014. 0 Replies

Latest Activity

Doug Thorsvik posted a video

Hail the Resurrection Day: 2-String Violin Chugger Cigar Box Guitar

Cigar Box Guitar Slingers - Spokane, 195th Zoom Mtg 03/25/24. Only 1-finger chords, free songbooks here: https://www.cbgslinger.com/download CBG SOF Songbook...
9 minutes ago
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!"
16 hours ago
Southern Ray replied to Timothy Hunter's discussion just came accross this pickup idea on youtube.
" Very interesting. Thank you Timothy!"
16 hours ago
Kent Thurston updated their profile
17 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…
18 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…
18 hours ago
Poorness Studios liked A.D.EKER's video
20 hours ago
BrianQ. left a comment for Rob (Uker) Porras
"Hope this helps?"
20 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…"
23 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on A.D.EKER's video
yesterday
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 ...
yesterday
Papa D commented on Doug Thorsvik's photo
Thumbnail

Dueling Flatheads

"Beautiful..Nice work Doug.."
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 -->