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

Cigar box ukulele question

I'm building a ukulele for a friend out of a Johnny Walker box. It originally held 10 mini bottle of liquor but it's basically a cigar box.

So I see two ways to go about the build:

1) Get the Gitty kit and use all those parts

-OR-

2) Build a neck through style myself.

The first option would be easier but there's one catch: I want to make the box open and have a little compartment for a mini bottle and two glasses. That being the case, there's not much of an edge to fasten the neck to. I could easily have enough bracing if I do a neck through style of my own design.

So, any ideas how I could attach the neck from the kit with enough bracing and still have the box hinge open?

Thanks in advance for your input

Scotty

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ducati Scotty on July 28, 2018 at 1:53pm

Yes, I like how you added strength with the extra insert pieces. It should work but I’ve got to think about it for a while. I know the neck through would work, I’ve got to be sure this will work too.

Its a commemorative uke for my friend’s dad who passed and I’ve only got one box, so I only have one shot at it.

Scott

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Titch the Clown on July 28, 2018 at 9:54am

I notch out the stick through using my band saw. I start at the end few mm down to give me a bit of neck angle, cut further down and a shallow curve up to a cm or two close to where the neck and body meet. Before I had my band saw I used shallow cuts with my saw and a chisel or a rasp.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kenneth " Hammy " Hamblock on July 28, 2018 at 1:53pm

You can always flip it backwards , well have the opening on the backside and use the bottom of the pal as the top . It will give you all the room for a couple of cans , electronicso bracing for the threw neck it will be a little more work but it can be done . I just built one out of a pilsner urguell 6 pack lunch box tack a look at it .

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ducati Scotty on July 28, 2018 at 2:24pm

The Johnnie Walker logo is only in the top and it’s the reason for using this box. Separating the top and bottom from the box and reglueing them would be a lot of work and might wreck the box.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on July 28, 2018 at 2:59pm

Hi, Ducati Scotty, if you want to see how my system works search for "Building a through neck and fitting it" part 1 &2 from about a month back This method would give more room inside the box and would stay in tune whilst having a drink. You may have to modify it a bit to suit your needs.

Taff

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ducati Scotty on July 28, 2018 at 5:11pm

Ok, now you’re just teasing. You have way more tools than I do. I make due with a few hand saws, rasps, a drill, and a spoke shave. Lovely tutorial though, covers all the bases. I like that you reinforced the cutout. Some people don’t and I’m sure those warp over time.