OK, I am new to cigar box guitar and I decided to build one because it didn't look to hard, now I don't know if me and my Dad over complicated it or it is actually quite difficult either way... It was all going so smoothly until I came to put the strings on this morning, this is when a sea of problems arose. I'll try to keep them in the order of which they arose; first of all the strings were sitting far to high above the neck and where just hovering above the nut so what I did is made the slots in the bridge which my dad had made (I didn't want slots in the bridge) deeper. Despite this it made hardly any difference at all, my theory is that we didn't tilt the head stock like you normally see which would bring the stings down. then as I was stringing up the second string (it was meant to be a 3 string model) instead of making the note D it just rattled, I then realized that the string was up against the wall of the groove in the bridge. Then the second string snapped up by the head stock then followed by the first also by the head stock.
Can any one help me with suggestions or plans or any thing really?
(if you made it this far well done! I'm not very good at getting to the point!)
Also I will attach pictures of it so you may be able to see what went wrong that I can't see.
By the way I've just realized that in one of my photos the bushes on the tuning pegs aren't flush with the head stock, this is because I hadn't hammered them in yet the 'finished' product did have the bushes hammered in.
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I would highly recommend the strat-a-spheric suggestion. Get a second box and work on a second neck. Start a fresh build with your mistakes clear in your mind. Once you get something satisfying to play, then go back to the somewhat more frustrating rework of your original build. Or just go onto #3 to #300. :)
My first build sits there looking pretty except a few mistakes that make it unplayable. I'll get back to it sometime. Maybe. :)
Wes "STRAT-A-CLYSMIC" Yates said:
"Or you could start on build #2, fixing what went wrong on #1. Most of us go through this. Let us know what works for you, and post pics of the fix(es) that worked for you. Others will definitely have the same or similar issues with their first build."
Yup. Heck my first one I replaced the neck and on my Macanudo P/C acoustic, I've not only replaced the fretboard once, but refretted it recently.
Hi David.
After reading this thread and looking at you photos, I like the idea of removing the box from the neck, turn the neck around so that the fret side is down, and then reattach the box. Then remove the tuners, add about a 1/4" thick board to the new bottom side of the headstock (cut board to size, glue on & let dry), then drill out the holes for the tuners and remount the tuners. This assumes you did not bother to round the back of your neck. If it's still pretty square, then the neck should be able to be turned over. Then string it up and see how well the strings work. I prefer using a machine bolt that I cut the head off for a nut, and another machine bolt (usually larger) with a nut as the bridge. With the cut out, you may bot need a string tree. But if you do, a quick and dirty solution is to use a tie-wrap to hold down the strings as the bend down off the nut on their way to the tuners. If it plays pretty go, then go back and fret the neck to make it easier to play. As a beginner, you may prefer to fret it like a stick dulcimer which uses a diatonic scale. You can use wood putty to fill the fret slots on the back of the neck if they feel or appear objectionable to you. Then spray the neck black (before adding your frets).
There's a lot to learn when building your first several cigar boxes, and so you should be prepared to make a few mistakes along the way. We are here to offer help / advice. Let us know how your CBG(s) turn out.
-Rand.
After looking at your pics I would move the the attaching point for the strings on the box lower and on the front side of the box. Use a brass hinge or something similar (there plenty of ideas in the gallery section). Also use an eye bolt or piece of thread-all for the bridge. As for the neck, I would cut off the shaved portion and glue another piece of wood (half the thickness of the neck) to the bottom. Try to get it similar to the red neck shown in this post.
Another thought, just scrap this one and do another one, keep the box, it looks pretty good. I added a pic of my first one ,I hope it helps
After looking at your pics I would move the the attaching point for the strings on the box lower and on the front side of the box. Use a brass hinge or something similar (there plenty of ideas in the gallery section). Also use an eye bolt or piece of thread-all for the bridge. As for the neck, I would cut off the shaved portion and glue another piece of wood (half the thickness of the neck) to the bottom. Try to get it similar to the red neck shown in this post.
Another thought, just scrap this one and do another one, keep the box, it looks pretty good. I added a pic of my first one ,I hope it helps
I am already doing the brass hinge idea, but instead of an eye bolt I'm using a number '1' like you would see on the front of a house I thought it would be a nice touch and it is as thick as an eye bolt
William McCauley said:After looking at your pics I would move the the attaching point for the strings on the box lower and on the front side of the box. Use a brass hinge or something similar (there plenty of ideas in the gallery section). Also use an eye bolt or piece of thread-all for the bridge. As for the neck, I would cut off the shaved portion and glue another piece of wood (half the thickness of the neck) to the bottom. Try to get it similar to the red neck shown in this post.
Another thought, just scrap this one and do another one, keep the box, it looks pretty good. I added a pic of my first one ,I hope it helps
The number 1 sounds cool. What did you decide about the neck?
David Beasley said:
I am already doing the brass hinge idea, but instead of an eye bolt I'm using a number '1' like you would see on the front of a house I thought it would be a nice touch and it is as thick as an eye bolt
William McCauley said:After looking at your pics I would move the the attaching point for the strings on the box lower and on the front side of the box. Use a brass hinge or something similar (there plenty of ideas in the gallery section). Also use an eye bolt or piece of thread-all for the bridge. As for the neck, I would cut off the shaved portion and glue another piece of wood (half the thickness of the neck) to the bottom. Try to get it similar to the red neck shown in this post.
Another thought, just scrap this one and do another one, keep the box, it looks pretty good. I added a pic of my first one ,I hope it helps
Well my dad cut off the head stock and has made a new one and glued it on but the neck is still the same
William McCauley said:The number 1 sounds cool. What did you decide about the neck?
David Beasley said:
I am already doing the brass hinge idea, but instead of an eye bolt I'm using a number '1' like you would see on the front of a house I thought it would be a nice touch and it is as thick as an eye bolt
William McCauley said:After looking at your pics I would move the the attaching point for the strings on the box lower and on the front side of the box. Use a brass hinge or something similar (there plenty of ideas in the gallery section). Also use an eye bolt or piece of thread-all for the bridge. As for the neck, I would cut off the shaved portion and glue another piece of wood (half the thickness of the neck) to the bottom. Try to get it similar to the red neck shown in this post.
Another thought, just scrap this one and do another one, keep the box, it looks pretty good. I added a pic of my first one ,I hope it helps
I made no changes to the neck, the new head stock, bridge, tail piece and string trees of some description should solve the problems.
I have uploaded the unfinished headstock but bare in mind it is unfinished and it will have a nut, string trees of some description, be "smoothed out" and varnished; http://www.cigarboxnation.com/photo/056?xg_source=activity and I didn't tilt it either I just carved out the face of the headstock but I may have to make it deeper....
Dan Sleep said:
Sorry Man, and when you say the neck is the same, you mean the strings are still hovering above the nut?
I made no changes to the neck, the new head stock, bridge, tail piece and string trees of some description should solve the problems.
I have uploaded the unfinished headstock but bare in mind it is unfinished and it will have a nut, string trees of some description, be "smoothed out" and varnished; http://www.cigarboxnation.com/photo/056?xg_source=activity and I didn't tilt it either I just carved out the face of the headstock but I may have to make it deeper....
Dan Sleep said:Sorry Man, and when you say the neck is the same, you mean the strings are still hovering above the nut?
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