Making a Cigar Box Guitar (and 10 easy-to-make mistakes)

My first CBG, how I built it and the many things that went wrong along the way, though with a very satisfactory result. A couple of things I forgot to mentio...

Views: 106

Comment

You need to be a member of Cigar Box Nation to add comments!

Join Cigar Box Nation

Comment by Richard Sundberg on May 16, 2018 at 8:29am

Ah, the sacrifices for a good  box! This was great, I learned some  interesting things from your blood, sweat, and tears. It is fun, I have one build myself, my only advice is let it go to your head, it’s addictive in the best of ways!

Comment by Danny Ayers on May 15, 2018 at 5:15am

Dave, seriously, 100+ ? Wow. Big cottage industry?

Comment by Dave Lynas on May 15, 2018 at 4:24am

Nice tale of sorrows Danny. Things well learned. You kept at it and won. Sounds good. We all go through the trials. After a hundred or more guitars i’ve Made most mistakes more than once. If you can make the mistakes and still enjoy the journey then all turns out great. Now I have a house full of good sounding guitars. Not a bad outcome.

Comment by Danny Ayers on May 15, 2018 at 2:35am

Thanks Uncle John (mind if I call you Uncle?). 20 mins long, I'd have skimmed it too.

I'd say the looks are down to the materials - wonderful box, very pretty (if practically quite lousy) neck wood. I feel so good that it came out as a remarkably playable instrument.

I watched a vid by a pro guitar builder last night about mistakes they make. He emphasized things like, "don't bite off more than you can chew" and "know when to give up". That makes sense making something 'proper' I guess, but when you're just hacking away, I'd opt for "keep going!".

Now all I've got to do is learn how to play the darn thing (have spent 40? years as a very bad guitarist, maybe dropping to 3 strings will help :)

Comment by Uncle John on May 15, 2018 at 2:20am

That is a good looking guitar.  You must have done a good job hiding your mistakes!   I just kind of skimmed this, but I have made most of those mistakes and likely more!  And I continue to make some.  But it's  sure fun.

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


Forum

crossover guitar.

Started by Timothy Hunter in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Apr 10. 14 Replies

Tune up songs

Started by Ghostbuttons in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 9. 5 Replies

Duel output jacks

Started by Justin Stanchfield in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 8. 6 Replies

Latest Activity

Doug Thorsvik commented on Doug Thorsvik's video
37 minutes ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on Doug Thorsvik's video
Thumbnail

I Can Only Imagine: 2-String Chugger License Plate Cigar Box Guitar

"Thanks Uncle John! I’m always delighted when other Slingers choose it to play."
38 minutes ago
J. D. Woods commented on J. D. Woods's photo
Thumbnail

Current Instrument Line-Up

"Hi Uncle John, Ha, ha!! So glad you asked, I wondered when somebody was gonna notice! I'll try…"
1 hour ago
A.D.EKER commented on AGP #'s photo
Thumbnail

AGP #530 - ''Pink Floyd''

"Colorfull Build  AGP # the last colorfull song they will  ever build ,the feud is going…"
6 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on Poorness Studios's video
Thumbnail

Jose Cuervo | Shelly West cover on 4-string CBG

"its good to hear you are part of the "Old Content" did not get any of this ,but you…"
7 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on A.D.EKER's video
Thumbnail

There i was Standing at the ..... BCB - A. D. Eker 2024

"Good morning UJ ,How are you ? hope you are fine! i did say "CrossRoads",Blues Rock its a…"
7 hours ago
Uncle John commented on J. D. Woods's photo
12 hours ago
Uncle John commented on J. D. Woods's photo
Thumbnail

Current Instrument Line-Up

"Nice line up.  Unusual pick guard on the big git that looks like a Martin.  What is that…"
12 hours ago
Uncle John commented on Ghostbuttons's photo
Thumbnail

Four projects

"Nice, nice trio."
12 hours ago
Uncle John commented on Crazed Fandango's photo
Thumbnail

Frethound 4 String

"Looks great.  That looks like one I could really like playing.  Four strings too. …"
12 hours ago
Uncle John commented on David Hopkins's photo
Thumbnail

Anti-Body Guitars 18,19 and 20

"Great theme, workmanship and guitars!"
12 hours ago
Uncle John commented on David Hopkins's photo
Thumbnail

Angel 2x Anti-Body #17

"Very, very nice.  I hope it got to a good home and that it will be enjoyed.."
12 hours ago

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 -->