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Cigar Box Project

How many strings for Cigar Box Guitar project?

  • 3

    Votes: 10 20.0%

  • 4

    Votes: 28 56.0%

  • 5

    Votes: 6 12.0%

  • 6

    Votes: 6 12.0%
  • Total voters
    50
Gord_oh

Gord_oh

Midtown Guitars: Ulyate Pickups & StringJoy
Commercial User
Oct 4, 2008
5,437
969
36
Michigan
www.midtownguitars.com
#1
edit: read later posts. this is turning into a build progress thread.

i searched. i found. i build.
once i figured out how cheap these are to make, and how easy and basic they are....i decided i wanted to do one.
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mine wont be quite as elaborate as this one, but it is a fine example.
figured along with some of my other projects, ill keep you informed.
just debating if i want to do a 3 string (traditional cigar box guitar), 4, 5, or 6.
(im leaning toward 4)

so far i have my cigar box that i bought from a local smoke shop for $2.
radioshack piezo transducers for the pickup, i work there. 30% off!
adding a 250k pot for volume control.
tuning pegs, off a squier affinity bass. (hoping the string height will be ok)

now...how many strings?
anyone ever make one?

these are instructions i am following:
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im tweaking it as i go to make it a little nicer.
i did notice that the plans i have say nothing about frets. :/
i have some local luithiers and hobbists around here, so ill have to do some digging.
 
#8
I will allso make a cigarbox bass after the summer vacation. My friends are making cigar box guitars (4 strings), we are making a Cigarbox band ;) I will not use thrussrod. This be a 30" scale. 2 or 3 strings? If I make it even shorter scale will the strings be "floppy"?

Cheers
Tore
 
#13
3 strings for sure :)

But I REALLY wanted a low B, just used to having one.

I made a "stick" version just to test the tuners, pickups, scale, string dia, etc. I found different diameters of trimmer string (nylon) at Ace Hardware, .130, .105, .095, for B, E, A, respectively.....I was a little obsessed with trying to do it without getting anything from a music supply place. Radio shack piezo's for pickups. 35" scale was a little "iffy" with the nylon .130 for a low B, so it's a 40".....uh huh, it's a little excessive, and I've never played a fretless before, so it's a learning experience :S

Once you build one....no, actually, before you're done with the first one, you'll have a half dozen ideas for how to do the next one.

Have Fun. :)
 
#14
i had this on hold for awhile, but when a customer came in and we got talking how he is building one, i want to revive it.

today im going to start working on the neck, and since i started this thread i have gotten some spare parts. so i have the making of something....well...unique.
 
#20
Completed a three string CBG a while back.
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Contemplating a bass CBG next. Have the box already, just got involved in rebuilding an old motorcyle (which I thought would be done by now.)

Also have the materials to build a baritone uke CBG as well.

Fun to build and I have the ablility to make the one I built sound horrible when played. Pretty much the norm for my playing.
 

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