Tim LaFave
  • Amsterdam, NY
  • United States
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  • 1.
    Track06 Caffe Lena Blues
  • 2.
    Blues In E
  • 3.
    The Man You Are
  • 4.
    Road to Hana

Tim LaFave's Discussions

Help! Need wiring diagram for rod piezo using volume pot.

Started this discussion. Last reply by Tim LaFave Sep 4, 2012. 5 Replies

I'm new to electronics, CBG's, everything, but I'm excited and willing to learn. I can wire a disk piezo to a 1/4" jack and volume pot successfully, but I am struggling with using the rod piezo's I…Continue

 

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Tim LaFave posted a video

Constructing a Four String Electric Cigar Box Guitar Demonsrtation

Step by step tutorial on building an electric, four-string cigar box guitar. Includes instructions on creating frets and position markers.
Nov 22, 2022
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Will the Circle be Unbroken

"Loved it ... this is good stuff!"
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Wabash Cannonball on Hobo Fiddle

"Great job on your build and performance. Nothin' wrong with that!"
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Ramblin' On My Mind

"Thank you, Danny Boy ... ;-]"
Jan 2, 2020
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Ramblin' On My Mind

"You got it...nice play LaFave"
Jan 2, 2020

Profile Information

How did you learn about Cigar Box Nation?
stumbled across it looking for info on CBG's.
How many instruments have you built so far?
Fifty-three to date, including acoustic, acoustic/electric and electric guitars, bass guitar, bass/electric guitar hybrid, violins, mandolin, ukuleles, 5 string and tenor banjos, electric washboard, can microphones and six "hack" amps, to date. Not done yet ...
What do you find most interesting about cigar box guitars? (If you do not enter something meaningful here (at least one sentence long), your membership may be rejected as a spam/bot fake account).
No two are alike in any way, visually, tonally or play-ability. Every build is an engineering challenge and opportunity to learn and discover something new. With each build, I am able to introduce to the world a unique, one-of-a-kind instrument and work of art, hopefully to be appreciated long after I am gone.

My first box.

I just completed my first cigar box project, a 22" scale guitar I call "American Willie", because of the box brand and because I attached a Willie Nelson flattened penny near the bridge for some "bling". It has a complete fretboard, which plays true and in tune, and a rod piezo pickup mounted under the bridge. I also built a little cigar box practice amp to go with it. What a thrill setting on my porch this evening with my sweet little guitar and amp, playing into the sunset! This is truly a first for me in many ways, having to learn to do so many things I haven't done before (wiring, fretting, OMG!). And to think, it all actually works! Think I'll try my hand at a cigar box violin soon!

Tim LaFave's Photos

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Tim LaFave's Blog

Tips On Building A Cigar Box Violin

Posted on November 19, 2013 at 2:30am 0 Comments

For those new to cb fiddle building, permit me to share some hard-earned tips to get you started right.

1.   Getting Started:   If you want to build a full-size (4/4) violin, it is critical that you get the correct measurements for the string length from the nut to the bridge, and the height of the bridge must be the same as a real violin. Bear in mind that a violin has an arch top, which raises the bridge height. Your cigar box will have a flat top, so to compensate, you must angle…

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Creating your Own Fret Scale Pattern

Posted on September 19, 2012 at 12:48pm 6 Comments

     So in my last blog on building your own truss rod, I promised I'd share what I had learned on making your own fret scale pattern. So here goes ...

     For my first CBG, I wanted to test my limits and see how far I could go with building a guitar. None of these "fretless three-stringers" for me; no, I wanted a fret board and at least four strings, which I felt was the limit before I'd have to worry about bowing the neck. So, wanting to be sure I was understanding all I…

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Creating Your Own Truss Rod

Posted on September 12, 2012 at 3:48am 0 Comments

     In my continuing adventure into the amazing world of CBG's, I soon discovered that my local music store, while interested in my builds and willing to carry them, thought that the playability and professionalism of them would be greatly enhanced by placing truss rods in the necks.

     While the thought may be anathema to the true CBG purist, there is without doubt among those of us who are building guitars about the nagging problem of the sagging neck! Under the tension of…

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My Entry Into the World of CBG's

Posted on September 8, 2012 at 12:00pm 2 Comments

     Well, can't believe I've done it, but what a rush! It started when a friend gave me a copy of Guitar Player, I think it was, which had an article featuring cigar box guitars. The four beautifully photographed guitars an the feature page stopped me dead! I was hooked! Being a street busker myself, I thought, "This is just the ticket to get the real tips!"

     I found a website mentioned, and, determined to purchase one for my next guitar (I have quite a collection!), I was dashed…

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Comment Wall (2 comments)

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At 1:46am on December 19, 2017, Beverly said…

Hello Tim:  I’m making a cigar box violin for my grandson.  I ordered the uke pins for the strings and there is where my problem lies......unscrewing them and where does all the parts go as to the placement of installing them to properly work through the wood? I tried expanding your picture of yours with the uke pegs but I couldn’t tell which side all the pieces went on. Could you help me please?  Thank you, Beverly

At 1:13pm on September 28, 2013, Ted Hartman said…

Tim, Thank you for the friendship on CBN. and the video complements as well. Very kind of you.  I am Glad you posted several of your videos,  your playing is A+++ Excellent.!!!   I hope you do more videos as well.   It would of been cool to have you there jamming with us that night.  I think we would of all had a Great time, Thanks again,  ~Ted

 
 
 

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