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

I am open to suggestions on what to do with this box.

I got this LaFlor Dominicana box at the flea market for 10 bucks, which I thought was pretty doggone good since they are so hard to find.

The box is physically very large, 18 inches on the wide side, narrowing down to 10 inches n the narrow side.

If I put just a regular 1x2 neck on it, the body will look huge and the neck will look puny. I want to maintain some sort of esthetics to the build. I toyed with a double neck, and John Maw suggested a 4 string mandolin, double coursed.

Any suggestions:

1 member likes this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Paul Monaco ( Whittling Guy) on August 23, 2012 at 3:20pm

Make a zither! Use zither pins like the picture. Cut out the LFD for a sound hole. I think that would look cool! With all that surface area you probably could put 12-16 strings on it. OR make a hammer dulcimer. This looks pretty easy!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by the anonymous pick on August 23, 2012 at 3:58pm

a quick paint pad job .. but you get the idea .

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Bluesheart on August 25, 2012 at 6:08am

I have one of those too. Been toying with plans for a twin neck out of it, not that I really need a twin neck guitar for anything. I'm no Jimmy Page! The most beautiful job I've seen with one of those is the harp guitar Delvero built, that thing was fantastic!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Bluesheart on August 25, 2012 at 6:12am

I originally thought about doing a 6 string classical out of one, but they are so shallow, I'm afraid it would be very quiet.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Diane in Chicago on August 25, 2012 at 10:29am

Yup, I've got that box, too. And it sits on the shelf.

I'm leaning towards a mandolin, or double-coursed 3 string. I made one of those, and I let it go, and I still miss it.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on August 25, 2012 at 5:24pm

Doubleneck, mahogany necks, three courses on each neck, truss rods, tuned in octaves, E-A-D neck 1, G-B-E neck 2, ebony fingerboards, black jewellry, black mini humbuckers.
(yep, pick's got the idea with his sketch)
Or

Attach a neck through the upper shorter curve, so it looks like a headsman's axe. Again, mahogany neck, ebony fingerboard, three string dual courses, black mini humbucker, black skull knobs and machine heads throughout.

Or

3-string dual course RESO!!!. Yeah, the script LFD with leaf surround is pretty, so carefully cut it out for your reso cone port, and use it to give some class to an otherwise ugly box by gluing it on that one.

Or

Small two course hammered dulcimer (yep, the zither's kinda the idea...)