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UKETOBERFEST Submissions page - Win $75 CBGitty Gift Certificate

Welcome to Uketoberfest 2016! It's a celebration of all things cigar box ukulele... from building secrets to awesome photos and videos.

We're looking to hear from you. From October 3-16, we are asking for photos, videos and building tips of your best cigar box ukuleles. Post them below!

Four random winners will receive $75 gift certificates to CBGitty.com. We will draw the names on October 17 and announce them in the Cigar Box Nation weekly email.

Note: By submitting you agree that your content may be used in Cigar Box Nation and C. B. Gitty feature stories and marketing.

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Permalink Reply by Lane Martin on October 10, 2016 at 6:07am

Here are the three CBUkes I've built. The first is a tenor-scale, oak neck-through (no separate fretboard), with Aquila strings tuned reentrant GCEA. Lesson learned on this one was that the box bottom would have made a better soundboard.

Second is a "contra"-scale (21.5") uke with trimmer line strings. Tuned EAD. When I find a suitable high string, I'll add a G. I'll eventually add a piezo to amp it.

The third is a soprano scale (13") built partly from a kit on an 1886 box. All the materials (except the strings and tuners) came from a friend's stash that he gave me when they moved across the country. Boiled linseed oil and shellac finish. I used letter beads as string nuts and decided that 'G', 'C', 'E', and 'A' the most sense. ;)

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Permalink Reply by Lane Martin on October 10, 2016 at 6:09am

Here's the tail view of the 1886 build

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1886 end_opt.jpg, 88 KB

Permalink Reply by Rob (Uker) Porras on October 14, 2016 at 3:00am

Are the multi color stings weed wacker cord?

Permalink Reply by Lane Martin on October 10, 2016 at 6:15am

Built a tin "banjolele" just to see how it sounded. I'll add a video when I can, but I'm really happy with the sound. Open back, wide neck, reentrant GCEA tuning (25-lb fishing line for the G and A strings, 80-lb line for the C and E).

One of the ladies that has played in our group (the Ukulele Band of Alabama) has expressed strong interest in owning a banjolele. Due to some family circumstances, she had to move out of state this summer, so I built her one out of a cookie tin. Same fishing line strings and tuning as my other tin banjolele. Used an old piece of wire to make a tailpiece. Had folks from the group sign it before I send it off to her. I think it sounds better with the lid off, but that will be her call.

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Permalink Reply by Brent Godfrey on October 10, 2016 at 12:25pm

Here are pictures of a Camel Tobacco Tin Soprano Ukulele that I built. It is electrified with a piezo pickup.

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Permalink Reply by Brent Godfrey on October 10, 2016 at 12:33pm

Here are pictures for the contest of a Baritone Ukulele I built out of a Brick Road Cigar Box. It is electrified with a piezo disk. Sounds great. Have played it at open mics. Also made a recording of an original song with it. Here is link to the recording: http://www.kompoz.com/music/listen/release/657780

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Permalink Reply by George Fitzgibbon on October 11, 2016 at 4:44am

Here is one that I made for my Brother. Old basketball floor for the neck, cherry fret board. I thicknessed the soundboard to help with the bass end of things. Abalone side dots. Not bad, I think, for a first attempt. Made it for him last Christmas, I get to give it to him this year.

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