Hi guys. I'm new to the site but I have an interesting question. Has anyone ever built a cigar box lute? I ask because my dad, who introduced me to the blues at the ripe old age of six with Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters (and incidentally, I have been hooked ever since), has recently gotten into, as strange as it sounds, renaissance lute/guitar music and I was thinking of building him a cigar box lute for his birthday in May. I have made a few cigar box guitars as well as a mandolin and ukulele but a lute seems like an entirely new challenge. I have had a search on Google and can't seem to find anyone who has attempted this before which makes the project all the more intriguing for me. Does anyone know whether this has been attempted before? Also, if anyone has any tips or me it would be greatly appreciated.
You need to be a member of Cigar Box Nation to add comments!
I just played my first lute a couple of weeks back and instantly added it to my "to make" list. The one I played was a 15 stringer. I'll be watching to see how you do since it'll probably be awhile until it makes it's way up my list.
Thank for your replies. Henry, I really like your sound holes. May have to steal that idea. Does anyone have any advice for what wood to use for the neck? I've got a Java box that I was thinking of using. Seems pretty solid.
...Here is a 12 string box guitar I built that is definitely influenced by the lute. This one is strung with light guage electric steel guitar strings, but would also work extremely well with nylon strings. I use monofiliment fishing line A LOT
Since nylon strings have a great deal less tension than do steel, you might get away with it. I would think you'd need a quality (solid wood- dovetailed joints) box, like perhaps a Cohiba or something similar, and maybe some bracing on the top just to be sure.
My Mandola (my sig pic) has withstood the strain of 8 steel strings for a year now, with no sign of any top warping.
Well I was gonna try and make it as simple as I could and go six course. That means 11 strings. After a bit of research I found that lutes are odd, the highest string they have as a single and the rest they double up, mandolin style. Although some have the bass strings with an octave difference like 12 string guitars. This could get complicated for a beginner.
Replies
...Here is a 12 string box guitar I built that is definitely influenced by the lute. This one is strung with light guage electric steel guitar strings, but would also work extremely well with nylon strings. I use monofiliment fishing line A LOT
...I hope this helps. Good luck! :-)My Mandola (my sig pic) has withstood the strain of 8 steel strings for a year now, with no sign of any top warping.