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

Lean-Back CBG Rack Design

First off, I'm still a newbie 'round here and not sure if this should be a blog post instead. This is my first time starting a 'discussion'. I figure it's easier to reply here if someone has a question or new idea. So anyway...

I'm a tinkerer. I can't help it. I built one of the PVC racks that was posted here where the guitars sit on top of a dual rail with the necks hanging down. It worked great, but after a few months I wanted to try something different. Yesterday I was looking at it and thought, hey I could convert that to a leaning rack like 1 of those travel guitar cases. So today I went at it. I'm sooooo happy with it! Thought I'd share in case it helps someone else. If you build one, you don't have to follow my dimensions exactly. Do what's right for your needs, tweak it, make it better... But to get you started, here's the design I used.

Notice the front lower rail is higher than the back lower rail (only by 1 inch), but this makes the guitars lean back against the top rail. This is key! The gap between the 2 bottom rails allows your neck through tail to hang down.

At first I did a quick assembly without the elevated sides (they look like arms on a chair). It worked great, but I decided to put the sides on to prevent a cbg domino slide onto the floor if my crazy dogs rammed into it while wrestling.

The whole thing's made from 1/2" PVC. I inserted a 1/2" aluminum tube inside the front lower rail which bears all the weight to keep it from bowing. Works really well & keeps it light. I tried a dowel, but it didn't stop the bowing.

I ended up with a lot of extra PVC vs where I started from with my original hang down rack. Like I said, I liked that design, but I'm a tinkerer and wanted to mix it up. I have a feeling a lot of people around here are tinkerers too! :)

Hope this helps!

24 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Janis Wilson Hughes on April 16, 2016 at 9:49am

Working on 2 right now - building the box for license plate guitar (planning to use a snake oil humbucker on it - I ordered a set of nibbles to cut the hole in the plate for the pup, but they aren't here yet), and working on short scale bass (30 inch scale).

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Uncle John on April 16, 2016 at 5:49am

That is a nice rack.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Bama Hound on April 16, 2016 at 6:22am

Unc, the beauty part of what you just said, is the fact us ole guys can say stuff like that with no nefarious meaning, the rest of 'em might get some knuckles across the nose.(;-D)

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Uncle John on April 16, 2016 at 7:32am

LOL and oops. Should have said GUITAR RACK. But you are right. Old farts can get by with a little less caution and PC.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Janis Wilson Hughes on April 16, 2016 at 9:50am

Uncle John that cracked me up! Well played my friend. :)

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Frank Carr on April 16, 2016 at 7:22am

One trick I learned from making parrot perches from PVC pipe is to weight the base. Otherwise, tipping over is a possibility.

Another trick would be to use dowels as a separator between the guitars.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Janis Wilson Hughes on April 16, 2016 at 9:51am

I like both ideas Frank thank you!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Bluesheart on April 16, 2016 at 8:02am

That is very cool. Is that also your ceramic work in the photos?

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Janis Wilson Hughes on April 16, 2016 at 9:54am

Thanks Bluesheart, yep I made the vases and the drums. I was on a drum kick (kick drum?) last summer when I kept seeing cbg stuff in homemade instrument info. One thing led to another....

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Janis Wilson Hughes on April 16, 2016 at 9:56am

Way, THANK YOU! Just wondered out loud last night if rubbing alcohol would take the obnoxious ink off. Very good! I'm on it!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by sparky37 on April 16, 2016 at 4:56pm

Clear PVC pipe cleaner takes the ink off. Scrub the lettering off with the cotton dapper provided (hooked to the lid) and give the surface of the pipe a few minutes to re-harden. Care must be taken with this product it is toxic and the fumes can be harmful, follow the instructions carefully. It can be found in the plumbing section at any hardware store. Careful it is like water, real thin and dripps all over and it will take the finish right off your wood floor.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Janis Wilson Hughes on April 17, 2016 at 10:38am

Way, thank you again! I tried alcohol this morning, and it didn't work. Then I tried non-acetone nail polish remover which also didn't work. I bought some spray paint today that supposedly works on PVC to paint the whole thing black. I haven't tried it yet.