Cigar Box Fiddles - Plans, ideas, tips & more

Information

Cigar Box Fiddles - Plans, ideas, tips & more

Idea trading post for bowed instruments. Share photos and tips of fiddles and whatnot that you've built, acquired or seen.

Members: 153
Latest Activity: Nov 8, 2023

Discussion Forum

Bow for cigar box fiddle

Started by Phil Thomas. Last reply by Phil Thomas May 23, 2017. 2 Replies

My First Cigar Box Fiddle

Started by Tim LaFave. Last reply by Alan Hawkins Mar 4, 2016. 7 Replies

Pochette build

Started by Jaber. Last reply by Jaber Jan 20, 2016. 2 Replies

First cigar box fiddle

Started by Slow Slough Guitars Dec 22, 2014. 0 Replies

First "cello" build

Started by Jaber. Last reply by Jaber Apr 26, 2014. 7 Replies

Building the "Stumpwater" fiddle

Started by Al Lyons. Last reply by Gipson Fat Fingers Shoemaker Feb 7, 2014. 29 Replies

Bass

Started by Redbelly. Last reply by Reeds Taylor Sep 21, 2013. 3 Replies

how to add an adjustable shoulder rest?

Started by Paul Cooper. Last reply by Paul Cooper Aug 29, 2013. 6 Replies

Tremendous online violin making site!

Started by Diane in Chicago Jun 15, 2013. 0 Replies

"Tips on How I Build a CB Fiddle"

Started by Tim LaFave. Last reply by Tim LaFave May 25, 2013. 4 Replies

Comment Wall

Comment

You need to be a member of Cigar Box Fiddles - Plans, ideas, tips & more to add comments!

Comment by PhilUSAFRet on August 18, 2020 at 11:46am

thinking of a two string, tuned 1? octave apart...play like a one string, can use bow to give it a dual string sound more in keeping with regular fiddle.  Sound reasonable?

Comment by Mark Bliss on November 7, 2017 at 1:05pm

What I meant about the fingering is that most people struggle with the half step on a single string, being so close as the feeling like full size fingers almost need to overlap a little to hit the right notes. Especially as you move away from the first position.

I cant offer much on the tuning question, I usually trend the other way if I use alternative tunings tuning a concert uke to fifths like a mando etc....  

I cant imagine trying to play a fiddle with re-entrant tuning, but hey..... People have done stranger things.

Comment by PhilUSAFRet on November 7, 2017 at 12:14pm

Thanks, planning on a 2 string anyway, so not worried about standard "fingering." Wondering how gCEA tuning would work, have it on my mando, tenor banjo, and of course my ukes.

Comment by PhilUSAFRet on November 7, 2017 at 10:01am

Thanks Mark.

Comment by Mark Bliss on November 6, 2017 at 3:56pm

I'd suggest a full sized neck/scale length.For one thing, half step fingerings will be near impossible for adult hands on any shorter scale length. Its alrady difficult enough!.......

What you will find is that with most "box style" builds, a shorter tail piece may be desired. 

I strongly recommend a scale drawing/layout/plan for figuring out what is needed here. Guessing isnt gonna have a great result without a heap of luck.

Comment by PhilUSAFRet on November 6, 2017 at 12:40pm

If I use a regular unfinished violin neck, what size works best, full size? 3/4?

Comment by Dave Steingart on May 5, 2017 at 4:21pm
Yes got it. Thanks again!
Comment by James McFadyen on May 5, 2017 at 3:45pm
@Dave Steingart: I didn't glue the fingerboard in place until I got the action pretty close to what I wanted. I think I used a straightedge to measure the string action before actually stringing it up as I usually do that when making a guitar. I taped the bridge in place temporarily when checking just to keep it from moving around. If you look at the side view of my build, you can see the shims.
Comment by Dave Steingart on May 5, 2017 at 2:47pm
Thank Mark, great advice and very helpful.
Comment by Dave Steingart on May 5, 2017 at 2:25pm
Thanks James. I thought the fingerboard is glues down. How do you shim it if it is fastened to the neck?

T
 

Members (153)

 
 
 

The Essential Pages

New to Cigar Box Nation? How to Play Cigar Box GuitarsFree Plans & How to Build Cigar Box GuitarsCigar Box Guitar Building Basics

Site Sponsor

Recommended Links & Resources


Discussion Forum

Bow for cigar box fiddle

Started by Phil Thomas. Last reply by Phil Thomas May 23, 2017. 2 Replies

My First Cigar Box Fiddle

Started by Tim LaFave. Last reply by Alan Hawkins Mar 4, 2016. 7 Replies

Pochette build

Started by Jaber. Last reply by Jaber Jan 20, 2016. 2 Replies

First cigar box fiddle

Started by Slow Slough Guitars Dec 22, 2014. 0 Replies

First "cello" build

Started by Jaber. Last reply by Jaber Apr 26, 2014. 7 Replies

Building the "Stumpwater" fiddle

Started by Al Lyons. Last reply by Gipson Fat Fingers Shoemaker Feb 7, 2014. 29 Replies

Bass

Started by Redbelly. Last reply by Reeds Taylor Sep 21, 2013. 3 Replies

how to add an adjustable shoulder rest?

Started by Paul Cooper. Last reply by Paul Cooper Aug 29, 2013. 6 Replies

Tremendous online violin making site!

Started by Diane in Chicago Jun 15, 2013. 0 Replies

"Tips on How I Build a CB Fiddle"

Started by Tim LaFave. Last reply by Tim LaFave May 25, 2013. 4 Replies

Newbie from Asheville, NC

Started by Al Lyons. Last reply by Diane in Chicago Jan 10, 2013. 2 Replies

Little travel fiddle

Started by Diane in Chicago. Last reply by Diane in Chicago Jan 9, 2013. 9 Replies

3/4 Ohio fiddle

Started by the cigarbox table guy. Last reply by Yellowbelly Flatt Dec 30, 2012. 5 Replies

some violin pics

Started by Elmar Zeilhofer. Last reply by CrocBite May 22, 2012. 4 Replies

CB Fiddle #2 and furthermore

Started by Diane in Chicago. Last reply by Elmar Zeilhofer May 21, 2012. 18 Replies

My first attemp at a cigar box fiddle. :-)

Started by Rick Hunt. Last reply by Rick Hunt Mar 18, 2012. 23 Replies

How to take a fiddle apart?

Started by Dave Onastik. Last reply by Diane in Chicago Mar 13, 2012. 5 Replies

Build Update

Started by Bobby Wallen. Last reply by Order99 Mar 3, 2012. 5 Replies

First time build and I have a few questions

Started by Bobby Wallen. Last reply by Tristan Chambers Feb 22, 2012. 2 Replies

Latest Activity

BrianQ. liked Gary O'slide's video
6 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on Doug Thorsvik's photo
Thumbnail

Flathead Diddley Bow

"Thanks. Wow! That becomes a spendy box Alan. They are pretty distinctive though. I have a few on…"
10 hours ago
Nigel McTrustry posted a video

Nigel McTrustry & The Hound Dogs are Loose! - Yellow Dog - Live - Original - Cigar Box Guitar

Nigel McTrustry & The Hound Dogs are Loose! Yellow Dog (McTrustry)@ The Cave Inn Brisbane, Australia.The song is currently on Spotify.
10 hours ago
AGP # commented on Doug Thorsvik's photo
Thumbnail

Flathead Diddley Bow

""Sweet Doug" :-), have seen quite a few Flathead Builds over the years, great looking…"
12 hours ago
AGP # liked David Dodt's photo
12 hours ago
AGP # liked David Dodt's photo
12 hours ago
AGP # liked David Dodt's photo
12 hours ago
AGP # liked Doug Thorsvik's photo
12 hours ago
AGP # liked Doug Thorsvik's photo
12 hours ago
AGP # liked Doug Thorsvik's photo
12 hours ago
AGP # liked Aaron Green's photo
12 hours ago
Keith Rearick liked Gary O'slide's video
14 hours ago

Events

Music

© 2024   Created by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

\uastyle>\ud/** Scrollup **/\ud.scrollup {\ud background: url("https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/963882636?profile=original") no-repeat scroll 0 0 transparent;\ud bottom: 25px;\ud display: inline !important;\ud height: 40px;\ud opacity: 0.3 !important;\ud position: fixed;\ud right: 30px;\ud text-indent: -9999px;\ud width: 40px;\ud z-index: 999;\ud}\ud.scrollup:hover {\ud opacity:0.99!important;\ud}\ud \uascript type="text/javascript">\ud x$(document).ready(function(){\ud x$(window).scroll(function(){\ud if (x$(this).scrollTop() > 100) {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeIn();\ud } else {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeOut();\ud }\ud });\ud x$('.scrollup').click(function(){\ud x$("html, body").animate({ scrollTop: 0 }, 600);\ud return false;\ud });\ud });\ud \ua!-- End Scroll Up -->