I'm building my first CBG and I can't decided whether I want to build a 3, 4, or 5 string. I do have experience outside of here (upright bass, electric bass, mandolin, dulcimer, a little bit of guitar and lapsteel). What would you all, in your own op
Read more…I just put together this list. Yes it is not all for building/plans etc but it could be useful. Members could build upon it. Here you will find the following plans: http://www.cigarboxnation.com/page/free-plans How to Build a Cigar Box Guitar These
Read more…Built my first CBG by the old tried and true method on the plans page. I used tuners off an old electric and the strings sit extremely high using the 1/4" eyebolt bridge and 8/32" nut bolt method. The nut bolt actually won't even stay in place it's s
Read more…So I'm seeing a lot of discussions (duh, here) about construction and what-if's. I seemed to see a discussion (Ted?) on using hide/gelatin glue. So my questions are: 1 Would hide/gelatin glue work to secure fretboard to neck and/or neck to box? Woul
Read more…How tight a fit should there be between the neck and the box lid? I can get the neck to fit very snugly up against the lid, which looks real nice, but is it going to keep the lid from vibrating freely and thus damp the sound? Should I leave a small g
Read more…I am in my first build. I am doing a frett-less neck, 25.5 scale and will be using brass bolts for the nut and bridge. The brass nut will be embedded into the neck. That the neck is flat and flush with the body can I use the height dimensions that ar
Read more…I'm wondering what the best method is for cutting out the holes for a soundhole? I'm planning on using drain covers with diameters anywhere between 1-7/8 up to 4 inchies in diameter. I bought a keyhole saw but I'm not sure how well it will work. Than
Read more…I'm building a couple of CBGs with poplar necks. The blanks are the usual 3/4" 1X2 stock from Lowes. How deep should the cutout in the neck inside the box be? I've cut back about 3/8", or half the thickness of the wood. Will the neck be stable enough
Read more…I see these charts and diagrams...blah blah blah, but none of them are 101. They all start off with the assumption that you know what the heck you are looking at. I dont know what the parts are called that go into a pickup and I dont know any of the
Read more…What's the usual practice in setting scale lengths and frets? In most of the other discussions I've read, a lot of people figure out the scale length they want and build the guitar to that measure. In my case, I don't know what scale length I want. I
Read more…I'm building my 2nd CBG now and I have some questions about strings. First, a few details about the guitar. It is 24" scale, fretless, 4 string, with a standard single coil pickup from a strat. It is made from a smaller red Punch cigar box (Magnums)
Read more…I know you all hve covered this some where .What to build one have box an a piece of populer. But need a site that will show me from the very start.In detail if you can.Really Great site shane. Thanks ShopDave52
Read more…I've been building these on and off for about year, always on the cheap and pretty basic. I'm a city kid with very little cash to spend on tools and I know very little about good tools anyway, so most of my work has been done with a steak knife and a
Read more…I want to put a volume pot on my CBG (so i can control volume!). I have used a piezo transducer and I don't know which specifications of potentiometer I should use. Can anyone give me advice?
Read more…I'm sure this question has been asked somewhere in here. I've looked and I havent been able to find any info on nut files. Does anyone have any info on inexpensive alternatives to the Stewmac etc. nut files? Ive seen what looks like wire files, and p
Read more…Building my first CBG and am looking for advice on frets. The neck is cherry if that makes a difference. I don't have a fretboard was planning on fretting right onto the neck.
Read more…Hey all. In what order do you all cut the fret grooves, stain/seal, sand, and put in frets? I guess I would cut the fret grooves, then sand, stain, and seal, and then add the fret wire. Only thing I'm thinking is that the stain and sealant would clo
Read more…hi, I want to build an acoustic 3string, and I got this cigar box which is mostly covered with paper (attached). It looks really cool, but what kind of finish or varnish can I use on it, so that the design is preserved? If I don't use anything it wil
Read more…I would like to build a 4 string resonator. Would like to use found objects for the resonator cone, such as pie pan etc. Any ideas are instructions would be appreciated.
Read more…i'm about to start on my first cigar box guitar with a paper covered wood box. any tips on how to not make an awful, awful mess out of the paper covering?
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