Building a Cigar Box Guitar 101

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Building a Cigar Box Guitar 101

This group is for discussing the basics of CBG building for newer builders - where to start, what to do, common pitfalls, tips and techniques.

Keep in mind that new builders can find other great informative articles on CBG building, as well as most of the parts you'll need, over at C. B. Gitty Crafter Supply!

Members: 1746
Latest Activity: Mar 20

Discussion Forum

Cutting deep boxes in half

Started by Justin Stanchfield. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 20. 9 Replies

Attention 1st time builders!

Started by BrianQ.. Last reply by MadGomer Feb 27. 2 Replies

Brickhouse CBG Wiring

Started by Ian Boyd. Last reply by Ian Boyd Dec 11, 2023. 1 Reply

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Comment by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on September 22, 2016 at 3:39am

Thanks for responding again Wayfinder. I'm going to have to start paying you a retainer wage as my personal adviser lol. With what you say about the ukelele scale length comparison I've considered just using it as a ukelele. Problem is that adding the quite long headstock and the amount of space behind the bridge I may struggle to get strings to fit. I think I'll just keep it as is, maybe put some super lights on it and tune it gdgb or ac#ea and use it as an instrumental finger picking guitar. Like I said, me not singing is a good thing! Thanks for the help.

Comment by Robert Killen on September 22, 2016 at 3:37am

Mornin' Grey!

It's not a great analogy, but if I have a 2 ft length of 1/2" thick rope I can pull it taut pretty easily. If it's a 50 ft length I could pull as hard as I can and I probably never get it straight. But then with a lighter rope, it'd be a lot easier.

I know you wanted to tune it to G, but it sounds like that key doesn't fit your vocal range very well. You can always keep it for lessons, then switch back to a D instrument for singing.

I think to drop your pitch you just want to put on heavier gauge strings, tune it lower, and then decide if it gets too muddy.

Comment by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on September 22, 2016 at 3:12am

Got me curious too Robert lol. Your quote helps lots though. What I don't understand is since the strings require less tension why are they higher pitched and not lower? I would have imagined it would be the other way around but my 19" scale is so high pitched I doubt I'd be able to sing along with it. No bad thing if I don't sing and less cruel on listeners but I do feel I may be limiting my options. I wonder what I could do with it to get a lower tone. I thought an octaver pedal but listened on YouTube and it sounds awful. Maybe an eq pedal would help? Something else?

Comment by Robert Killen on September 22, 2016 at 2:57am

This thread got me curious about the effect of shorter scale lengths. I found this explanation at guitarnoise.com - "

"A guitar’s feel is also affected by the tension of the strings. A guitar with a shorter scale length (like the Gibson Les Paul) requires less tension to reach concert pitch than a guitar with a longer scale (like the Fender Strat). This is true, as long as both are strung with the same gauge strings. One advantage of less string tension is a “looser” feel, making bending and vibrato more fluid.

So, then, why aren’t all guitars built with a shorter scale? Obviously we’d all benefit from that slinky feel, right? Well, guitars with greater tension benefit from a “tighter” sound due to better clarity in their higher overtones. This is often referred to as “twang.” Shorter scale guitars also have trouble accepting heavier gauged strings because the slackened tension causes wider vibration and fret buzz."

That all makes sense. But didn't I see somewhere on here that a baritone CBG typically has a shorter than normal scale length?

Curiouser and curiouser.

Comment by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on September 22, 2016 at 12:03am

Thanks Philip. Does your three string have a magnetic pickup? I was wondering how loud they are with them being super lights but really good to hear your praise of them. Much appreciated. 

Comment by Philip Hale on September 21, 2016 at 11:26pm
Those Didario Super lites are great. I just fitted the 3rd 4th and Fifth to a 3 string slide tuned GDG
and they sound good.
Comment by Paul Craig on September 21, 2016 at 9:50am
You might be able to tune to that F7 tuning Shane talked about. it sounds pretty good. F/C/Eb/A
Comment by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on September 21, 2016 at 6:21am

Had a look at the messages from the seller about what gauge he put on it and think I'll try a set of D'Addario super lights or, more likely since I like the brand, Rotosound R8 strings and pray that the neck doesn't snap. I don't think it should or will but there's always that worry. I was of the impression that shorter scales meant greater tension on the strings. I now think that's wrong. Or not. I don't know any more lol. Thanks for helping Paul and Thomas. Much appreciated. The strings seem quite new as they are and there's nothing wrong, that an octave pedal wouldn't fix, with keeping them on for now. I have open G instruments so have the option of learning on them and trying to transfer that knowledge over to this new one. Probably worrying or stressing over nothing. Thanks again and hope you're both having a good day :)

Comment by Paul Craig on September 21, 2016 at 5:11am

Sounds like it has the D/G/B/high E strings on it. You might be able to tune up without breaking the strings, but it's going to be close. Depends on how old the strings are they'll have to go up 3 whole steps. Might go up in steps for awhile then sneak up to G if you can or wait til get the right strings. Using a capo on a 19" scale doesn't leave a lot of frets to play on.

Comment by Thomas "Duck" Petry on September 21, 2016 at 2:46am

Most of my builds are 25.5" scale 3 string fretless and I use the .044 - .034 - .026 bronze wound steel string sets that I buy in bulk and tune in Gdg.  I built one with a small box and 18" scale and used the same strings tuned Gdg and it worked fine.  Those strings have worked fine for me with both piezo and magnetic pups.

 

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Discussion Forum

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Started by Larry Sobol. Last reply by Larry Sobol Oct 1, 2022. 6 Replies

C. B. Gifty three string fretless kits.

Started by jon neet. Last reply by Taffy Evans Aug 16, 2022. 6 Replies

Frettin' and stainin'

Started by Doug Laffin. Last reply by Order99 Aug 11, 2022. 4 Replies

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Started by Paul Craig. Last reply by Paul Craig Jul 17, 2022. 14 Replies

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Started by Roy Smith. Last reply by the anonymous pick May 15, 2022. 2 Replies

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