Thread: Cigar box guitar build

I've been thinking of having a go at one as well. Looking forward to seeing how it goes.

Me too! If it doesn't work, I will have a really nice box with a stick hanging out of it [emoji23]


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Nice looking top going on it. They all play just some play better than others but remember it's a CBG and they are supposed to have a trashy sound. You may as well put in a piezo pickup to get the best out of it. They dont cost much. Pre wired with volume control should be under $20.
Keep posting the pics I've pulled up a chair.
Regards
John

Thanks John, a friend at work who is into all sorts of guitars mentioned that the top should be no more than 2mm thick. I may run into trouble with the claret ash due to the knot. I have been running it through the thicknesser to get it where it is. My concern is that the knot will end up in the dust extractor if I continue. A drum sander would be ideal, but I don't have one. The options I have are a linisher (900x200) or belt sander. I may try the linisher with some 120 grit and see if I can keep it uniform. I don't think I will take it to 2mm but get as near as I can. I just hope that it doesn't warp or otherwise turn to poo!
I was thinking about piezo or a humbucker mini for the pickup.
Any advice welcome [emoji3]
Cheers Cal


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2mm is the aim in real guitars but with a CBG its not so critical and as you say I dont see that knot holding out that thin. If you get it below 5mm then quit while ahead.
As to pickups a piezo would be my choice for a box being built for sound. Its just acting like a microphone inside. A magnetic/hunbucker pickup would be the pick for a solid body and you have to use steel strings for it to work. That said there are no hard and fast rules and some have been built with both.
As it is your first one just go ahead and have fun building it and playing it. The gray cells will then be mulling over how to make the next one better. I still got my first one and it sure is trashy sounding but thats also part of its charm.
I forgot to mention they are also one of woodwork's slippery slopes so be warned.
Regards
John

It's currently at 6mm, close enough I guess. I'm certainly not hoping for an award winning sound from it. Will go with the piezo then. As you say, it's my first one and I'm just doing it for a bit of fun too.
Haha [emoji23] yes slippery slope indeed! The more I look at guitar builds the more I get sucked into the vortex!!!


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Hi Cal,

Looking good. I was interested in your 900 x 200 linisher. You mean the sanding belt is 900 x 200? I didn't think they made them that size. Any details on it please, make, model, where from etc,.?

Paul

Hi Paul,
Here is a pic

It's an old Porsche branded one, Leda machines do one the same. I'm sure there are others about. It will run with the belt vertical or horizontal, 1.5 hp single phase.
Belt Edge Sanders : LEDACRAFT BIG BOY 80B BELT EDGE SANDER
The belt is 150mm sorry [emoji52]
Hope that helps
Cheers Cal

Thanks Cal for the pic and info. I would love to get hold of a belt sander that was 200 wide, but I dont think they exist. I looked at The Sandpaper Man's site and his belts for sale only go up to 150, so I guess that's it. My outfit takes 1220 x 150 belts.

Paul

I'm guessing that from the linisher you would need to go to a drum sander. How I would love one, if not for the cost of them!


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Hey there Cal, I made my own drum sander a few years ago. Could not live without it now. I rip my timber on my De Walt table saw, can rip up to 150mm wide, then put it through my drum sander for a nice smooth finish, and flat also. I think my link shows roughly what it cost me to make. Plus it only takes up about half the floor space to what a conventional one would occupy. And a lot less cheaper also. Plus I can put very small pieces through it.

Love it,

Paul

my Drum Sander

It's been a while since I started this thread, here is an update.
I had a chance to get in the shed to work on this today. Got the box cut and glued, the top and back are just sitting in place at the moment. Created the neck and head stock from claret ash and the fretboard from myrtle. Decided to do a fretless for this one and as a humbucker with tone and volume control.
Here are a few pics

Well finally all strung up, have to find a cap before I do the wiring, but it’s tuned up nicely to open G. Will try and look for a cap in amongst all my electronics stuff tomorrow.





I decided to swap the front that I had originally earmarked for this to the back as my kids and I liked the look of the back piece better. So the back is now the front.
Will turn up some knobs at some stage too.

Well done Cal, thats looking very blusey.
When I make knobs for CBGs I glue a beer bottle cap on top for that junkyard recycled look.
Regards
John