new project - cigar box guitar flight case

I've started it. It's shaped like a flight case and made from wood. It will hold two CBG's and have a battery powered amp built in. I'm pretty excited about it. The case is made from some old pitch pine boards that are painted a sort of grey/greeny blue colour and because it's old, it has gone crazy. That will form the edges of the case, sort of like a deep picture frame with a rebate along one side where a piece of plywood fits to form the main top and bottom of the case. It will have foam glued inside to form shapes for the guitars to lie in. I'm looking for some cheap velvet to cover the foam and make a nice inside. I'm putting some photos on here to show how it is progressing. Probably take a few weeks to finish. Keep dropping in here to see how it's going. First picture shows the bottom section from the outside. There will be a speaker for the amp mounted in it.

Second picture is a close-up of the nice old crazed paint. The actual colour is slightly greener than this.

Third picture is the inside of the bottom section with two guitars placed in to help work out the layout for the foam sponge.

Update 18th Jan - started fitting foam pieces around guitars and made some compartments for the amp, speaker and accessories. I put a wanted ad on Freecycle for some velvet to line it with and some kind lady dropped off two wine red curtains. It will look great when done. I had a suggestion from a CBG freind in the Netherlands to use the lid as a stompbox, so I'm going work on that plan too. Building this is on hold for a while. Three guitars have gone to new homes so I need to make a couple more now.

Cigar Box Guitar questions

I had a couple of questions asked about how to make a pick-up and anchoring strings. I thought it a good idea to post my answer on here too.

Q. - "I'm totally fascinated by the cigar box guitar and am trying to put one together right now. I think the first problem was how to get the strings/tail done, and I'm opting to just make very small holes and let the ball at the end hold things. The other problem is amplifying, a piezo has me stumped. I know Radio Shack has them and I've been told they simply wire over to an input jack ... but I was wondering if you have any suggestions as to how I can easily get the thing wired for amplification."

A. - The neck passes straight through the box and out the back about 5cm to provide anchorage for the ball end of the strings. I drill three holes about 1cm apart. I find that when strung, the strings start to cut into the wood so I make a small metal plate out of brass or alloy which I screw onto the tail just in front of the holes so that it takes the pressure of the strings off the wood and stops it cutting through. It helps keep the thing in tune as it stops you losing tension from them cutting into the wood.

Pickup - easy. It's a ceramic piezo transducer disc. Some people buy a piezo buzzer which has one in and they rip it apart. Hard work when you can just buy the disc anyway. It looks like a thin a brass disc with a white coating in the middle (like a fried egg). There are two wires soldered to it, one to the brass outer and one to the coating. Carfeully unsolder them and discard the wires. You need some screened twin cable and a 1/4 inch jack socket. On one end of the cable solder one wire to the inner of the jack and the other wire and the screen wire together to the outer. At the pickup end trim the outer covering back about 2 cm and cut off the screen. Very very carefully solder one wire to the brass and one to the coating where the old wires were. Be carfeul because the coating is fragile. If it breaks off when soldering just try soldering another small blob on another area, it usually works OK. Before fixing to the guitar, plug it into an amp and just tap the disc, if it clicks it's OK, if it's dead then you got it wrong. When OK I fix the socket into the body then glue the disc (brass side) with Araldite to the inside of the box just under where the bridge/saddle is going to be. I also add a blob of hot glue to stick the cable to the lid just to stop it flapping about and ripping your wires off. I don't bother with vol. or tone controls, just use those on the amp. Job done.

Squidoo

Just found this cool site where you can create a mini blog in a few minutes. They call each blog a "lens". I put a CBG lens on there. You can see it from this link.

http://www.squidoo.com/smojocigarboxguitars/

Cigar box guitar playing on YouTube

Been experimenting with some short videos on YouTube to demonstrate my CBGs. Here's a bit of slow improvisation inspired by the Delta. Check out my others at

http://www.youtube.com/smojomusic

metal slides for cigar box guitars

The guitars I make are purely for slide playing. The slide I use and like best is a heavy brass tube. I have tried pyrex which is a very thin glass. The glass is quite soft and scratches after a while. They break when you drop them too, hence I don't have one any more. They are too lightweight for my liking. Heavier slides are good for creating a decent vibrato too, they seem to "wobble" better on your finger. Real glass bottlenecks are cool being heavy but are hard to make. I've tried copper tubing making slides from hot water pipes but copper is too soft too and gives a dull sound compared to brass. I reckon a decent chromed tube would be good too.

I've been looking for scrap brass or chrome tubing to make some slides to go with my guitars. I called at a scrap metal merchant today and bought an old chromed towel rail. The type that is plumbed into your heating system. It's brass underneath. I reckon I can cut it up into small lengths, file the ends smooth and make about 40 slides out of it. I'm going to make one soon as a prototype so I'll report back on how good it is. I like the idea of recycling too. Most parts of the guitars are from recycled materials and it has a good vibe, good mojo, to make useful things out of scrap.

Update 19 Oct 2007 - I made a couple and they are great, nice smooth action and clean sound

next cigar box guitar projects

So I've just about finished my latest guitar and feel like a new challenge. I have an idea to make a sort of hard case to hold a CBG. I also want to build a battery powered amp into it too. It will make a complete "buskers" kit. It could take a while as I haven't designed it yet and will need to play around with ideas first.

I need to sell some of my "babies" too now. Getting short of space and a bit of working cash would help fund some more projects. I haven't really applied myself to selling them so far. A few friends have seen them and wanted one but that area has dried up. I need to do some marketing. Anyone out there got any bright ideas?

Making a Cigar Box Guitar - Part 4 - the bridge

There are different materials/items used for the bridge but it needs to be a hard material. Some people use a threaded eye hook. I tried it but wasn't happy. I make my own simple bridge using some hard wood like oak or mahogany - a small piece left from the neck will do. I make it about 5 cms long and shape the cross section into an upside down T shape. The saddle part where the strings cross is only about 3 or 4 mm wide. I make it using a small router bit mounted in a drill stand. I cut very shallow grooves (1 mm) about 1 cm apart for the strings to sit in.

I string it up temporary but not full tension and place the bridge in it's approx position. Pass the string through the bottom of the holes you drilled at the base of the neck. You need to find the exact spot for correct intonation. I use a tuner and play one string open and tune it to an exact note (e.g. A) The twelve fret should be exactly one octave higher. I use a screwdriver shaft as a slide for this process as the narrowness makes it more accurate. Place it over the 12th fret and move the bridge either further up or down the box until the octave is bang over the twelth. You can mark it's position if you intend glueing the bridge to the box. I don't usually bother as it gives me the option of fine tuning the intonation whenever I want.

The design of my necks means that there isn't quite enough backwards offset on the neck (like a Fender) to provide enough tension of the strings over the nut. Like Fender I get round this by fitting "string trees" which pull the strings down onto the nut. I sometimes use small screw eyes and thread the string through the eye. Sometimes I make a small metal bar with a hole at each end and two small screws through them into the headstock. The bar presses down on all three strings simultaneously. Once you have these fixed you can string it up and tune it.

These small refinements are something you can experiment with. Once you have the basic box, you'll find little ways of improving them. All part of the creative fun.

More refinement tips to come ......

A new cigar box guitar in the pipeline

I'm coming out of the creative darkness, the job still sucks but I need to feed my soul. Haven't even played my CBG's for a while. I picked one up last night to play and the bug struck me again. I'm "cheering myself up" by making a new one.

It's going to be pretty cool. The box is a nice yellow Cuesto Rey cigar box. The neck is light oak and I've stained the fretboard very dark. The headstock will be painted yellow on the face to match the box. The fret markers and dots will probably be done by cutting shallow grooves and drilling shallow holes to expose the light colour underneath. It will have the usual 3 string set-up and a piezo pick-up.

I'm taking my time and savouring the project. The body and electrics are made, the neck half made. I'll post a photo when I have something to show.

update Aug 25th :- Just finished it and it's one of my best so far. Just a couple of minor tweaks and then I'll photograph it and put it on here.

When work gets in the way of cigar box guitars

My apologies to any regular visitors - I just haven't had time or energy to make any CBG's lately. My company got bought out by another bigger one and life has been hell ever since. I've had six months of stress and anxiety and no energy left to make any new CBG's and so the content of this blog has been a bit thin on the ground. I'm still here though, playing, and thinking about them. Hell, it's what keeps me sane. Anyway there's plenty in here for newcomers and re-visitors to whet your appetite for cigar box guitars.

So the point is this. What are we here for? Working for some big corporate fat cats or exploring our creative natures. Hmmm let me think. Well, I know what I like best but it doesn't pay the bills. Most of us have to put up with crappy jobs/bosses in order to feed and clothe ourselves but what we really want is FUN. So that's why we take up such weird activities isn't it? Keep on indulging your passions that's what I say. As long as you have something to be passionate about, you can hold it together in this world.

If you haven't made one yet, go ahead. You'll get a real buzz out of creating something of your own and a helluver lot of fun playing it.

making a cigar box guitar part 3 - the box

So it's time for the box. It needs to be a wooden one not cardboard. I mainly use the paper covered ply boxes with hinged lids. I cut about a 1 inch (25mm) soundhole in the lid using a Forstner bit. The neck will fit just under the lid when closed so you need to cut notches in the ends for it to drop into. I open the lid and mark the centres of the two ends. Measure the section of the neck and mark this at these centres, allow a bit more depth for the thickness of the lid which usually sits inside the sides.

Carefully cut these pieces out using a coping saw or sharp craft knife. Aim for a close tight fit. The neck should fit into it now so try closing the lid - you might need to make it a bit deeper yet - the neck should protrude out the back a couple of inches (about 2 cm). There will be a gap under the neck between it and the bottom of the box. I make two pieces of narrow wood to fit tightly in this gap to support the neck and glue one at each end of the box. When set I drill through the back of the box and through these blocks. Next I put a wood screw with cup washer through each hole and and screw into the neck. Obviously choose screw lengths that won't come right through the neck. This secures the neck to the box.

If adding piezo pick-up I next drill a hole for the jack socket, glue the piezo disc to the underside of the lid where the bridge will be and wire it out. When happy with it close the lid and secure it with a few panel pins (usually there's one already in it in the middle - add another at each end)

coming next - the bridge, string trees and stringing it up. Any questions feel free to mail me.

cigar box guitars for sale

Finally got around to putting some photos and details of my guitars that are available for sale onto my web site. You can check them out at

www.smojomusic.co.uk

There are presently three guitars and a portable amplifier. I have graded the guitars as either "standard" or "custom". The construction is the same but the custom guitars have a piezo pick-up, and a strap added. I am presently only intending shipping to the UK mainly due to the complications of accepting payment in other currencies but am open to the possibility.

making a cigar box guitar part 2 - the neck

This a brief description of how I make the necks. I use hardwood like oak or mahogany usually recovered from old furniture and ripped down to approx 20 x 30 mm section and about a metre long. I round off the corners slightly with a plane and rasp then sand down smooth.

I use another guitar neck to find the positions for nut, bridge and frets. I have made a template on thin MDF and use this to mark the positions in pencil allowing sufficient length for the headstock and for the neck to pass through the length of the cigar box and protrude about 50mm for attaching the ball end of the strings.

I mostly use 3 in a line tuners which means you need to remove some material from the front of the headstock to create an angle for the strings to drop down to over the nut (look at a Fender for the principle). I mark the positions of each tuner post and drill three holes for them to pass through.

I place the neck over the box so that the bridge will be about 1/3 up the length of the box and mark the neck about 10 mm inside where the box ends will be. This section which will be hidden in the box needs about 3mm removing - this is to stop the neck resting on the inside of the lid and dulling the sound.

I cut a small groove across the neck where the nut is to go and glue in a large threaded bolt for the actual nut.

I drill three small holes near the bottom end of the neck abou 10 mm apart for strings to pass through. The fret positions and dot markers are now burnt on using a woodburning tool (or old soldering iron). Also my signature "smojo" on the headstock. I "treat" the neck with a couple of thin coats of tung oil then rub smooth when dry with a cotton rag. Finally I attach the tuners.

This is just a rough guide, if you want any tips feel free to leave a comment or e-mail me.

Next part 3 - preparing the box

resonator cigar box guitar

Just because I'm really "into" resonator guitars at the moment I am thinking my next CBG might be an attempt at one. Of course it won't have the proper aluminium cone but something else that might act as a sort of loudspeaker which is what the reso does. I will have to start scouting for something suitable. Kepp you informed when I do.

New cigar box guitar photos coming

Been busy so haven't done much CBG stuff lately. Mainly because I got sidetracked looking for a resonator guitar. I found a bargain single cone Ashbury on Ebay. Sounds great played with slide but I won't let it overshadow my CBG projects.

Here's some new CBG's. The headstock close-up belongs to the Monte Christo box and is purely acoustic. The second guitar has piezo pick-up and strap as extras.

Stefan Grosman downloads

This a great site I found, not about CBGs but some radio programs Stefan did about blues, it's history and guitar playing. You can download MP3 versions for free. Each clip is about 6meg so you need broadband/ADSL but I highly recommend it for blues buffs.

http://guitarvideos.com/radio/00radio.htm

cigar box guitars through effects pedals

Just been playing with pushing my CBGs through different effects and amplifying them. I've been using a Zoom 505 and there are some amazing sounds to be found. Coupled with the unusual sound of playing slide guitar, the responses of the piezo pickups as opposed to normal wire wound coils - you can get some great results. One setting gives a sort of violin type effect. When you pluck a note, it sort of zooms in the sound (by volume). It works brilliantly with notes slid from one to another. I must try to record a sample and put it on my Mutiply site. I have some other sound clips on there if you haven't found them yet the link is:-

http://smojo.multiply.com/music/item/1

cigar box guitar resolutions

I don't like making new year resolutions because they usually don't last long. It's not a bad idea in away though, it helps to focus on what you want to achieve. I've a number of things I want to get done and they're noy big tasks. It just takes time and commitment. Maybe it's the Winter blues or maybe because my job has been at risk for a few months but I've been lacking motivation for creativity. It's still there but it takes a lot of effort to get the juices flowing. Here's what I want to do and we'll see how I get on.

1. Put the finishing touches of straps and logos to a couple of guitars
2. Photograph them and put them on here and my website at www.smojomusic.co.uk
3. Make some effort to sell them so I can recoup some costs and :-
4. Make some more cigar box amps with the money
5. Sell some amps :)
6. Make some "proper" bottleneck slides. I have a tile cutter and a pile of empty wine bottles which I have been meaning to have a go at
7. Write some more instructions on making CBGs to put on here (sorry if you've been waiting for the next installment)
8. Make a hard case with built in portable amp -see my next blog for an explanation

That's it - should keep me going till next New Year at least,

Happy New cigar box guitar Year

Hi and Happy New Year. Haven't done much cbg work lately with Christmas etc. I'm pleased with the cigar box amplifier I made. I have a few small modifications to make otherwsie I'm happy enough with it to offer it for sale eventually. I've been experimenting with making other instruments but none have been particularly successful yet. Time to get back to cbg building I think. Watch out for more on here soon.