Making a cigar box guitar is not as difficult as it may seem. The first step is to acquire an empty cigar box, which can be found at most local music or craft stores. Once you have the box, the next step is to gather all of the components needed: a neck, strings, bridge and tuners. You will also need screws and glue for assembly.
Contents:
After gathering all of the necessary parts, lay them out on your workspace and begin putting it together. Start by gluing the neck onto one side of the box so that it is secure. Once it has dried completely, use four screws to attach the bridge onto the opposite side of where you glued the neck in order to hold it in place. After that’s done, add two more screws into each corner of both sides of your cigar box so they act as tuning pegs for your strings when tightened or loosened with a wrench or pliers. Finally string up your guitar using metal strings before tuning it up with a pitch-pipe or electronic tuner and start playing.
Materials Needed
Creating a cigar box guitar requires the right materials to ensure success. A three-string, fretless instrument is made from a wooden box with strings and frets attached, creating an enjoyable sound and unique look. To begin making your own guitar at home, you’ll need:
A cigar box – this will become the body of the guitar and can be found online or in select stores that specialize in cigars. An old shoe box can also work as an alternative if needed.
Wooden dowels – used for stringing up the neck of the guitar, these can be cut down to size using sandpaper to create the perfect fit inside the instrument’s body.
Tuners – necessary for tuning each string on your new creation so it produces quality sound; these come in various sizes and shapes depending on what type of look you’re aiming for.
Strings – made out of nylon or metal, there are multiple thicknesses available to create different sounds depending on what kind of music you’d like to make; light gauge strings are ideal for blues and heavier gauges for rock.
Frets – small pieces of wood that help shape notes along a string’s length; they come pre-cut but can also be handcrafted if desired by cutting tiny slots into the dowel with a saw or chisel.
Some tools may be necessary such as hammers, nails, screwdrivers, pliers and more depending on how intricate your design is going to be; drill presses can also come in handy when working with thicker material like hardwood boards. With all these supplies gathered together you’re ready to start building.
Preparing the Box
In the preparation process of a cigar box guitar, the primary element to pay attention to is the cigar box itself. It should be sturdy enough to handle string tension and hold up against the vibrations generated from playing. The best boxes for this purpose are made with solid wood and often reinforced with metal in some areas. Depending on your desired design, one might need to decide if they want their instrument’s surface to have artwork or left plain.
For those looking to give their guitar an artistic touch, staining or painting can be used as methods of decorating its exterior. Both require materials like sandpaper, paintbrushes, cloths and rags for best results; however it may take several layers before you obtain desired color density and coverage. In addition to this, many customizers also make use of decoupage paper for more elaborate patterns as well as printable designs off the internet that can simply be traced onto the box with a pencil before being cut out accordingly.
Finally when it comes time for construction there are certain items one will need such as screws and glue along with various tools like saws, screwdrivers and drill bits which allow you create correct sized holes in order fit all components together properly; leaving nothing exposed but at same time making sure not too much space between parts either so that it remains secure when tuned up later on down line. With right supplies anyone can put together stunning piece craftsmanship worthy any stage.
Constructing the Neck and Fretboard
Building the neck and fretboard for a cigar box guitar is a relatively simple task that does not require any specialized tools. For starters, you will need some wood – usually maple or mahogany – to construct the neck. Before cutting out your shape, measure the size of your cigar box and decide what length would be appropriate for its dimensions. You may want to use a jigsaw or band saw to cut it out once you have determined the desired size.
For extra stability and strength, make sure to glue two pieces of wood together before cutting out the neck shape. Once you have made the rough cuts with your saw, use sandpaper and a file to create smoother edges and shapes as desired. Make sure to mark where each string will go on either side of the neck before moving on to creating the fretboard itself.
To build a fretboard for your cigar box guitar, firstly determine how wide it should be based on the width of your neck piece from earlier steps; then select an appropriate length again taking into account proportions relative to your cigar box size. Using thin strips of maple or ebony, mark out at least five frets along its length using indelible ink so they are easy to see when it comes time attach them in place atop your main neck piece. To make installation easier later on, pre-drill small holes beneath each fret line marking with a countersink bit. Finally secure each strip in place by gluing down each one over these pre-drilled holes ensuring accurate placement along both its width and length dimensions.
Installing Hardware
Cigar box guitars offer a fun, unique and economical way to build your own instrument. To craft your dream guitar, the next step is to install the necessary hardware. The basics include strings, a neck, frets and tuning pegs. Many also opt for additional features such as pickups and/or truss rods.
Regardless of which extras you choose, it’s important that they are securely fastened to the cigar box so that they can perform optimally. First up is attaching a bridge to the bottom of the box, then mounting the neck on top and finally fixing the strings into place with tuning pegs. Care should be taken when setting up these parts so as not to damage them or reduce their longevity. For example; if screwing in too tightly one runs the risk of splitting wood or cracking plastic components.
Pickups are often added for an amplified sound but require extra installation steps such as soldering wires from each pickup to an audio output jack located on outside of box and ensuring all connections are secure. Once this is done though there’s nothing like knowing you’ve made something yourself.
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