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Post subject: Got my First Real 3-String. CBG builds.
Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2014 6:03 pm
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G'day.
I've been playing this Cigar Box Guitar now for a few months, bought for $65 on ebay.
It's addictive.

Image

There doesn't seem to be any rules when it comes to playing them, but tuning to G-D-G is a good start. This gives you the middle bit of a spanish tuned 6 string (D-G-D-G-B-D) which I use on my resonators mostly.
You have less strings to work with of course, but you get upper fret access far superior to a regular guitar. I find I have to get more creative in this limited format. My finger picking skills have increased 10x in this short time. It's a very useful training tool and heaps of fun, not a toy.

Image

Well, like every CBG player, I now have the urge to build a couple. As in playing, there are no rules in building. You just need a stick that won't bend and a box to stiick it through.

Are there any other builder/players out there?
Please share your CBG experience.

Goodonya ...Mark.


Last edited by boxbang on Thu Feb 27, 2014 9:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Got my First Real 3-String.
Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2014 7:36 pm
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Good looking cigar box guitar BB. Congratulations!

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Post subject: Re: Got my First Real 3-String.
Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2014 7:47 pm
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Did you buy it at "The Five And Dime"?
Gonna show us some bloody fingers?
Tell Joey not to get married.

:wink: :wink:

Always like seeing interesting acquisitions.

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.


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Post subject: Re: Got my First Real 3-String.
Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2014 8:01 pm
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That looks really, really fun! 8)

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Post subject: Re: Got my First Real 3-String.
Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2014 8:49 pm
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Yes, it sure is fun, kind of liberating in a way. If I play it for a day or so and then pick up a 6 string, it feels like a harp :lol:
Everything I learn on it is easily transferable to my regular playing. The high action and wide string spacing really let you rip in with the finger picking. Fretting notes is no hassle with only 2-3 note chords.
Anyhow, I've come up with a neck design that should work out. I used some Tasmanian Oak and Blackwood (both local hardwoods). The Oak is 40cm x 18cm and about a metre long, cut on a 15 degree angle. The Blackwood fretboard is about 10cm thick, sliced on a table saw and put through a thicknesser.

Image

Unlike the above photo, the headstock piece sits on top of the neck piece so the fretboard covers the join. Glue and clamp for a day or so. A bit of rounding off of the neck with a sander and we're ready to fret.

Image

I encourage you all to get into CBGs. It won't dumb down your playing, but rather enhance it. Building is also a great way to hone your skills cheaply. I have several necks in the works and I'm doing my first ever fret jobs (with varying degrees of success)
I have some boxes ready and some ideas for license plate resonators. I might even try to do a 4 string.

Goodonyaz ...Mark.


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Post subject: Re: Got my First Real 3-String.
Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2014 8:48 am
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I agree. Try building one yourself. It's fun stuff. Here's some links.
http://www.cbgitty.com

You can buy anything cigar box related here including necks, both fretted and non-fretted in all different types of wood. They're very well made. They has a six string neck too.
Another site is:

http://www.cigarboxnation.com

Here you can find lessons, plans, tips from other builders and players. Just great stuff.

Here's one of mine with an amp I built too. Funky stuff.
The box is a Robert Burns cigar box from 1917. Officially my oldest guitar. Burns is supposed to be a distant relative of mine so I thought it fitting. Yep it really works and I've had it out a couple of times.

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Post subject: Re: Got my First Real 3-String.
Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2014 8:57 am
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i have a few cigar boxes and other stuff laying around on a pile waiting for me to build them.


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Post subject: Re: Got my First Real 3-String.
Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 3:09 pm
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That's a beauty 63supro. It's not easy to get antique boxes. The amp's cool too.
I'm just going to use this JAVA box for my first attempt, nice and solid.

Image

My necks are turning out better than expected. This Blackwood has some really nice flame figuring, but it's rock hard and difficult to fit the frets. It's a good education though.

Goodonya ...Mark.


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Post subject: Re: Got my First Real 3-String.
Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 3:32 pm
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Mark, it's a real learning process. I payed way too much for that box and It's pretty small. But it's pretty fun. I'm working on another six stringer with a GFS humbucker. Cheap decent sounding pickups. Just watch the neck bow. Some backbend is better that way when you tension it up, it will straighten a bit. Next I'm gonna try a bedpan. A Shitar. These things sound really cool through some distortion and a good amp. Lots of fun. Have fun with the build. Oh yeah, watch the scale length too. I'm using a Cohiba box this time, it's pretty large about 12" long.

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Post subject: Re: Got my First Real 3-String.
Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 3:57 pm
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boxbang wrote:
G'day.
I've been playing this Cigar Box Guitar now for a few months, bought for $65 on ebay.
It's addictive.

Image

There doesn't seem to be any rules when it comes to playing them, but tuning to G-D-G is a good start. This gives you the middle bit of a spanish tuned 6 string (D-G-D-G-B-D) which I use on my resonators mostly.
You have less strings to work with of course, but you get upper fret access far superior to a regular guitar. I find I have to get more creative in this limited format. My finger picking skills have increased 10x in this short time. It's a very useful training tool and heaps of fun, not a toy.

Image

Well, like every CBG player, I now have the urge to build a couple. As in playing, there are no rules in building. You just need a stick that won't bend and a box to stiick it through.

Are there any other builder/players out there?
Please share your CBG experience.

Goodonya ...Mark.


I contend the 60 minutes interview with the children from Paraguay, who play musical instruments from a garbage heap trumps any cavalier, over-simplified attempt to make a new kind of noise-maker from whom which is probably not from a third-world country. :wink:


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Post subject: Re: Got my First Real 3-String.
Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 5:19 pm
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@JimRusselMills -Yeah mate, I just like playing them. I've always wanted to build musical instruments but lacked the confidence. These are something I believe I can master.
I not sure of the meaning of your post or it's context, or why you had to quote my entire first post, but anyhow Good on you.
63supro, I love the "Shitar" idea. I have an ornate golden biscuit tin which I plan to make into a resonator.
I guess bowed necks are always going to be an issue. My crude, thick fingerboards are actually adding strength to my builds at the moment, and I'm starting with just three strings.
I'll be very interested to see your 6 stringers. Are they the traditional CBG neck through body design? Do they have a truss rod?


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Post subject: Re: Got my First Real 3-String.
Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 7:27 pm
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I met a Bluesman called James "Super Chickan" Johnson, who showed me some he made out of ceiling fans, gas cans and all sorts of junk. He's a fine musician too. He sells them on the web. He's a really nice guy too. i'll get some photo together next week, I have a job in NY tomorrow and Saturday. One of the cheaper 6 string necks comes from CBGitty. Looks kind of like a Tele neck, and it does have a truss rod. You need to mount it to a block. Standard four bolt. I usually don't go all the way through. I did one with a Dano lipstick tube pup and just a volume control. Sounds pretty sweet. I take that one out on gigs. People relly like the way it sounds.

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Post subject: Re: Got my First Real 3-String.
Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2014 12:33 pm
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They can be cool, and are better when they're not expensive--I've seen some expensive ones out there--and I think that takes away from the whole point.

there are some good cigarbox guitar sites out there and lots of great videos.
One day I may get one myself (Or make one myself)

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Post subject: Re: Got my First Real 3-String- Cigar Box builds.
Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2014 5:00 pm
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I've been building a few at once. I finally got this one to a playable state.

ImageImageImage

I carved the nut and saddle out of camel bone, sound pretty good, very resonant. The JAVA box is nice and solid although the top is fibreboard (MDF).
I'm happy with my first effort. The frets and inlays are far from perfect but it plays at least as well as the one I bought. It just needs a pickup now. More builds to follow.
Goodonya ...Mark.


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Post subject: Re: Got my First Real 3-String.
Posted: Tue Feb 25, 2014 11:17 pm
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Another one ready. Cedar Exodus box.

ImageImageImage


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