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Cigar Box Guitar

From MAKE Magazine

This project first appeared on the pages of MAKE magazine.
How to make a 3-stringed guitar out of a cigar box.
Author: Mark Frauenfelder
Time required: An afternoon
Difficulty: Easy
Here are instructions for making a cigar box guitar (CBG) Because every CBG is built by hand, using different found and scrounged materials, no two sound alike. I love the suspense of not knowing what kind of “personality” a CBG is going to have until it’s completed. Here’s how to make a plain-vanilla, 3-string CBG that requires a minimum of tools and parts, yet sounds great.
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<h5>Sections</h5>
<ul>
 
   <li>Make the neck.</li>
 
   <li>Install the frets.</li>
 
   <li>Install the tuning pegs.</li>
 
   <li>Attach the neck and hardware. </li>
 
   <li>Get in tune. </li>
 
   <li>Free Online Lessons</li>
 
   <li>Make a bottleneck slide. </li>
 
   <li>Turn it up!</li>
</ul>

                    

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          data-wikiUrl="makeprojects.com/Item/Hole_saw"
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         >            Marker
                                                 <em>or paint</em>                     </li>
          
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          data-wikiUrl="makeprojects.com/Item/Miter_box"
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          data-wikiUrl="makeprojects.com/Item/Phillips_screwdriver"
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                                                 <em>or carpenter's square</em>                     </li>
          
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                  <h5>Relevant Parts</h5>
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          data-wikiUrl="makeprojects.com/Item/Cigar_box"
          data-editUrl="makeprojects.com/Item/Edit/Cigar_box"
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         >            Cigar box
                                                 <em>I buy them at my local cigar store for $3 each. You can also find them on eBay.</em>                     </li>
                
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          data-wikiUrl="makeprojects.com/Item/Lumber"
          data-editUrl="makeprojects.com/Item/Edit/Lumber"
          data-text=""
         >            Lumber
                         <span title="Quantity">(3' length)</span>            , <span>1×2 oak or maple</span>             <em>The actual dimensions are ¾"x1½". A 6' stick, enough for 2 necks, costs about $10. Pick the straightest, flattest, clearest (meaning free of knotholes), piece you can find.</em>                     </li>
                
                  <li
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          data-wikiUrl="makeprojects.com/Item/Guitar_strings"
          data-editUrl="makeprojects.com/Item/Edit/Guitar_strings"
          data-text=""
         >            Guitar strings
                                    , <span>Standard medium-gauge</span>             <em>CBGs typically use open G tuning. I use strings 5, 4, and 3 and tune them to G-D-G.</em>                     </li>
                
                  <li
          data-price=""
          data-image=""
          data-purchaseUrl="www.elderly.com"
          data-wikiUrl="makeprojects.com/Item/Tuning_pegs"
          data-editUrl="makeprojects.com/Item/Edit/Tuning_pegs"
          data-text=""
         >            Tuning pegs
                         <span title="Quantity">(6)</span>                         <em>You can buy a set of 6, enough to build two 3-stringers, for $10. Sometimes they're called "tuning machines."</em>                           <img alt="spacer" src="/img/spacer.gif"> 

                     </li>
                
                  <li
          data-price=""
          data-image=""
          data-purchaseUrl="www.cbgitty.com"
          data-wikiUrl="makeprojects.com/Item/Fret_wire"
          data-editUrl="makeprojects.com/Item/Edit/Fret_wire"
          data-text=""
         >            Fret wire
                                                 <em>$10. You can also use flat toothpicks or go fretless.</em>                           <img alt="spacer" src="/img/spacer.gif"> 

                     </li>
                
                  <li
          data-price=""
          data-image=""
          data-purchaseUrl=""
          data-wikiUrl="makeprojects.com/Item/Cabinet_hinge"
          data-editUrl="makeprojects.com/Item/Edit/Cabinet_hinge"
          data-text=""
         >            Cabinet hinge
                                    , <span>with 3 mounting holes on each side</span>                                 </li>
                
                  <li
          data-price=""
          data-image=""
          data-purchaseUrl=""
          data-wikiUrl="makeprojects.com/Item/Wood_screws"
          data-editUrl="makeprojects.com/Item/Edit/Wood_screws"
          data-text=""
         >            Wood screws
                                    , <span>1", Phillips head</span>             <em>Grip-Rite Fas'ners work well.</em>                     </li>
                
                  <li
          data-price=""
          data-image=""
          data-purchaseUrl=""
          data-wikiUrl="makeprojects.com/Item/Barbecue_skewer"
          data-editUrl="makeprojects.com/Item/Edit/Barbecue_skewer"
          data-text=""
         >            Barbecue skewer
                                    , <span>bamboo</span>             <em>or other hard, thin rod for the bridge and nut. A 3/16×2" bolt also works well for the nut.</em>                     </li>
                
                  <li
          data-price=""
          data-image=""
          data-purchaseUrl=""
          data-wikiUrl="makeprojects.com/Item/Super_glue"
          data-editUrl="makeprojects.com/Item/Edit/Super_glue"
          data-text=""
         >            Super glue
                                                 <em>optional</em>                     </li>
                     </ul>

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   <span>Step 1</span>
                     — Make the neck.   
    ¶ 
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<ul>
 
                  <li>
            <div></div>
            <p>To begin, we’ll cut the neck to length, make the headstock (the part where the tuning pegs go), and saw off a rectangular slice so that the fretboard is flush with the cigar box lid. Making the neck and installing the frets are the most time-consuming parts of the build. Once you’re finished preparing the neck, you’ll be surprised by how fast the rest of the build goes!</p>
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            </li>
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            <p>Using a wood saw, cut the oak or maple lumber to 36". You’ll have to cut it a little shorter later on, but it’s good to start out with more than enough.</p>
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   <span>Step 2</span>
      
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                  <li>
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            <p>Saw off a rectangular slice from the lower end. This is the end that goes into the cigar box. Measure the length and thickness of the cigar box lid. I use the box itself as a guide, tracing along the oak stick with a pencil. Mark these dimensions on the wood, then use a saw to remove the part shaded red in the illustration.</p>
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   <span>Step 3</span>
      
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            <p>Mark the lines for the nut and headstock. Starting from the pencil mark you just made for the bridge, make another mark indicating the scale length (I decided on a scale length of 24½"). This second mark is where the nut will go. Make a third mark ½" farther past the nut. Make a fourth and final pencil mark 3½" beyond the third mark.</p>
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            <p>Sand the fretboard. Now is a good time to sand the top surface of the neck so it’s dead flat. Use a sanding block, starting with rough sandpaper and finishing with fine-grit sandpaper.</p>
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   <span>Step 5</span>
            — Install the frets.   
    ¶ 
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                  <li>
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            <p>I used to be intimidated by the idea of frets. The process seemed mysterious and difficult. But it’s really not. If you take your time and make careful measurements, you’ll have no problem.</p>
      <div></div>
 
            </li>
      <li>
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            <p>Mark the fret locations. Enter your desired scale length into an online fret spacing program (a simple online fret calculator can be found at www.buildyourguitar.com/resources...) and print out the table it generates. Using a yardstick and a square, make pencil marks along the length of the neck to indicate the location of the frets.</p>
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            <p>NOTE: If you don’t want to install metal frets, you can glue flat toothpicks over the pencil marks. They work well, but will eventually wear out. If you want a fretless guitar, go over the pencil marks with a Sharpie or some paint.</p>
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