Cigar box guitar

2010-05-07T05:10:58Z

Paola09:

[[category:Critter42's projects]]

{{Infobox project
|project_name = Cigar Box Guitar
|image = CSGFinished2.jpg
|caption = The completed guitar
|owner = critter42
|version = 1.0
|status = inprogress
|start_date = February 2010
|media =
|flicker =
|facebook =
|myspace =
|youtube =
|digg =
|cost = $23.50
}}

== Overview ==
I wanted a fairly easy project to do to possibly display at [[Fan Table at MidSouthCon|MidSouthCon]], and the current issue of [http://www.makezine.org Make Magazine] had instructions on building a Cigar Box Guitar. While I am not really musically inclined, I thought this might be a fun first project.

== Features ==

* Design and style
** 3-string guitar with a through neck made out of <s>maple</s> red oak stock.
** <s>Steel Strings</s> Bronze acoustic strings
** Fretted neck (may go fretless if the fretting doesn't work out)
** Tailpiece/strings mounted on through end of neck rather than on box
** Toothpick frets and <s>bamboo skewer Nut/Bridge</s> <s>wood chip Nut and threaded bolt Bridge</s> Walnut nut and bridge

== Status ==
=== In Progress ===

* Play!

=== To Do ===

* Build Cracker box amp

=== Completed ===

* Acquisition of materials
* Designing fretboard
* Fabricate head/fretboard/tail
* Fabricate cigar box sound chamber
* Assemble components
** Affix Neck assembly to cigar box sound chamber
** Install hardware
*** Tuning Machines
*** Frets
*** Nut and Bridge
*** Tailpiece
** String guitar
* Tune guitar
* Play!

== Work Log ==

=== Designing fretboard ===
* Determined fret layout using [http://www.fretfind.ekips.org/2d/ Fretfind-2D] with the following parameters (units in inches unless otherwise specified):
** Scale - 24.5
** String width at the nut - .75
** String width at the bridge - .75
** Fretboard Overhang - .375
** Calculation Method - 12 (no unit)
** Number of Frets - 21
** Number of Strings - 3
** Tuning - 1st String - D, 2nd String - G, 3rd String - D

=== Fabricate Head/Fretboard/Tail ===
* Head
** Laid out cut lines for clearing away head and body sections
** Cut away 6" long, .5" section from head end to allow tuning machine pins clearance [[File:CBGHead1.jpg|200px|thumb|center|6" x .5" cut from head end to accommodate tuning machine pins]]
** Sanded sides of head to allow clearance for tuning knobs to turn
** Drilled 3 1/4" holes in center of head for tuning machine pins [[File:CBGHead2.jpg|200px|thumb|center|Head shaped and tuning machine pin holes drilled]]
** Rounded back corners of neck between head and body

* Fretboard
** Printed out fret layout and attached to neck. A piece of clear "magic" tape was placed over each fret line to prevent fret template from becoming loose when sawn through [[File:CBGFretLayout.jpg|200px|thumb|center|Fret template attached to neck]]
** Fret slots cut using hand saw to a depth of about 1/16" to 1/8" [[File:CBGFretsCut.jpg|200px|thumb|center|Fret grooves cut into neck]]
** Filled fret slots with Gorilla Glue and inserted toothpicks. Glued wood nut to top of neck and clamped all pieces securely [[File:CBGFretsPlaced.jpg|200px|thumb|center|Toothpicks placed into fret grooves, glued up and clamped]]
** After glue cured overnight, trimmed and sanded the frets and cut out a slot in neck so the cigar box lid was flush with the fretboard [[File:CSGFretboardfinished.jpg|200px|thumb|center|Frets trimmed and sanded, space for box lid cut out]]

* Tail
** Drilled 3 1/4" holes and put a metal grommet into each hole on each side.
** On back side of tail, put in 3 screws with large heads to anchor strings around. The strings I use have a ring-type knob at the end, so I slip the string through the hole to create a loop around the screw, then pull it tight, thread it through the hole around to the front of the guitar and string as normal [[File:CSGTailHolesDrilled.jpg|200px|thumb|center|Holes in tail drilled and grommeted with string mounting screws placed]]

=== Fabricate Sound Chamber ===

* Drilled 4 holes in lid of cigar box with a forstner bit
* Cut a notch on lid side of box on opposites side to allow neck to fit in snugly [[File:CSGSoundchamber.jpg|200px|thumb|center|Soundbox fabricated]]

=== Assemble Components ===

* Tuning machine inserted into holes and secured with screws
* Neck glued to lid and lid glued to box [[File:CSGAssembled.jpg|200px|thumb|center|All parts assembled, glued and clamped]]
* Cut a 1.5" piece of hardwood for bridge. Sanded to a rounded point and glued to top of box
* Guitar strung and ready to play [[File:CSGFinished2.jpg|200px|thumb|center|Finished cigar box guitar]]

== Future Improvements ==

* Addition of pickups or piezo buzzer to electrify the guitar
* Add more strings
* Make a finger slide
* Build an amp (project log coming soon!)

== Lessons Learned ==

* Freehand-cutting the fret grooves properly requires skill and experience with a saw - a miter box would make the job much easier next time.
* Use harder wood for Nut, or get a pre-made nut from the guitar store. I had to remove the nut and fabricate one from the same bit of scrap wood the bridge was made from
* Cut the neck top at an angle and angle tuning machines so they naturally fall over the neck in the right locations. I had to add a screw to make sure the largest string stayed in the correct location.

== Bill of Materials ==

{{bom-start}}
{{bom-row
| item = Cigar Box
| cost = 0.33
| quantity = 3
| distributor = Tobacco Corner, Ltd
}}
{{bom-row
| item = Red Oak 1" x 2" x 3'
| cost = 3.00
| quantity = 2
| distributor = Lowe's Home Improvement
}}
{{bom-row
| item = Tuning Machines
| cost = 1.75
| quantity = 6
| distributor = Yarbrough's Music
}}
{{bom-row
| item = Guitar Strings
| cost = 1.00
| quantity = 6
| distributor = Yarbrough's Music
}}
{{bom-end}}

Total cost so far: $23.50 + tax

[[File:CBGComponents.jpg|200px|thumb|none|Components for CBG Guitar - cigar box, oak stock, guitar strings, tuning machines and bolt for bridge. Toothpicks for frets not pictured]]

==Related LInks:==

[http://www.healthmuscle.com/'''fat-burning-furnace-review''']

== Tools Used for Construction ==

{{tool|coping saw}}
{{tool|table saw}}
{{tool|hand saw}}
{{tool|drill}}
{{tool|belt sander}}
{{tool|tape measure}}
{{tool|speed square}}

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Cigar box guitar