Ever felt the urge to create music with your own hands? The cigar box guitar, with its roots deep in the American blues tradition, offers a fantastic way to do just that. Simple in design yet surprisingly versatile, a cigar box guitar is more than just an instrument; it’s a piece of history you can play. This guide will walk you through building your own three-string cigar box guitar, perfect for beginners and seasoned crafters alike. Get ready to unleash your inner bluesman!
Understanding the Cigar Box Guitar
Before we dive into the construction, let’s appreciate the charm of the cigar box guitar. Born from necessity and ingenuity, these instruments were traditionally made by people in the early 20th century who couldn’t afford commercially produced guitars. They used readily available materials like cigar boxes, scraps of wood, and whatever else they could find. The result? A raw, soulful sound that’s quintessentially blues. While we’ll be aiming for a more refined build, the spirit of resourcefulness remains key.
Tools and Materials You’ll Need
Gathering your materials and tools is the first step to a successful build. Here’s a comprehensive list of what you’ll need:
The Essentials:
- Cigar Box: Choose a sturdy, empty cigar box. The size is somewhat flexible, but a box around 8-10 inches wide and 6-8 inches deep usually works best. Look for boxes made of wood or sturdy cardboard, as these will resonate better. Avoid flimsy cardboard.
- Neck Wood: A straight piece of hardwood, ideally maple, oak, or even a well-dried piece of pine. It should be at least 30-36 inches long, around 1.5 to 2 inches wide, and about 0.75 to 1 inch thick. This will form the neck of your guitar.
- Tuning Pegs (3): Guitar tuners, or sometimes even banjo tuners, work well. You can find inexpensive sets online.
- String(s) (3): You’ll need strings suitable for a guitar. Light or medium-gauge steel strings work well for a 3-string guitar. Consider G, D, and G for open G tuning or D, A, and D for open D.
- Nut Material: A small piece of bone, hard plastic, or even a thick piece of hardwood will do. This goes at the end of the neck near the tuning pegs.
- Bridge Material: Similar to the nut, you’ll need a small piece of something hard (bone, plastic, or wood) for the bridge. It sits on the cigar box and holds the strings up at the other end.
- Screws: Several wood screws of various sizes. These will be used to attach the neck and the tuners.
- Metal Spacers or Washers (Optional): These can help set the string height and fine-tune your bridge.
- Fret Markers (Optional): Stickers or small dots for marking the fret positions. If you plan to play melodies beyond slides, you’ll want these.
Tools:
- Saw: A handsaw or jigsaw for cutting wood.
- Drill: With various drill bits, for drilling pilot holes for screws and holes for the tuners.
- Screwdriver: Appropriate for your screws. A hand screwdriver or a power drill with screw bit heads.
- Ruler or Tape Measure: Precise measurements are key.
- Pencil: For marking cuts and placement.
- File or Sandpaper: For smoothing rough edges.
- Clamps: For holding parts together while glue dries.
- Glue: Wood glue.
- Safety Glasses and Gloves: Protect yourself.
Step-by-Step Construction
Now that you have your tools and materials, let’s get to building! Here’s the detailed step-by-step process:
Step 1: Preparing the Cigar Box
Inspect your cigar box thoroughly. Make sure it’s sturdy and free from damage. Remove any labels you don’t want on it. You might want to give the inside and outside a light sanding to make the surface smooth. If your cigar box is made of paper or thin cardboard, consider adding some internal bracing for extra stability. Strips of thin wood or cardboard glued to the inside can significantly improve resonance and prevent warping.
Step 2: Preparing the Neck
Your neck should be straight and free of knots or significant imperfections. If it’s rough, sand it smooth. Determine which side will be the top (where the fretboard will be) and mark a center line. Now, carefully measure and mark the positions where the neck will attach to the cigar box. A good starting point is about 2-3 inches from the end of the cigar box on one side. This allows room for the bridge. We’ll be attaching the neck *on top of* the box, not inside it. Mark on the neck where it will be attached to the box with the pencil, then apply wood glue to this face, before moving to the next step.
Step 3: Attaching the Neck
Carefully position the glued part of the neck onto the top of the cigar box aligning the marks you made in the last step. Check that the center line of the neck is aligned with the center of the box. Use clamps to hold the neck in place while the glue dries. It’s best to allow the glue to dry overnight for a strong and permanent bond. After the glue has dried remove the clamps. Now, with the neck secure with glue it’s time to secure it further with screws. Drill pilot holes along the sides of the neck into the cigar box for 2 to 3 screws. It is not necessary to have these screws coming through the bottom of the box. It is crucial that you use pilot holes so the screw doesn’t force its way through, splitting the wood or cardboard of the box. These screws will provide extra stability to the neck. Screw these screws in and test for stability, add more screws if necessary.
Step 4: Installing the Tuning Pegs
At the headstock of your guitar (the end of the neck, away from the cigar box), mark the positions for your tuning pegs. It’s best to have three tuners in a line on the same side of the headstock, with space between each one. The precise positioning depends on the tuners you’re using, so refer to the manufacturer’s instructions. Drill holes slightly smaller than the tuners’ posts. Carefully insert and secure the tuners, tightening their screws or nuts to hold them firmly. Make sure all the tuners are in line and pointing in the same direction.
Step 5: Creating the Nut and Bridge
The nut sits at the end of the neck, near the headstock. It should be roughly the same width as your neck. Carefully cut or file a small piece of bone, hard plastic, or hardwood to this size. You’ll also need to file tiny grooves across the top of the nut to guide and space your strings. These should be evenly spaced. Don’t make them too deep, as you want to strings to sit on top, not in the groves. The bridge will sit on the cigar box at the opposite end of the strings from the nut. You’ll need to create the bridge piece the same way you did the nut, but the groves need to be wider apart, according to the string spacing you desire. The height of the bridge will affect the “action” (how high the strings sit above the neck); experiment to get a comfortable action. This height can be adjusted later if needed. You may consider buying a pre made nut and bridge rather than creating it yourself.
Step 6: Installing the Strings
Now comes the exciting part – stringing your guitar! Start with the string that will be closest to the player (the low or bass string, or the thickest string depending on which tunning you plan to use.) Feed the string through the corresponding tuning peg, then down the length of the neck, over the nut, across the cigar box, over the bridge, and finally anchoring it on the bottom end of the guitar. You might need to use a small screw or pin at the bottom end, or use a small loop over a screw that’s only partially screwed in, to keep it in place. Repeat this process for the remaining two strings, making sure each string sits in the grooves of the nut and the bridge. You might need to cut the string tails as required. Once all strings are installed start to slowly tighten the tuners, using a tuner to get them in the right pitch (G, D, and G, for example) . Take care not to over-tighten the strings too quickly, as this may damage the neck. Start tuning slowly, then refine it after letting it sit for some time.
Step 7: Fret Markers (Optional)
If you want to be able to play specific notes accurately (and not just slides), you’ll need to add fret markers. The first fret is normally the first note on a normal guitar and you will be marking them as if it was a standard guitar. You can use small stickers or dot inlays and attach them in the first, third, fifth, seventh, ninth and twelfth position, with an additional two markers at the twelfth position for a standard guitar. There are various charts and online calculators to determine these positions, but it is not necessary if you wish to simply use slides.
Step 8: Final Adjustments and Finishing
Once you’ve strung your guitar, take the time to play it and listen for any buzzing or rattling. Adjust the nut and bridge height as needed to achieve the desired action (string height over the neck). If the string action is too low, you might need to adjust or modify the bridge with spacers. If it’s too high, you’ll need to file or sand down the nut or bridge. You can fine-tune the intonation (the accuracy of the notes up the neck) by carefully moving the bridge slightly back and forth. Once you are happy with the playability of your guitar, you may also wish to add decorative touches. You can paint it, add decals, or use some varnish or oil to protect the wood and bring out the natural grain of the box and neck. If there are any sharp or rough edges, take the time to smooth them down.
Tips for Success
- Take Your Time: Don’t rush the process. Building a cigar box guitar is a rewarding experience, and enjoying each step makes the journey all the more enjoyable.
- Measure Twice, Cut Once: Precision is key to a successful build. Carefully measure everything before cutting or drilling.
- Use Pilot Holes: Drilling pilot holes prevents wood from splitting when screwing into it.
- Experiment with String Gauges and Tuning: Try different string gauges and tunings to find the sound you like best. Open tunings, like open G or open D, are particularly popular with cigar box guitars.
- Seek Inspiration: Look at other cigar box guitars online for ideas and inspiration. There are countless designs and variations out there.
- Start Simple: Don’t try to do too much on your first build. Focus on getting the basics right. You can always add more features to later builds.
- Don’t be Afraid to Improvise: The best cigar box guitars are often made with creative and improvised solutions.
Playing Your Cigar Box Guitar
Once your guitar is complete, it’s time to play! Cigar box guitars have a unique sound that’s perfect for blues, folk, and roots music. Explore different techniques, such as slide guitar, fingerpicking, and strumming. Listen to other cigar box guitarists for inspiration, and create your own tunes. The great thing about these instruments is that they encourage creativity, experimentation, and self-expression.
Conclusion
Building a cigar box guitar is a fantastic project that combines woodworking, music, and history. It’s a rewarding and empowering experience that allows you to create a unique instrument that’s completely your own. By following these steps, you can build a simple yet functional three-string cigar box guitar. So, gather your materials, grab your tools, and get ready to craft your own blues masterpiece! Happy building and happy playing!