Simply add your own 1 x 2 x 34 hardwood plank for the neck. Cigar box guitar page john anthony guitars, luthiers plans. In this post i will share my cigar box guitar plans for my first punch rare corojo. From the simple 3string cigar box guitar instructional that started the cigar box guitar revolution to historical plans dating back to the 1800sweve collected them all. Follow the instructions in this guide to turn a cigar box, a few pieces of wood and some other supplies into a working, four string, fretless guitar, ready to play with a slide. To that end each lesson has a dual focus with exercises for both left and right hand. Cigar box guitar plans punch rare corojo michael whitney. Cigar box guitars are just like any other guitar, only much easier to make. Aug 12, 2015 cigar box guitars have a long and colourful history dating back to the mid 19 th century. Here i will show you how to tune your 3 string cigar box guitar.
I have also used old and vintage 1960s and 70s guitar amplifiers. This awesomesounding cigar box guitar and amplifier combo features vintage postcard artwork of the famous katy limited passenger train. This one has exactly the same notes as the g major chord and demonstrates why its so important to know what youre doing when choosing chord voicings on a 3 string instrument. Gdg 3 string cigar box guitar scales and chords this booklet presents a range of chord voicings and scale maps for the fret board of a 3 string gdg tuned cigar box guitar. Southbound katy railhopper combo fully fretted 3 string open g cigar box guitar amp combo. The 3 string slide course will help you build the skills you need to play slide on a 3 string cigar box guitar. One cigar box styles vary one set of strings 3string cigar box guitar pack, acoustic medium. They can have anywhere between one and six strings although most have three, and pretty much any kind of tuning. This free 8page guide will show you all of the steps. This gives a powerful sound when amplified and over driven. I will also show you how to play slide, rock and blues on a 3 string cigar box guitar. How to play a 3 string cigar box guitar with pictures wikihow.
Aug 14, 2009 build your own 3string, electrified cigar box guitar and make some sweet sounds. Cigar box guitar instructors guide buildingtoteach. This setup will give you the most versatility in terms of rhythm and lead playing. Usually consisting of a stick, an old cigar box, some random hardware, and whatever strings are lying around, cigar box guitars are some of the simplest, cheapest, and easiest musical instruments you can build. Cigar box guitar page john anthony guitars, luthiers.
Thanks to the readily available and inexpensive materials, cigar box guitars, fiddles and banjos were instrumental in the formation of the blues as most of original performers were poverty stricken african americans without enough money to buy real instruments. In it, he covers some of the more advanced techniques involved in building a highend solidbody 6 string electric guitar using a cigar box body. Designed by randy mcquay 2015 international blues challenge winner himself and it is the finest three string guitar we have ever made. Dec 18, 2012 how to make a 3stringed guitar out of a cigar box.
In it, he covers some of the more advanced techniques involved in building a highend solidbody 6string electric guitar using a. May 03, 2017 mix play all mix puckett cigar box guitar youtube how to play blues basics on 3string cigar box guitar with a slide duration. How to build a cigar box guitar free plans download. Shane speal rips the blues through a simple 3string cigar box guitar. The gitty gang is back for a new broadcast friday at 2pm eastern standard time, us. Before making the guitar, i decided that it should be made from either foun. The fretboard traditionally extends through the cigar box and extends out a couple of inches on the other end. Chickenbone john, handmade cigar box guitars, 3 string.
Randy designed this similar to our mississippi mudbox with some major upgrades. Making a cigar box guitar june 2009 this is just one mans approach. Cigar box guitars are often associated with the depression era, when regular guitars were handmade and cost a great deal of money. Wooden cigar box guitar plans diy 3 string musical instrument. Mix play all mix puckett cigar box guitar youtube how to play blues basics on 3string cigar box guitar with a slide duration. In it, he covers some of the more advanced techniques involved in building a highend solidbody 6string electric guitar using a cigar box body.
These are easytofollow plans that started the cigar box guitar revolution. Thanks go to ed vogel for the original article in make, volume 04. Cigar box guitars have a long and colourful history dating back to the mid 19 th century. Shop our selection of microcontrollers, 3d printers, robotics hardware, crafts projects, and kits for makers and diy enthusiasts of all ages. Cigar box guitar plans rare corojo cigar box guitar build. One cigar box styles vary one set of strings 3string cigar box guitar pack, acoustic medium three tuners with bushings and screws. The plan i used was for a simple 3string fretless guitar that relies more on parts from radio shack and lowes than anything from a music store. The projects author, ed vogel, designed a simple instrument using only parts youd find at a hardware store. Cigar box guitar lessons with mike snowden guitars. A little understanding of the music will help you to master this amazing little. If you wish hard copies on 8 12 x 11 paper mailed to you as well, please. Along the way youll learn a few songs and some theory will start to come together but your primary goal here is to learn to use the slide. This guide will walk you through building a basic stick on box 3string cigar box guitar meant for playing with a slide. The 3 string cigar box guitar dealing with chords and riffs and stuff the chord book at.
Thus building a cigar box ax became my project for the week. Southbound katy railhopper combo fully fretted 3string open g cigar box guitar amp combo. Making musical instruments, homemade instruments, delta blues, cigar box guitar plans. Here you replace the 1 on the 2nd fret middle string with the. Some were naturally overdriven some were clear as a bell. I made one myself, and had a wonderful time playing it. It contains all the hardware, strings and even the cigar box.
The guitar is is a 3string license plate resonator by maddog. The strings for your cigar box guitar are generally going to be the middle 3 or 4 strings from a traditional guitar set or in other words, the ead gbe strings. Pdf the cigar box guitar has a long history in the usa, where it formed part of the. Wooden cigar box guitar plans diy 3 string musical. How to build a cigar box guitar free plans download the howto. Real mother of pearl position dots and white fretboard edge dot markers, machine screw nut. Everything on this guitar screams the blues, from the vintage headstock, parlor style tuners, distressed ebony stain and a fat p90 dogear pickup for that old. Sep 06, 2019 how to play a 3 string cigar box guitar. Oct 3, 2015 click the image above to download the pdf.
Instead, the fretboard is attached to the box on one end without going through the box. Look, not only can you make a cigar box guitar, but you will with this easytofollow plan. The article also mentioned a few websites with plans for building your own, which sounded like more fun than buying one. The guide makes it easy, outlining all of the parts and tools you will need along with helpful hints on where to get them, and with clear, photoillustrated instructions on. People didnt have extra income to buy guitars, so they got creative. Building the cigar box guitar c building to teach 2014. This is the first one ive ever made so it was a bit of a learning experience. Quick start how to build a cigar box 3 members like this john red dog mcnairs unique take on cigar box. Our guitar necks are fully profiled by hand using traditional methods for great playability and.
So i decided to design one that they could inexpensively build themselves, based on the traditional cigar box guitar. It is every good boy does fine on the lines egbdf, and face on the spaces. How to build a 3 string cigar box guitar free plans this free 8page guide will show you all of the steps needed to build your first 3 string slide cigar box guitar. Cigar box guitar by ed vogel photography by sarah whiting as a volunteer music teacher, i sometimes meet kids who cant afford instruments. Gdg 3 string cigar box guitar scales and chords published on apr 3, 20 this booklet presents a range of chord voicings and scale maps for the fret board of a 3 string gdg 151 tuned cigar box. Build a simple 3string cbg using an empty box, a plank of wood easily found at your local hardware store some strings and tuners. Before the 1950s, when factory guitars became less expensive, many folk musicians. However, most cigar box guitars are built using a 3 or 4string design.
Building a 3string fretless cigar box guitar coyote mercury. How to build a 3string cigar box guitar free plans. Aug, 2010 the article also mentioned a few websites with plans for building your own, which sounded like more fun than buying one. Apr 23, 2014 cigar box guitars are often associated with the depression era, when regular guitars were handmade and cost a great deal of money. Plans store about us contact us guitar projects the builders guide blog home about elite guitar plans. You can purchase a 3string cigar box guitar for sale where the fretboard does not go all the way through the box. As a birthday present for my brother, i decided to make him a nice cigar box guitar. On the bass clef it is good boys do fine again and ace g on the spaces.
Are you worried that you dont have the tools or experience to do such a thing. If you make friends with a cigar smoker or tobacconists you can probably get this for free. Ready to ship cigar box guitars saner cigar box guitars. Build your own 3string, electrified cigar box guitar and make some sweet sounds. Gdg 3 string cigar box guitar scales and chords by dominic. Fret scale 3 x 30 rectangle of pattern stock such as 14 plywood, or. Want to learn how to play chords on your 3string cigar box guitar.
Do you wonder how difficult it would be to make a cigar box guitar. You can purchase a 3 string cigar box guitar for sale where the fretboard does not go all the way through the box. The ultimate beginners guide to make your own 3 string cigar box guitar. Im tuned to g, if youre not then ill leave it you to. Just a quick post to let you all know that the cigar box guitar plans page is now live. Tune the 3string cigar box guitar to the key of d my fathers tuning dad. Cigar box guitar pdf now at, brought to you by make magazine. If you wish hard copies on 8 12 x 11 paper mailed to. How to play a 3 string cigar box guitar with pictures. Please search for the other plans, articles and videos on the net that are about making a cbg. Gitty free cigar box guitar plans download free plans file size.
This page has plans for most of the standard guitar scale lengths and also has headstock layout plans too. Advanced cigar box guitar building guide by joshua gayou. Five years ago, make featured an electric cigar box guitar project volume 04, page 76. I just hope it is helpful to you to get you first cbg made. There are eight notes between the low d and high d strings an octave. Forward this short ebook will help you play chords on your 3 string guitar. The cigar box guitar is an easy to play instrument and an excellent one to begin exploring playing with a slide. Its name was derived from the name of the railroad the kansas. Advanced cigar box guitar building guide by joshua gayou cigar box guitar, guitar building.
To record this music, i have recorded acoustic 3 string cigar box guitars, electric bottleneck 4 string cigar box guitars, and cigar box resonator guitars. They got a wooden cigar box, put a hole in it for the sound to get out, put a stick in it and a few wires from the screen door and a guitar. Plans cigar box guitars how to build a cigar box guitar. Freaking awesome 3 string cigar box guitar youtube. Josh gayou of smokehouse guitars created this 179page guide back in 2010, and decided to give it away for free to the cigar box guitar community. Build your own wooden cigar box guitar plans diy 3 string musical instrument how to build wooden cigar box guitar cigar box guitar plans these plans will step you through the process of building your own cigar box guitar i will email you a pdf to the email address you provided to ebay so you can print them out any size. Hear some great music, get building advice and see some of your own instruments featured. The plans are in pdf format so make sure you have a copy of adobe reader on your computer. Mar 11, 2018 heres how i made a 3 string cigar box style guitar, with a license plate top. Sg guitar guitar diy steel guitar guitar parts guitar chords cigar box guitar plans homemade musical instruments guitar pickups guitar building wax potting guitar pickups explained we take a closer look at pickup wax potting, the pros and cons of the process and more.
How to build a cigar box guitar diy projects for everyone. Walkin blues lesson for 3string cigar box guitar justin johnson teaches a lesson on how to play walkin blues on the 3string cigar box guitar. Two threaded rods which serve as the bridge and nut. Sapele through neck, blackwood tek fretboard with van gent super jumbo frets. How to build a 3string cigar box guitar these are easytofollow plans that started the cigar box guitar revolution. Heres how i made a 3 string cigar box style guitar, with a license plate top.