I used to have a guitar and took some lessons while I was in graduate school. I learned a few chords, but I left school before my friend could teach me very much. I tried to learn on my own, but later realized that my flea market guitar had problems, and other things started occupying my time.
After listening to my friend playing this instrument, however, I have caught the bug again. I really liked the size of the guitar, its sound, and the fact that it had fewer strings than the typical guitar. I also like making stuff and decided that day that I was going to make myself one of those guitars.
I started reading about cigar box guitars at www.cigarboxnation.com and reddogguitars.com. I loved the idea of how people without the means to buy a professionally built guitar improvised and made their own out of old boxes, broom sticks, and whatever else they could find. I was amazed at the artists who learned to play guitar with these make shift instruments: Bo Diddley, Carl Perkins, George Benson, Roy Clark, and a whole bunch of famous blues musicians I've never heard of before (I am more of a country boy).
One story that struck me was that of Carl Perkins who listened to the Grand Ole Opry on the radio and wanted to learn to play. He asked his parents for a guitar, but since they could not afford one, his dad made him one out of a cigar box and broom handle.
There is even a Boy Scout connection to these instruments. Before co-founding the Boy Scouts of America, Daniel Carter Beard published an article in 1884 on how to build a cigar box banjo. The plans eventually made it into his American Boy’s Handy Book in the 1890.
I found several sites with plans, youtube videos, and all sorts of hints on the Internet and came up with my own plans to make one. I went to a cigar shop not far from where I worked and bought a few boxes. I knew I had to buy more than one, because I knew my kids were going to want one too. I was right about that. Not only do they want one, my nephew wants me to make him one too.
My first visit to a cigar shop near my work took me to their break room where they had a huge pile of boxes to sort through. This shop not only sold cigars, but also had a place to smoke them. It was really smokey in there. By the time I got out, I wreaked of cigar smoke, and I hate the smell of cigar smoke. It wasn't long that I found my self in the restroom at work, spraying myself down with a can of the deodorizer that they use in those machines that spray a mist every so often to keep the restroom smelling "clean". A co-worker of my was quite amused when he caught me deodorizing myself. The second time I went to the store, I made sure to carry a bottle of Febreeze in my truck.
It took me about a month of working a few minutes to a few hours here and there to complete my 3-string cigar box guitar. Since finishing it about a week ago, I have been learning how to play slide, but I want to know how to finger pick and play chords as well. I ordered an instructional video CD from Keni Lee Burgess. We will see how that goes. My friend Jerry is also helping me learn to play my guitar.
It was amazing to hear him play an instrument that I made. During lunch today, I asked him if I could take some video of him playing it to show my scouts at our den meeting. We have been working on our Showmanship badge, and part of that is learning about music. They really enjoyed the guitar and were really impressed with Jerry's playing. Please take a listen.
I built my guitar with a wood Padron 1926 Series cigar box with a 1 x 2 oak neck. The fret board is 1/2 inch oak and the bridge and nut are made with brass strips that I bought from Ace Hardware. The strings are attached to a brass hinge with brass washers that I also got from Ace Hardware. The tuning machines, screened grommets, and fret wire came from C.B. Gitty Crafter Supply. I used angled aluminum to re-enforce the neck inside the box where I removed wood so that the box lid would resonate better. The strings are First Act strings from Toys'R'Us (the cheapest strings in town) and the guitar is for now tuned to Open D. I plan on adding pearl fret markers and adding an electric pickup.
I will soon build three more guitars, and now that I know how to build one, I will take pictures and perhaps some video and post instructions that will hopefully be helpful to anyone else who may want to build one.
