Jerryc41
Well-known member
I spent weeks making my first cigar box ukulele. It's beautiful, with the neck carved from a block of mahogany and an attractive cigar box and brass accents.
Unfortunately, the sound is so muffled that I could practice anywhere without disturbing anyone. The box I used has six sides. Five of them are beautiful cedar. The top is thick cardboard, and it does not vibrate enough to amplify the sound. It wasn't until I cut the sound holes that I realized I had a cardboard ukulele.
At this point, trying to replace the top would be a waste of time, so lesson learned. For my next build, I'm going to make the box myself.
I met a guy at a uke fest who made several cigar box ukes, and he said that a wooden top is essential. He later told me that he found a local cigar store (in PA) with lots of good boxes for $1.00 each. He bought seventeen. When I went the next day, there was slim pickings. I guess he got the seventeen best, but I did find two for future projects.
I spent hours looking online for articles about building a cigar box ukulele, and not once did I see any mention of the importance of a wooden top. Now I know!
./
Unfortunately, the sound is so muffled that I could practice anywhere without disturbing anyone. The box I used has six sides. Five of them are beautiful cedar. The top is thick cardboard, and it does not vibrate enough to amplify the sound. It wasn't until I cut the sound holes that I realized I had a cardboard ukulele.
At this point, trying to replace the top would be a waste of time, so lesson learned. For my next build, I'm going to make the box myself.
I met a guy at a uke fest who made several cigar box ukes, and he said that a wooden top is essential. He later told me that he found a local cigar store (in PA) with lots of good boxes for $1.00 each. He bought seventeen. When I went the next day, there was slim pickings. I guess he got the seventeen best, but I did find two for future projects.
I spent hours looking online for articles about building a cigar box ukulele, and not once did I see any mention of the importance of a wooden top. Now I know!
./
Last edited: