Yet another Cigar Box Uke project

It all started with my daughters kindergarten homework, she was supposed to make a musical instrument. While the other kids made drums from coffee cans and flutes from paper towel rolls I decided that we were gonna make something cool. I found directions on how to make a Cigar Box Guitar online and so I made a "kit" for her to assemble, it was fun and it sounded pretty cool, like a real guitar, it surprised me. I am a woodworker but not a musician and don't know how to play or even what the instrument should sound like.

Well I was telling my brother-in-law (an accomplished musician) about the CBG and was asking him about tuning it he mentioned that a cigar box uke would be really cool and with his birthday coming up (his 40th, a milestone birthday) I thought "I could make him one, the guitar was easy enough" so I went about researching on the web and took some measurements from my other brother-in-laws uke (what I have now learned is a concert uke)

After finding this forum I saw how nice a CBU could be, there were some beautiful ones and as a woodworker I could appreciate that so my plans for a cheesy little CBU got a little more complex, I decided to make a real neck for it, I have learned alot and do still realize that I know nothing but I am pleased how things have come out so far.

Here are some photos of my progress so far....



I had some 5/4 Honduran Mahogany left over from another project so rather than buy a solid chunk of wood for the neck I laminated together a couple of pieces with West Systems epoxy and milled it down to a 2"x2" piece and traced out the shape to rough cut on the band saw. I also had some walnut laying around so I decided to use that for the fretboard and the bridge piece.


The box I decided to use


Soundhole cut and heel block glued in as well as some bracing.

Pieces laid out where they will eventually go.



After the bandsaw cuts.



After the shaping by hand using various hand tools (rasp mostly, surform, wood file and lots of sandpaper)

After fretboard glued on.


Finish applied, I masked off the place where the bridge will be glued, I am going to use a different finish on the bridge piece so that it matches the fretboard, it is walnut also.


Dots applied to the fretboard, used maple 1/4" face grain plugs.

Frets installed and filed smooth on the edges.


first coat of finish applied, I decided on Tru-Oil for the neck, the top is a glossy spar varnish but if I decide I want it matte later I can always use some steel wool to dull it down

More to come........



Oh, here is the guitar My daughter and I made, I have since added frets since her little fingers aren't strong enough to play fretless.

Coolness!

Looking Great

Did you use tru-oil on the fretboard too?

ukebrudder said:

Did you use tru-oil on the fretboard too?

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Yes, I did use it on the fretboard but keep in mind that I am a complete novice so if that is an odd thing to do, let me know. It seemed to work pretty well on the test piece, it rubbed right off the frets with fine steel wool.

Thats awesome! Beautiful work!

ichadwick said:

Wow. Like a Strumstick. I saw some three- and four-string cigar box guitars like this - almost exactly like this one! - on sale in Ottawa last year. Really funky sound. Wanted to buy one but was flying home, so I had to pass. Maybe this year, since I'm driving...​

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Build one yourself, super easy with very basic tools. Here is a youtube of one being played http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caOHwHfuxps

Here are the directions to make one: http://www.cigarboxguitar.com/build.html

Update


Test fit, everything seems to fit.


a couple of the frets had popped up a little, I found an easy way to pop them back down without taking a hammer to them, I used a punchdown tool, it works sort of like an automatic centerpunch, I laid a piece of hardwood on the fret and did a couple of punches and they seated right back in.


Tuners installed.


all strung up and ready to go.

Beautiful! Well done!

UkuleleHill said:

Beautiful! Well done!

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Thanks! Now I need someone to tune it for me (yes, I am that clueless)

FunkyLaneo said:

Thanks! Now I need someone to tune it for me (yes, I am that clueless)

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Send it to me... I'll tune it for ya... heh not sure when u;\'d get it back though....

Looks great! I just finished my second cigar box uke. My first was a kit so it doesn't really count. I'll have pics up soon. Our headstock shapes are quite similar.

ukebrudder said:

Looks great! I just finished my second cigar box uke. My first was a kit so it doesn't really count. I'll have pics up soon. Our headstock shapes are quite similar.

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The headstock was originally supposed to be a little different but the spindle sander made this one so easy to do. I like the way it came out, maybe should have softened the little points a bit as I had originally planned.

JT_Ukes said:

Send it to me... I'll tune it for ya... heh not sure when u;\'d get it back though....

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Thanks for the props, I am gonna try to get a video of my brother-in-law playing it after I give it to him, I'll post it if I do.

I know this thread is almost a year old but nice CBU and nice 2002!!!!