How to Build a 3-string Cigar Box Guitar – Free Plans

20 thoughts on “How to Build a 3-string Cigar Box Guitar – Free Plans”

1. I am building your Country Roads Banjo and I would like to put in Piezo Pickup. My question is where to place it (backside of the sound board or under the head of the tambourine). I would appreciate any help you can give me.

2. One of these days I’m going to build a cigar box guitar. Thanks for this site and all the great info.

3. I want to make a cigar box bass. Is it the same in principle but with a longer next?
   And, how long does the neck need to be?
   Cheers

4. Thanks for asking, Mark. While we don’t, at this time, have a detailed step-by-step tutorial for how to mount a bolt-on neck, we have this insightful video of Farley walking through how she does it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxYoGf_9PVs

5. Any tips on mounting a bolt on neck

6. We do not currently have how-to information for that product, but can certainly help figure out how best to utilize it.

   For the most part it can be installed like you would regular tuners, with the same size hole. From there you will need to figure out how best to direct the strings onto the fretboard of your instrument, either by using retaining screws or winding them on the post in different ways. The nut will help the strings keep in line once they are on the playing surface.

7. Does anyone have an example, a how-to, a video, etc for using a 3 in 1 piece machine head that goes into the side of the head stock?

8. Hey there Jeff!

   We haven’t played around with White Birch or Red Oak to be able to comment on how they might affect the sound, though there may be information out there on how those woods resonate. Pine has been the choice of a good number of builders for their lap steels and they have all come out sounding great!

9. I plan on building a 3 string lap steel from a 2×4. What kind of wood do you think will resonate best, I have white birch, red oak, and pine. Thanks in advance for any help you can give. And hello from Rindge NH!

10. Yes they are fine, we use them all the time!

11. Nice article about how to build CBGs. We started recently to build CBGs thanks to your website and also thanks to some cool stuff by C.B. Gitty. If you like have a look at our guitars: http://rumblebox.ch

12. Hi C.B. Gitty Fam!
    can you tell me if the material covered boxes are ok for making guitars?

13. A coping saw can be used, just make sure you get one with a nice thin blade that cuts a slot about 0.023″ wide. Test in a piece of scrap. Saw the slot just a little deeper than the “tang” of the fret wire that will be going into it… usually a little over 1/16″ will do.

14. Gluing it to the underside of the box lid right where the bridge goes would be a good starting point. Honestly though, a rod piezo might not be the best option for this neck-on-top style of instrument.

15. Where would be the best place. To install a pizo on the pure & simple CBG ?

16. I wish to order fretting supplies. I will use medium medium. Can I use a coping saw to cut the slots? How deep should i cut the slots?

17. These plans are for a basic acoustic kit, but you could pretty easily install a piezo pickup like this one: http://www.cbgitty.com/cigar-box-guitar-parts/basic-pre-wired-piezo-jack-harness/

18. Would a pickup be able to be installed using these plans?

19. Unfortunately we do not have any bass guitar plans as of yet. You might check out the Cigar Box Basses group over on CigarBoxNation.com though.

20. I have a question not a comment. Are there plans for a Bass guitar ? If so who do I contact. A, C, T.