Building a Cigar Box Guitar - part 1

[@MarkLindsayCNC]

I have been waiting for this ever since you first mentioned it, Mr. Crowe. As an avid cigar box guitar builder and fan, let me tell you that they are not only extremely fun to build and play, they're also very highly addictive. You have been warned. There's just something about taking something that was never meant to be an instrument and making it into one that's extremely satisfying. A cigar box has 2 jobs - hold cigars and look good. Turning it into something that's pleasing to the eye and the ear is great fun.

[@jedeckerd5969]

What a fantastic thing to do. I’m sure that you are not even aware of that you are a major part of the cigar box guitar movement and because of folks like you and Shane Speal , Ben ‘gitty’ Baker most of us would never even tried building. You will go down in the history of the craft. God bless and thanks for the years of advice…

[@NKBobcat]

As a builder of cigar box guitars, I commend you. The fact that a builder of high quality guitars considers them valid instruments makes me happy I am a fan of yours. I take 20-30 hours to build one as I build them from scratch including fretboard, neck, bridges, nuts and saddles. I use quality tuners and and pickups and take intonation seriously as well. I will now watch your video series on the build.

[@Bill628]

Good timing, I got one of these kits for Christmas and need all the help I can get to assemble.

[@caloss2]

This was excellent, I think largely due to an experienced and highly skilled Luther approaching something new; and making informed choices along the way, easily the best viewing I've had this festive period. (I include all commercial tv etc in this appraisal )

[@athoslong1580]

7:45 "Yeah this is cross grain, it is all over the place but all we are after is FLAT!" You sir just got a new Fan.

[@Andyjpro]

Come in here dear boy, have a cigar, you're gonna go farrrr

[@keeganconnor3224]

Ben, have you ever thought about building a Whamola? That's always a fun little project when you have some really random parts laying around that you want to use up.

[@BoneheadGuitars]

I started with CBGs and Ben (along with a few others) inspired me to move into 6 strings. This is a treat I've been waiting for. 😀

[@uniquepieces7365]

+Bonehead Guitars... me too

[@michaelrobitaille890]

Awesome so happy to see you build something I love to build also

[@LassetUnsSpielen]

wow, that pencil trick is amazing. this should definetly be included in a compilation with solutuons to problems that are so simple, nobody would think of. another good one would be tape. tape is just op. you can print out your blueprints and gluestick them on a taped off (finished) surface without leaving any trace of evidence with no effort, no cost, no skill and not a lot of room for errors

[@danmar007]

Ooh... this should be fun!

[@brandonleger8534]

It's weird to see him in a rush. He's usually so calm.

[@9yearsagooner611]

Damn, Lightnin' Hopkins made it sound so effortless! Excellent video though, can hardly wait to see the finished article.

[@knallertk8062]

great video

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

Thank you for watching! B

[@GregsGarage]

This type of project has been on my list too. I want to do it as a 1 day challenge. Based on what I've seen so far, looks like its totally do-able.

[@MarkLindsayCNC]

+Greg's Garage Absolutely doable. My first cigar box guitar build took me a total of 4 hours. Not including glue and lacquer drying times, of course.

[@thewoodshop69]

was planning on making a couple of these this is coming around just in time

[@frankdiaz5633]

ben you will have so much fun with this you might switch building these all the time i to have the bug and built quite a few just useing a 1-2 for the neck no rod so far they have held up i am working on a dub neck just about done i hope it sounds good some times you doint know till you string it up thanks for takeing time to show what you know f.d.

[@ryanriggs9963]

Holy shit Ben looks so young in this!

[@SBTDesigndotcodotuk]

I've a cigar box kicking around my workshop... I'm on it!

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

+www.sbtdesign.co.uk Let us know how it turns out, good luck.

[@mad3arber]

Your making it look easy Ben.😃

[@68RedDragonz]

hey cool! that's the same stuff, goncalo, that I have for the neck for my bass build 😀

[@216trixie]

6:34 rare sighting of foot coming through door.

[@bpn12123]

Hi liked your video.. I just finished my CBG.. But i just realized that in the fret calculator instead of guitar i chose bass! Will that effect my playing in any way?? Thanks

[@LetsLaberWithMi]

What wood was the fretboard made from?

[@millroadtv]

Great vid

[@alecfleming373]

Hahaha bring on the noise he says with one of the nicest sounding machines I ever did hear...

[@blabla0038]

What is the metal measuring tool you use for the angle of the headstock called ?

[@The-Real-Blissful-Ignorance]

+blabla0038 It's a protractor. www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=58878&cat=,58883

[@blabla0038]

+OnlyGoodThings71 thank you !

[@TheMaximpaton]

Who used this last?

[@iamgregnewmann]

Great Tutorial, thank you for this one! It's amazing how much time you spent, to show us, how this work is done, by a pro! :) One Question, is there something special i have to take care of, if i use 6 strings on a cigar box? I figured out, i need 'bout following messearument for the neck: L 30" (61cm), W 2 1/2 (6,35cm) and Depth 1/4 (0.6cm) and for the fingerboard 24", 2 1/2", 1/4". Can I use these measurements for my 6 string? I think so, because my taylor mini has a width bout 5.5cm on the 12th fret. So the question is, can I use the measurements of my Taylor mini for the neck, to build a CBG? What kind of wood did u use for the neck? U used maple for the fretboard, right? Thanks in advance! Greg

[@Scrimjer]

Part of me wanted you to make a straight forward six string cigar box guitar. Next tea chest bass lol.

[@givemeajackson]

+Cap't Jack same here.

[@codyj1102]

yeah, finally a cigar box guitar

[@matthewhall435]

How long till part 2 ? :) loved it

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

Tomorrow :) this series will run daily until it's finished.. Still a few to edit but Talitha rules!

[@fingtechnology2222]

Cigar Box Kits? Yes please!!! Sign me up.... Is that a reality yet?

[@Helllllllsing]

Awsome

[@pagecustomguitars715]

how do you give a guitar an auto finish

[@pipercub45]

Fun video as usual. But you are in to much of a hurry and just slowing down a bit you would get done sooner :)

[@Wormweed]

I tried to contact you through your webpage, had a few questions while the sale is running. But nobody seems to be answering :/

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

The office is closed for a few days but I've just gone through and can't see anything obvious.. Could you resend to office at crimsonguitars.com and I will make sure to answer ASAP.

[@Wormweed]

Crimson Custom Guitars I sent another one now. Thanks for replying so fast

[@wolflahti412]

Sadly, cigar boxes in the US have been cheap cardboard for many decades now. I suppose there are some exotic cigars that come in appropriate wooden boxes, but I'm not aware of a source for them.

[@The-Real-Blissful-Ignorance]

+Wolf Lahti I found a source for you: www.amazon.com/Wooden-Empty-Cigar-Boxes-Pack/dp/B000NW2DH8 Check ebay too, PLENTY of them there!

[@justanotherdummy3448]

yes I remember a few that were still around when I was a kid. ( boy are you in trouble ) in the early 60s

[@doggylv]

Wolf, go to a tobacco shop they have some good boxes.

[@rickbloom1869]

My teeth hurt when I saw you set that jointer down on the iron!

[@stephenkosloff6081]

lekker lekker

[@stephenkosloff6081]

busy building a box guitar - 3 string -im from George and you ?

[@thecynic807]

Lol I was expecting you to break out a normal size hand plain. You broke out a plain as long as my arm.

[@christopherjones3741]

i just found a wooden box that billiard balls came in from 1898 .now i know what im going to do with it and the 1908 licence plate i found..

[@johne7100]

"Square enough" indeed - you sound like me.

[@beau-2222]

Ahh, My instruments are real.

[@MrAston8]

one must not rest planes down on the blade,, come on fella

[@robertcrooks9275]

My God I dont now what I am doing, what is a fret board doing in amongst my lumber ,may we may we look what I found 5 tunner I dont now why I have them ,MAY BE THE BULLSHIT FAIRY DROPPED THEM,

[@shannongibson325]

I know you can find solutions to this problem in the Woodprix plans.

[@joshuamillar5157]

last

[@216trixie]

+josh millar lol

[@216trixie]

+josh millar i see what you did here.

[@justanotherdummy3448]

does every one hear all his excuses

[@KrebSDani]

too much talking