"No Saw" Cigar Box Guitar Build! - How to build a cigar box guitar using very few tools!

In this video, I show how to build a cigar box guitar using just the following tools: a drill, two screwdrivers, pliers, and sandpaper.
In this particular build, I also used a socket wrench to tighten the screw-in bushings, but I didn't really need to because I could have used the pliers. I also used a soldering iron to solder a piezoelectric pickup to its jack. This is optional and is not required for an acoustic cigar box guitar.
My channel focuses on these topics:
Stringed instruments
Stringed instrument reviews
Cigar box guitar building
Canjo building
Banjolele building
Ukulele building
Ukulele unboxing
Ukulele reviews

[@CircuitsAndStrings]

That’s a really pretty CBG. And I love that you kept the tools basic. You are right, you do not need fancy tools to build something awesome. Now I’ll wait patiently for your Leatherman only build. 😆

[@stevesstrings5243]

Thanks! I was really pleasantly surprised at how nice the neck turned out. The Leatherman build is definitely on my build soon list. I'm still trying to decide whether I will make it fretted. The saw on my Leatherman has a wide kerf, so I thought maybe I could glue in nails as frets. The alternative would to take the approach you used by gluing cotter pins straight onto the fingerboard. I'm leaning toward the latter approach.

[@harlemjoey9419]

you all probably dont care but does any of you know of a method to get back into an Instagram account? I was stupid lost the login password. I would love any tricks you can offer me.

[@curtisemmett6581]

@Harlem Joey Instablaster :)

[@harlemjoey9419]

@Curtis Emmett Thanks so much for your reply. I got to the site through google and Im trying it out atm. I see it takes quite some time so I will get back to you later with my results.

[@harlemjoey9419]

@Curtis Emmett It did the trick and I now got access to my account again. I am so happy:D Thanks so much, you saved my ass :D

[@ohhiguy]

Thanks for the work that went into this. Great tips. Good job.

[@stevesstrings5243]

My pleasure! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@1mdlmusic]

Great idea of using metal washers to make contact with the cigar box so the “top” will resonate.

[@stevesstrings5243]

Thanks! I'm not entirely sure if it makes a big difference, since dulcimers have the fretboard on top of the soundboard. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@stevepethel6843]

Way to build in your home clever way to avoid needing a saw. Good video music man...

[@stevesstrings5243]

Thanks, Steve! I'm glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@alwayslearning8365]

Good video. The instructions were clear and easy to understand. Thank you.

[@stevesstrings5243]

Thanks! You are very welcome! I hope you found it useful! I also hope it inspires you to build one! If you do, let me know how it turns out! Please give a thumbs up and share! Thanks again!

[@mikenco]

I came for the measurements, but stayed for a whole heap of other tips. Thank you!

[@stevesstrings5243]

Glad I could help! Let me know how your build turned out! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@jasonreheis]

Well done Steve 👍 I like those Texas sound holes 👍 That slide is soundin good

[@stevesstrings5243]

Thanks, Jason! I like interesting shaped sound holes. In regard to my playing, I am definitely in need of lessons! I would love to see you give some pointers on your channel! From watching you play, it seems you just use your thumb and index finger.

[@markj9237]

That BLO really brought that neck to a cool color.

[@stevesstrings5243]

I was very pleasantly surprised at how nice and dark the poplar turned out! I have another piece the same color that is nice and straight so will be fretting that one. Have the CBG and accessories you won arrived yet? I would love to see a video of you with them on your channel!

[@markj9237]

@@stevesstrings5243 Everything arrived Yesterday and I was like a kid in a candy store. Everything is fantastic! Again thank you so much and ill see what I can do about posting something.

[@MartinEHeldt]

Nice video. Well told instructions and an impressive result.

[@stevesstrings5243]

Thank you very much! I'm glad you found it helpful! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@TheSongfulSoul]

Very cool. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I am singer/ songwriter, poet, storyteller. Don’t fluently play instrument or read music. Want a cigar box guitar to add some flavor.

[@stevesstrings5243]

Sounds like a good idea! Give it a try! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@keving4081]

Thank you! Just what I was looking for.

[@stevesstrings5243]

Glad I could help! Let me know your build turns out! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@alex-E7WHU]

Actually brilliant 😂 i love it...!!

[@stevesstrings5243]

Thanks! If you build one, let me know how it turns out! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@eugenerivera4327]

It don’t sound bad at all I was wondering if you make them with the frets also thanks for the vid it’s pretty well informed thanks bro

[@stevesstrings5243]

Thanks! I hope you found it helpful! Yes, I do fretted builds as well. Check out my other build videos!

[@musicalmiscellany]

A great tutorial Steve. That was an interesting way to do the sound hole. I've not tried that technique. One could easily follow this for their first CBG and as you state... it could be built in an apartment. Very nice.

[@stevesstrings5243]

Thanks! It is certainly not my favorite way to build a CBG, but I wanted to try it and hoped others might find it helpful.

[@musicalmiscellany]

@@stevesstrings5243 There are a lot of other things you can do with a CBG, but this would make a great first build for someone.

[@normanacree1635]

I put reverb springs on a cbg and couldn't tell the difference with or without them. I used two and connected them to the neck inside the box as I used a through neck build.

[@stevesstrings5243]

I found that the perceived reverb from springs is dependent upon the amount of stretch on the spring. It is not something I have experimented with enough to make any particular recommendation. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@ANazli20]

Looks awesome much love and respect from Malaysia

[@stevesstrings5243]

Thanks for watching and commenting! I hope you found it to be entertaining!

[@ANazli20]

@@stevesstrings5243 just wanna know how long should the stick be for fret?

[@stevesstrings5243]

@@ANazli20 You can make it any length you want.

[@markcox9339]

Cool

[@stevesstrings5243]

Thanks!

[@steveharris2589]

Great job Steve!!!!))) Sounds good to me!!!)) 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼😊

[@stevesstrings5243]

Thanks, Steve! It was an interesting build. I'm not a real fan of "neck on top" builds but I wanted to give it a try.

[@s1mp13m4n]

Thank you for this build. To me, the idea of an instrument like this is to provide a low income way for someone to build and play an instrument. It bothers me when you see videos where people use $2500 worth of power tools to build a $10 guitar. You are right, all you need are basic hand tools. Nice job.

[@stevesstrings5243]

Thanks! This is not fancy or pretty, but in the right hands, it can still make music. That said, some folks build CBGs as real works of art. Check out my videos that showcase the builds from the Great CBG Builders Swap Off! You will lots of creativity there. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@rainsilversplash4376]

In your tool list, you forgot the socket wrench used to tighten the tuning machines.

[@stevesstrings5243]

OOPS! My bad! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@InnerProp]

Great video, I have more tools but no skill (I have some knowledge, but absolutely NO precision). Could you do this with Ukulele strings and tension tuners? I'm thinking I could use a dowl or maybe a wing bolt.

[@stevesstrings5243]

Thanks! Sure! It would be a very short scale. Let me know how it turns out. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@simonsmith2642]

Good idea but not being in contact with the box for resonation… Strum an electric unplugged guitar, its hard to hear, now put the head stock or body it doesnt matter up against a hollow wall or a hollow core door it doesnt matter. The vibration of the neck or body, vibrates into the wall and it resonates and makes it louder. You WANT the wood in full contact with the chamber it is vibrating. Strings resonate into the neck, neck resonates into the box, box resonates.. just like touching a wall with a unplugged solid body guitar.

[@stevesstrings5243]

It certainly works for dulcimers. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@darkknightnate]

That's really cool! I might have to try making one myself sometime!

[@stevesstrings5243]

Thanks! Definitely give it a try! As you can see, it’s not that difficult to make. Let me know how it turns out. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@terrybaileysr.3714]

You got the shape of Tennessee all wrong.

[@stevesstrings5243]

I’ll need to work on that! LOL! Tennessee has a great shape for a sound hole! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@goofyjohn6191]

No Tennessee is just a north eastern county of Texas.

[@stephenahern8235]

I'm gong to do this build this weekend, or next, I've built one so far, it is at my sisters house, in NH, I 'm not allowed to go there until Covid runs it's course... So, this will be my second build, no amp, so no pizo. The first CBG took me months to build... this one should be faster. Is this available /written down somewhere, so I can read the measurements needed on the neck? Thanks for helping me along my Education on building, I'm 64 years old/young...

[@stevesstrings5243]

This one is pretty easy. It should not take long. The neck is just a 1x2x36 inch stick. If you don’t have Forstner bits of the size needed to drill the holes in the headstock, you can just cut the headstock thinner to accommodate the tuners. If you don’t want to bolt the neck to the box, you can glue it or screw it down. Check out Del Puckett’s KZbin channel for pointers on building CBGs. That’s how I learned. Let me know how it turns out!

[@LotteStarck]

Smart!

[@stevesstrings5243]

Thanks! Thanks also for watching and commenting! Check out my other videos as well!

[@libdnal8939]

Great Job! - I like how you made it with bare essential tools. Where do you get a piezo?

[@stevesstrings5243]

Thanks! I think I ordered the piezo an jack from eBay. You can find them at MBG guitars and CB Gitty. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@dgperforms1]

Put the Jack on the bottom of the guitar. Good job tho

[@stevesstrings5243]

Thanks for the suggestion! Thanks also for watching and commenting!

[@basil8651]

the "McGuyver" CBG

[@stevesstrings5243]

Yep! Although I suppose all CBGs are, LOL! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@robertsandoval7767]

How did you secure the l strings at the bottom

[@stevesstrings5243]

Great question! I use ball-end strings. The strings come up from the bottom through the holes I drilled in the tailpiece. The rivet collars keep the strings from pulling through. Thanks for watching and commenting! Subscribe to see more!

[@frankeinsteinrestoration8250]

What kind of rivets are they please?

[@cicbeast]

Great video!I'm trying this build this week, but I'm struggling to find the reverb springs. Where do you get your stock?

[@stevesstrings5243]

Thanks! You should be able to find springs at any big box or hardware store. I think I found mine at Lowes. Let me know how yours turns out! Thanks for watching and commenting! Check my other build and swap videos for other ideas.

[@gleinb]

I might have missed it somewhere but did you post a list of what you used?

[@stevesstrings5243]

No. I just talked about it. It’s just a stick , a box, a couple of bolts, washers and nuts to secure the stick to the box and a couple more larger bolts to serve as the string nut and saddle. Use whatever sizes you have on hand or that seem appropriate. There are no rules! Have fun ! If make one, you’ll probably make more! Each build will teach you something new! Thanks for watching and commenting! Let me know how it turns out!

[@jeromeGrzelak]

I tryed it did not like the feel

[@stevesstrings5243]

Me too! I really prefer necks that are shaped better and with frets. My intent was show an easy way to get started building CBGs. I hope you found the build entertaining!

[@scottsaleff8848]

Hey Steve how long does that neck part have to be?

[@stevesstrings5243]

It can be any length you want! There are no rules in CBG building! Just figure out what scale you want, where you want the bridge to be on box, and work out the stick length from there. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@scottsaleff8848]

@@stevesstrings5243 Thanks for the reply Steve.I never picked up a instrument, I dont know what scale is.Im just gonna wing it and learn as I go.Your vid is a good start point,Thanks again.

[@stevesstrings5243]

@@scottsaleff8848 The scale length is the distance between the nut and the saddle. Make one like this to get you started. You’ll make more and learn as you go! Good luck 👍!

[@scottsaleff8848]

@@stevesstrings5243 I really like the way your guitar sounds which guitar strings did you use on the guitar you made in the video thanks again for your help

[@stevesstrings5243]

@@scottsaleff8848 I used the EAD strings from a set of guitar strings.

[@thomasd9237]

You cheated. You already had a box. Was hoping to see a complete build

[@stevesstrings5243]

LOL! I suppose next time I can carve one out of a piece of firewood with my Leatherman! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@thomasd9237]

@@stevesstrings5243 primarily I'm a tele player so I'm just building my first 3 stringer. Im starting from scratch & building the box with minimal tools. Big mistake on my part 🤔 I should have just bought one. I like yours, it will help me keep my drive to build mine 👍👍

[@stevesstrings5243]

@@thomasd9237 Welcome to the fold of CBG building addicts!

[@Alan-zi2rs]

You've inspired me thanks ... I'm headed that way 👉⚒️🪚 = 🎸 great video 👌

[@stevesstrings5243]

Have fun! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@spankdaddy224]

I really like this video, do you happen to have one like this for an acoustic? (or what would I change on this video, to make it an acoustic?)

[@stevesstrings5243]

This works for a purely acoustic build. I only included the piezo as an afterthought. That said, I think I get better sound when the only thing on the top of the soundboard is the bridge. Check out Del Pucket and Southern Fire Cigar Box Guitars for lots of good videos on how to build CBGs. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@spankdaddy224]

@@stevesstrings5243 Thanks Steve. You're a cool dude!