Wiring up the Pickups in a Cigar Box Guitar

In this "How to Video" I show how to solder up a three way switch, volume control, input jack, single coil, and a piezo transducer pickup complete with ground wire for the grounding of the bridge. I do not have a diagram or a schematic.
www.delpuckettCBG.com

[@shanehogue4088]

I have been binge watching your videos. I am now a subscriber and always get a thumbs up buds. My Grandpa was a guitar player. Played all over US and Canada. He left me his 56 Gibson acoustic when he passed 10 years ago. Same day and same hospital as my youngest boy, 1 hour apart. Anyways since i got that guitar i have been collecting and playing as much as i can. My wifes uncle builds beautiful guitars. So my daughter who is 14 and myself are starting to build 2 cigar box guitars at his shop. A little bonding time for us. I found her watching your videos and got me into watching. I just want you to know what you are teaching us from your videos is used as therapy, reconnecting, and giving people a chance to build something that when finished can be played, enjoyed and build a stronger relationship with not only in my case my daughter but myself as well. So thanks for that.

[@garychancey9143]

Thank you Del for this video. It's gonna help me so much. You rock!

[@lordwessex9553]

Very generous of you to give us so much useful information.

[@booglebug7967]

Wow! This was perfect timing for me. Tonight I am getting ready to put my first box together, and I'm using a Delta Humbucker Deluxe, with a piezo, but without a 3-way switch. Thank you so much for the tutorial, Del. I think it was worth a tip in your tip jar, too. Love all your videos, even your dry humor. It's always worth a giggle or a chuckle. God bless you and yours! Ed Mills

[@nathanbartlett5284]

Glued the piezo in looking good.... push down on the wires and snap.... wire popped off... can you say “gentle as a grizzly bear!” My build wouldn’t have turned out half s nice with out the education of this fine gentleman. Mr Puckett you are the goods!

[@pedromusic4209]

Hey Del, when grounding the pot I just bend the tab back and solder it against the casing, instead of running a jumper wire. Love all your videos 👍🏻

[@PuckettCigarBoxGuitar]

That will work

[@brentkasl6510]

Very timely, just started a search on your episodes to wire these in an Avo box👍

[@somebodytousetoknow]

Your video explains very well the connection of technology. So far I had no idea how to install and connect. Very good thank you. Greetings from Neuss / Germany

[@OIE82]

Thank you for the video. I have been watching several of your videos and like you style. You got a sub. Just so everyone who doesn't know, knows, flux cleans the contaminates off the wire so that the solder "will flow".

[@stevepethel6843]

Like your way of thinking

[@freddyjholst60]

Thanks much buddy. My mind forgets 😎🙏🏻

[@donsanders9863]

Nice! We appreciate you taking the time to make this video. Nicely done. Thanks!

[@user-zy4fx7vg4r]

Thank you Del!!!

[@PuckettCigarBoxGuitar]

My pleasure!

[@mountys_photoadventure]

Thank you Del. You Help me huge for my first Project.👍

[@damondpark328]

This is awesome! Just what I need right now!!! Please keep the vids rolling Del!!!

[@smartassan]

A very clear video. Thanks for taking the time to make this.

[@tomfloor3604]

Oh my, oh my...I have been looking for this! Perfect timing!

[@fritzlang71]

Very informative video thank you. But when grounding a shielded wire only ground one end cut the other end off.

[@Bojammer]

Thanks for the Soldering lesson ....I needed that......Ben

[@richardfletcher8922]

Thanks Del! I’ll use this on my next build! 👍😎

[@cvx2dog549]

This is just the info we are going to need, thanks!

[@tenlittleindians]

As somebody already mentioned, acid flux is corrosive. Acid core solder is also corrosive. Rosin core flux is good for electrical use. They also make rosin core solder. I still prefer lead based solder and rosin core flux for ease of use. A 60/40 solder is a blend of tin/lead. For commercial use lead based solder is no good as it's banned in many places. Lead based solders melt at lower temperatures and stick and flow better.

[@tenlittleindians]

@Beckett Elisha I knew it was fake as soon as you mentioned you had a girlfriend! We all know no woman would ever date such a loser.

[@daviddavenport6896]

I will use this video on my 2nd CBG. Thanks

[@richardhansley8186]

Del, about 3 years ago I put together a guitar with rod piezo under the bridge and a mag single coil by the neck. I had problems with the piezo being very low volume and the mag pickup being normal. I asked at cigar box nation and someone told me that it is the nature of the beast. I didn't really know what I was doing, not sure I do now. Was that a rod piezo problem? Have you used them? Probably my soldering or wiring. Thanks for the vid, fantastico.

[@PuckettCigarBoxGuitar]

Piezos are unpredictable as all get out. i can wire up two identical piezos and they will sound different...sometimes it's luck... sometimes it's bad luck. some people run them thru pre amps to get them a little louder... me? i just go with whatever output they provide and use the amp to compensate

[@trackie1957]

I have found that the small piezos work just fine and are easy to embed in a bottle cap.

[@PuckettCigarBoxGuitar]

yes sir !!

[@FantaconeBoxWorksCBG]

Cool, thanks for sharing the info

[@bearshield7138]

thank you

[@milankalnas]

Flux prevents oxidation as well. The acid flux will eventually cause corrosion

[@PuckettCigarBoxGuitar]

I found some zinc chloride lead free flux

[@davidturner7040]

I learned we need strippers and keep my tip clean ! Your the best Dale! Seriously I love your vids man

[@sixstring001]

Great video!

[@Thebeard526]

Great video

[@RC-ht6kh]

Do you have to use piazza and magnetic or can you just use piazzo?

[@elholt7095]

I just got a CBG has a pickup that looks exactly like the "Electric Delta" 3-pole Cigar Box Guitar Pickup with Volume & Tone. Both the high strings sound great but the wound low string drops out especially when I pick the strings on a solo. I even tried to move the the pickup around but no good results. Do you have any suggestions or perhaps another pickup perhaps. Really enjoy your videos and appreciate your expertise! Cheers!

[@DonnyT744]

This is helpful.

[@henrywilliams1791]

Del, you should not be using Acid flux on electronic wiring or components. Rosin based flux should be used for electronics. Acid flux is used in plumbing applications. Most solder intended for electronics will have a core of rosin inside the solder itself. The acid will eat and corrode the wiring over time.

[@williamjbivens1956]

I was going to mention this very thing.

[@PuckettCigarBoxGuitar]

I found some “regular” paste flux at a garage sale

[@williamdodds6104]

Have you ever made any other instruments besides the cigar box guitar?

[@jeromegrzelak8236]

For a better connection run the wire through the eye let for a better connection

[@sixstring001]

Nice sounding drill. I’d hate to hear my Horrible Freight drill. 🙂

[@johnshort4421]

Why not have switch positions as pickups are situated, rear position- bridge, front position- neck. I guess it’s a personal preference thing.

[@PuckettCigarBoxGuitar]

yup… i needed to rotate the switch … heheheee. and the strings are grounded via the hinge

[@bondoman2k]

Great how to! But...what if you have a tone dial in there too? I have been asking all over in the clubs I'm in but no one seems to have an answer! Help????

[@PuckettCigarBoxGuitar]

I never use a tone dial so therefore I don’t incorporate them into my builds. I think they are useless. Sorry mate

[@bondoman2k]

@@PuckettCigarBoxGuitar Thanks anyway for responding. ;) Guess I'll just have to do it the long way and start touching wire to wire til I figure it out. ;)

[@SadPumpkin]

Del, is there a reason you didn't ground the switch?

[@johnshort4421]

No string grounding?

[@PuckettCigarBoxGuitar]

i ground strings when i use mag pick ups … piezo systems don’t require grounding

[@danadkins710]

Hello I'm wondering if you could make a cigar box for me I don't have any money because I have ssi

[@redstorm008]

Not first

[@user-lt9bd2yo5h]

Go out a buy some new damn flux! What’s with that old dried up crap?