Some of my different cigar box guitar builds (Junkbox Guitars)

' Cigar Box ' guitars built from:
Small cutlery Box 0:00 I Brass Bowl 2:26 I Wooden Salad Bowl 3:48 I Checkers (game) Tin 5:25

[@TimBlankJ]

I had that game box as a child! That was fantastic to see.. Thank you!

[@dustyandsneezing]

Every one of your guitars looks and sounds beautiful, all with different sounds and characters in them

[@TonyBrown-lf5nj]

You made my day awesome sounds I love watching y’all build them amazing KZbin is blessed to have y’all gifted craftsman .

[@danielsipes6082]

Very nice sound ! I thought the game tin would sound cheap and tinny but I actually think I like that sound the best. Outstanding workmanship!

[@johnmitchelljr]

Well done. Inspiring.

[@junkboxguitars2461]

Thanks

[@benebluesman]

That Chinese Checkers board had me thinking I need to do a 5-string canjo. And finally figure out the banjos open G tuning. Nice work

[@chipwhite1660]

Really, Really creative and well executed. Sounds are awesome.

[@swaggercat]

Beautiful work. The Chinese checker board blew me away.

[@TomPetersonRefuseReuse]

3 thumbs down? What were they expecting? These are beautiful, I'm currently building a hubcap guitar, just looking for some inspiration.

[@samTollefson]

Those are great!!!

[@oldhiway66]

Cool....you have some well made CBGs created out of some ordinary household items that have some extraordinary, rich tones.

[@MinimGuitars]

Nice, really like the experimental style. I have a few bits and pieces to try stuff like this with, I guess it's a matter of figuring out how to piece them together!

[@MrEh5]

Brilliant use of the toaster base.

[@74dartman13]

They're all awesome and sound beautiful!

[@junkboxguitars2461]

74dart man thanks! Appreciate your comment.

[@74dartman13]

Junkbox Guitars you're welcome! They're so cool!

[@geordieshar]

very nice thanks for sharing...

[@junkboxguitars2461]

Thanks Tarley , appreciate the comment

[@Starliner428]

Nice to see and hear. Cheers!

[@kennethwilburn7327]

wonderful

[@mwarnken1234]

wow! excellent stuff!

[@CrowsBrother]

Great !

[@dwaynecurfman555]

Great Builds Sir!! What intonation are you strings set at? Fretted fretboard for slide too.

[@junkboxguitars2461]

Usually 25” scale, yes fretted fretboard fir slide… although sometimes I do make fretless.

[@dwaynecurfman555]

@@junkboxguitars2461 how high is the strings off of your fretboard? I'm having problems using my slide on mine, my intonation is U.s. quarter between frets and strings. Thx for your input 👍

[@junkboxguitars2461]

@@dwaynecurfman555 few things to consider: 1. Your touch with the slide needs to be delicate. Don’t press down… as guitar players we are used to pressing the strings down to the fretboard… don’t! … Just enough pressure to get a clear tone. Sometimes a heavier weight of slide will help. 2. 1/4 in should be enough, but you could always raise it ( higher bridge 3. Sometimes the strings are too slack when tuned up, depending on scale length. For GDGB tuning (low to high pitch), sometimes I find using the 6, 5, 4 and 3 strings (E A D G) gives a better tension on a scale of 25”… rather than the 5,4,3 and 2 strings (A tuned down to G etc) Hope this might be of some help! All the best, Dave

[@rosskeck5928]

I’m followin Your lead and Makin a 4 string out of a Jack Daniels vintage metal full Poker Set!🙌🏼the only thing I don’t understand is the principle of the resonator?does it need slits in the side and 3/4 inch interior channel to capture the Tone? Thank You!🙌🏼🙋🏽‍♂️

[@junkboxguitars2461]

ross keck , not too sure what you mean. With any of the metal boxes/ tins or an insert of metal under the bridge ( paint tin lid, metal plate etc) this will perform as a “ resonator”. Basically meaning that the term “Resonator” refers to anything that resonates. Can be wood, but metal definitely gives it a different tone/ character. I honestly don’t think too much of the physics of size box etc... mainly because sometimes I have had to make do with what I have at hand.I just make and then adjust. Adjustment is often the bridge, or choice of it . So if you’re not happy with the sound, try metal to metal, or wood on the metal plate or resonator etc. I have often found the shallow boxes work really well, contrary to what I originally expected. Hope this makes some sense!! Good luck! Experiment and change if you’re not happy with the result. You’ll end up kind of knowing what is going to work and and adjustment becomes very minor.

[@merak0044]

Nice guitars. I ve been thinking of building my own for a while now. I want to bring it with me at work. I m a paramedic in quebec and working 12 hrs shift is sometime long. I do bring my harmonica and my resonator stays at the gerage witch I practice on my lunch break....lol Your necks? Do you make em yourself or do you buy em....Thanks for the video

[@junkboxguitars2461]

merak0044 thanks. I make my own necks, which can be made quite simply with a ‘step down’ headstock (like Fenders etc) rather than an angled, scarfe joint. I now live in Australia and had to simplify manufacture. Here I found a great slat fencing lumber (merbau) which I make a simpler neck with. Oil it with Danish oil and fret it. Looks and sounds great .

[@tiagoamado1708]

Show

[@jayman448]

is GDGD a viable option for a four string?

[@junkboxguitars2461]

jayman448 absolutely! So many possibilities! GDGF gives you a G7 (C7,D7) etc which us also great!

[@Survive2022]

Have you ever made a four string, bass?

[@junkboxguitars2461]

Survive2022 I haven’t yet... but I’d love to make one some time. Thinking of making one using the u- bass synthetic strings. Think it’d be awesome, and I get asked quite regularly. So, one day...!!

[@Survive2022]

Junkbox Guitars The reason I ask; is because I'm thinking of building one for a dear friend. I'm in research mode, figuring things out. I figured ask someone who might know. So anyways, I'm trying to figure out distance from neck end to pick-ups. And distance from neck end to bridge. Any suggestions?

[@benebluesman]

@@Survive2022 I've made a 2 string fretless cigar box bass with a hockey stick neck. I wasn't worried about scale length as it was fretless. You're typical bass scale lengths are 30", 32" and 34". That's nut to saddle measurement. Saddle to 24th fret 7.5", 8" or 8.5" now if you use a 21 or 22 fret neck you'll have a bit more but this is the length you can mount your pickup in. For a minimum total body length add your neck joint length and bridge length, unless you join the neck outside of the box. Where should you put your pickup? Well that depends on the type of pickup. You can base it off existing designs or just put it where it looks best. There is a science to it but there's alot of variables that pull it in so many directions multiplied by subjective tone preferences and you might as well just use aesthetics to guide you. Or mimic an existing bass your player likes, same pickup mounted the same distance from the bridge.

[@wealldieatthehandsoflovedones]

I grew up in my Dad's cabinet shop and would build guitars that I couldn't pawn....