Tips on cutting the neck slot for your Cigar Box Guitar.

I show a few tips on cutting the neck slot for your Cigar Box Guitar, using different styles of boxes.
Michael Bianconi~ email= [e-mail]
www.southernfi...
/ southernfirerustic

[@michaelwhalen7991]

Very COOL demo Michael...Well you were using a fan ! Your videos are a big help . Thank you !

[@SouthernFireGuitars]

Your welcome, Michael. Thank you. Got to have the fan. :) Its either that or the umbrella. lol

[@walterkemp6558]

Thanks Mike very helpful.👍

[@rodkasiahsr3900]

Great job brother nice work

[@Ranjer-os5wr]

I've been at smoke shops and put those curved sided boxes back on the stack- just did not think I'd could do a good job on them. I may have to give one a go. Thanks!

[@SouthernFireGuitars]

Their not bad, once you build one or two of them. M~

[@peterhaynes8258]

PURE MAGIC, WHAT A GREAT GUY.

[@SouthernFireGuitars]

Thanks Peter

[@eml5086]

Great video…. Thank you!

[@SouthernFireGuitars]

Glad you liked it! M~

[@waden404]

Thnk u again. Good stuff

[@SouthernFireGuitars]

Thanks you, Wade. M~

[@howardc9882]

Good vid , thanks again, your cool…

[@SouthernFireGuitars]

Thank you, Howard. M~

[@achooraha551]

Great work

[@SouthernFireGuitars]

Thanks

[@jonhwoodapucaranapr.7539]

Muito bom, gosto de seus vídeos.... bem didático.. .😎😎

[@SouthernFireGuitars]

Obrigado, meu amigo. :) I love translating websites. lol

[@charleszuhlke7047]

I hate those boxes with the rounded sides! Gonna give these tips a try.

[@SouthernFireGuitars]

Yes, I know what you mean, their definitely a challenge. Thanks for checking out the video. Michael~

[@bobhunt1253]

Just wondering if you have ever tried an oscillating saw with its different size blades. After trying different ways I have found it to be the cats meow.

[@SouthernFireGuitars]

I have used one before, but not on cigar boxes. I will definitely have to try one now. I'm always looking for the cats meow :) Thanks Bob M~

[@mikeclarke9281]

I have a ukulele neck, from nut to 12th fret is 8 1/2. 17 inches takes me to the end of the box. Can you please advise

[@SouthernFireGuitars]

You may need a longer box, so you have room to place your bridge for the 17'' scale. M~

[@mikeclarke9281]

Thanks for replying, yes, I have a longer box now

[@DaMoysis]

Any tips for cutting a box with padded ends? I have an Arturo Fuente Rosado Sungrown with deep, rich red pads on each end. It's a beautiful thing but I'm not quite sure how to proceed.

[@SouthernFireGuitars]

I have never used that box before, so I can't really give an answer on that one. sorry. M~

[@wayneshipman7406]

Have question 1st good instructional video ,was wondering do you do that for a living? And if so what's the turn around on it or around about cause I'm 55 and my body is wore out from hard labor ,and I play guitar anyway and love the blues and how much are you 3 strings electric

[@SouthernFireGuitars]

Thanks Wayne, If you would like info on a custom built CBG, you can email me at [e-mail]. I also have some available right now on my website. www.southernfireguitars.com/

[@rparker120]

As usual I watched these videos and come up with a mess of questions. That little block you use to mark the slots is pretty cool. Is it just cut off pieces of neck? 1 1/4” x 1 1/4” ?

[@SouthernFireGuitars]

Its 2 pieces 1.5'' x 3/4'' glued together. Which would be called a 1x2 at one of the big box stores. You know, the one that starts with an L and ends with an S. LOL

[@rparker120]

Thanks Mike!

[@Jomo1438]

Hello ! Do you have any tips for a sliding lid? It came with the kit, so either I ask for a new one, or figure it out. Right now, I am stumped. Thanks!

[@SouthernFireGuitars]

Hey J M, Your guess would be as good as mine, Ive never built a CBG with a sliding lid. 🙄

[@robertmayer6361]

Love your videos. I want to make a CBG and your videos will help out tremendously. Do you only use wooded boxes or can you use cardboard and reinforce them? Thanks again.

[@SouthernFireGuitars]

Thank you, Robert. I'm glad you found the tips useful for building your own CBG. I try to use mostly wood boxes, but I have used the cardboard ones before, like cool antique ones. But, I will reinforce them from the inside pretty good. :) M~

[@bobherget7676]

Michael is a wonderful CBG maker and video presenter. His playing skills continue to improve as well. I'm also impressed by Michael's diligence in replying to virtually all comments on his videos. I wonder if he ever gets any sleep. Lol. Kudos to Michael! Though your post is 2 years old, I feel compelled to respond to your mention of cardboard cigar boxes. I've been building CBGs for several years. I initially shied away from cardboard cigar boxes simply because of hearing people say that they are inferior for use for guitars. I told myself, "What the heck, give them a try"! I've found that little or no reinforcement of cardboard boxes is necessary. Each box, of course, will vary in its need for reinforcement. I'm of the opinion that the least needed reinforcement results in better sound. I use a through-neck design rather than other methods of neck to box connection, which all but eliminates the stresses on the box itself, other than the soundboard itself. I've also happily found that cardboard cigar boxes produce what I refer to as a "plunkier" sound when played acoustically versus being electrically amplified than wood boxes do, which I find to be pleasant to my senses. Some folks agree with me, others continue to turn their noses up at them. To each their own. The one downside that I've found to using cardboard cigar boxes is the tendency of a cardboard soundboard to sag somewhat more than wood as the guitar goes through its settling-in period in the initial months after construction is completed, requiring saddle height adjustments to maintain good string action. After that initial adjustment period has ended, I'm very happy with their performance and sound. I've considered adding bracing to the underside of the cardboard soundboard in order to reduce the amount of sag but have yet to give it a try. I'm still weighing the pros and cons of doing so. There is very little surface area on a CBG soundboard compared to that of a traditional guitar, making me think that any bracing would be more detrimental than helpful. The extra work involved and the possibility of deadening the soundboard's ability to vibrate have thus far stayed my hand. Maybe I'll try it on my next cardboard CBG build, maybe not. Probably not. Lol. Whether you're still into CBGs or not, I thought I'd throw in my two cents on the subject. Cheers to you and the CBG community at large!

[@timschultz1139]

Mr Southern Fire. What’s the best way to close a flip down box lid after you finish and need to close it. With that professional look like you have. Don’t tell me it’s a family secret. Thanks Michael. Tim Schultz

[@SouthernFireGuitars]

I usually put a screw in the corners with a finishing washer.

[@timschultz1139]

Thanks Michael for the tips. I’m a 29 year retired SC law enforcement officer. I need all the help I can get. Tim Schultz

[@SouthernFireGuitars]

@@timschultz1139 Your welcome, my friend. Thank you, for watching. M~

[@clemmcguinness1087]

Meticulous explanations thanks

[@SouthernFireGuitars]

Thank you, Clem. M~

[@marinevet7273]

What is the name if the small saw used to cut the neck slots, thanks

[@SouthernFireGuitars]

It's a pull saw or a fretting saw.

[@hovlandbound]

Thanks for the video. But what I'm wondering is how far should the neck on a fretted neck stick up above the top of the box? Thanks

[@SouthernFireGuitars]

Thank you. I usually make my fret boards about 1/4 inch over the box top. M~

[@hovlandbound]

@@SouthernFireGuitars Ok, that helps. Do you have any kind of back angle on it as well? I see some of the guys do that, not sure if that's a good idea or not. Thanks!

[@SouthernFireGuitars]

@@hovlandbound I don't do any back angle, the neck is just level with the box.

[@pctips4all]

Hey bud….. what type of hand saw is that with the brown handle that you used to cut the openings in your cigar boxes for the neck? Thanks!!!!

[@SouthernFireGuitars]

You can find the saw I'm using here, under the "Tools" section. www.amazon.com/shop/southernfireguitars

[@pctips4all]

@@SouthernFireGuitars thanks man! Hope you get some commission from Amazon through your site. 😊

[@pctips4all]

@@SouthernFireGuitars I got some tools to help me get started. Woohoo. Starting this week on my first. Your videos are my guide. I appreciate you so much!!!

[@SouthernFireGuitars]

@@pctips4all Your welcome. Yes,, they throw me a few crumbs. lol

[@SouthernFireGuitars]

@@pctips4all That's awesome. Thanks brother. Good luck with your build. M~

[@user-dr6tm4wc4m]

What is that small saw called?

[@SouthernFireGuitars]

not sure which one your referring to, but you can see everything I use here, under TOOLS www.amazon.com/shop/southernfireguitars

[@donaldfrederick1557]

Are your necks 1" x 2" or 3/4" X 1 1/2"

[@SouthernFireGuitars]

The big box stores call them a 1 x 2 but their actually 3/4" X 1 1/2"

[@donaldfrederick1557]

@@SouthernFireGuitars sweet; I've got a ton of oak that size.