A typical cigar box guitar from Nineboys

18 December 2020

This all kicked off after watching the BBC programme Cigar Box Blues. They highlighted a number of these idiosyncratic instruments and interviewed a number of players/constructors.

It's a great sound, to my ears at least, harking back to 1800s American Blues.

Cigars

I've always loved the smell of cigars, and when my friend Graham started working in the Netherlands he would return with Ritmeesters to savour.

My subsequent work travels would bring more opportunities, from a boutique cigar shop in Threadneedle St to the walk-in humidors of the Fullerton in Sydney. From lazy evenings in Bermuda to visiting the Partagas factory in Havana with cigar aficionado Hugh.

So I enjoyed the BBC programme, liked the music, own various cigar boxes, enjoy new projects …

6 January 2021

So let's build one.

According to Wikipedia, the cigar box guitar is a simple chordophone that uses an empty cigar box as a resonator. The earliest had one or two strings; modern models typically have three or more. Generally, the strings are connected to the end of a broomstick or a 1 x 3 inch wood slate and to the cigar box resonator.

On the basis that they have fewer strings than my electric guitar there was an assumption that they may be easier to play.

Decide to a look at the reviews, find a good primer to read and also acquire a few extra boxes, for flexibility.

20 March 2021

Acquire a few parts and accessories from various sources:

- A ceramic guitar slide from Star Singer Slides in Glastonbury. These slides are constructed from man-made stone, triple fired to over 1200°c and then extruded;

- String ferrules from Black Dog Music (with a free plectrum!);

- 4 shiny brass screened grommets (to cover sound holes) from Astons Music;

25 March 2021

The BBC documentary featured, amongst others, Chickenbone John. It's quite likely that he registered a different name for the 2021 Census last Sunday. Nevertheless, Chickenbone creates his own cigar box guitars and runs courses. He also has an online shop, which supplied a few additional parts.

9 April 2021

15 April 2021

The long awaited Chickenbone John order arrives today:

- 3 strings (GGD);

- a cherry wood fretwire bridge;

- a Piezo pickup wired to an amp socket;

- three open back machine heads;

- and the basic neck parts (fretless) for a 3-string cigar box guitar

2025

The time is right to pick up this project again. This means revisiting the array of parts, reminding myself of the consequences of opting for a fretless model, the wisdom of buying a piezo to jack harness excluding a volume control and lastly deciding which cigar box resonator to choose and how best to fit the neck.

There are many websites and forums that provide build information. Much of this is conflicting - for instance there are personal views on if and how to add fret marks to the neck, and whether there should be a gap below the cigar box lid.

However I obtained my parts from Chickenbone John, and the helpful fellow has easy to follow guides on YouTube, so that's my starting point.

One area I may digress is that of the tailpiece that anchors the strings. I quite like the example from Fantacone Box Works as posted on the Cigar Box Nation site.

The guitar neck supplied has a basic headstock profile, the bracing part has a chamfered end and the over-sized fret board has a chamfered end and a recess for the nut. These parts need to be glued together and profiled.