It May Be Harmful!

SURGEON GENERAL WARNING:  Cigar Box Guitar playing may be hazardous to your health.  Symptoms can be sleep depravation; diminished hearing; cramping of hands and feet; failure to respond to your spouse's requests; spousal indifference; failure to appear for employment; significant body odor including that of wood, sawdust, stain, varnish, and sweat; language difficulty - speaking in sharps, flats, chords, slides, hammerons and pulloffs; unexplained wailing, grunts, and stamping of feet, and a general disregard for what may be politically correct.

Monster Amp

After creating a dozen, as in 12, cigar box guitars, I decided to try my hand at building a CBG amp.  These little critters are a hoot to see and listen to.  Big sound out of a small box!

After researching construction ideas on the web, I headed off to the Shack to pick up the required parts.  No problem converting a cigar box.  All I need are parts to light it up.  Forty bucks later and enough anxiety to cripple a Clydesdale, I put the crap back in the bag and thought about another day to build.  I'm just not an electronic wizard, and besides I figured I'd screw up the stuff, burn hell out of my fingers with errant solder, and then what . . . I returned the stuff to the Shack for a refund.

To soothe the frustration, I accessed eBay and went searching for amps.  Not long into the search, I discovered a CBG amp harness supplied by guitarfuel.com.  A 9-volt battery- powered harness complete with tone and volume controls; dc adapter so it can work off the current in my house; headphone jack; four-inch speaker; and all necessary parts to complete the build.

Yes, a 9-volt battery powered system.  Don't laugh, this thing is a MONSTER!  It produces GREAT sound, and it's LOUD, too.  It'll blow the paint off most factory amps, while being small enough to fit in my hip pocket.

Why would anyone who has a serious urge to make big noise not want one of these things.  They're inexpensive (box - $5; parts - $44; carrying handle - $2.50; speaker screen - $? whatever you can salvage; labor - priceless) and they're easy to build.

If you have questions, ask me.  If you're ready to build, write Ty at Guitarfuelsales@aol.com or visit http://www.guitarfuel.com/. Ty knows what he is doing and he is a great source of information and help. . . to say nothing about the wonderful customer service he provides.  You will do no better elsewhere!

It's easy, it's fun, it's inexpensive, and it's a great way to get big sound out of your CBG! 

Here are some pics of my creation.

The guitar is #11 ('Punch') made from a cigar box by the same name. It's my favorite to date, and sounds awesome on the little amp.

Make A Bottleneck Slide

You will need:

• A wine bottle with a long neck
• Glass cutter
• Masking tape
• Dremel rotary tool with grinding stone (optional)

1. Take a piece of masking tape and wrap it around the base of the bottle neck, making sure one side of the tape makes a perfect circle surrounding the neck.  This will serve as the guiding line for the glass cutter.
2. Using the glass cutter, scribe a solid line around the neck, following the tape guide line.  Make sure the line does not break or get choppy going up and down the neck.
3. Remove the tape.
4. Take the bottle to the kitchen sink and run very hot water, for two (2) minutes, over the scribed line on the neck.
5. Here's the trick!  Change the tap water to cold and run the neck under the stream ... AND TAP ON THE SCRIBED LINE WITH YOUR FINGER or the metal ball end of the glass cutter.  Slowly rotate the bottle, allowing the water to hit every part of the scribed line.  You should eventually hear or see a crack along the scribe.  The neck may even fall off (you may want to place a towel in the sink before this step, to keep from breaking the neck.)  If there is no crack, repeat steps 4 and 5.
6. If it cracks but the neck does not separate, take hold of the neck and snap it off (just like breaking a chicken's neck.)
7. Dry off the neck and use a Dremel rotary tool grinding bit to smooth the edges of the cut glass (or, if you are a purist and want the slide to be 'authentic' to blues history, take it outside and smooth the edges on your sidewalk.  Be careful not to chip off too much in the process.

Voila! You have your own true blues bottleneck slide.

Don't get pissed if your first attempt doesn't break right.  This happens from time to time.  Keep practicing.

*  Contributed by Scotty's Cigar Box Guitars

Build A CBG Amplifier

You do not need to be an electronics wizard to build a CBG amplifier*.  A few items from your local electronics supply store, and a little patience and time is all that is necessary.

Materials

• 1/4" input jack for guitar signal (1).
• Headphone jack (stereo connect left and right channel)  (1).
• 9-volt battery terminal connector and 9-volt battery (1 each).  Velcro works well to keep the battery secure in the box.
• Capacitors (1 each):  10uF; 220uF; 0.1uF.
• 10 ohm resistor (1).
• LM386 op amp (1).
• 8 ohm speaker (1).
• 8-pin IC base (optional).
• SPST switch (optional) the battery will last longer if used.
• Perfboard of choice.

You can go bonkers with the use of a box, but a small 'fat' cigar box works well.

*  Design provided by Scotty's Cigar Box Guitars

'Playboy' Featured on Cigar Box Guitars Australia

I received an e-mail this morning announcing that my 'Playboy' creation was chosen as the feature guitar on Cigar Box Guitars Australia, which is a site devoted to cigar box guitars and related information.  Considering the quality and creativity of the hundreds of instruments displayed on this site, I am honored to have one of my guitars chosen.  You can check out the site by clicking on the site below.

http://www.cigarboxguitarsaustralia.ning.com/

The 'Gutshaker'

The 'Gutshaker' is a full-size, 34-inch scale bass guitar created from an old silverware box I found while rummaging around a secondhand store, and red oak neck.  In this creation, I combined both of my favorite hobbies, pinstriping/graphics and cigar box guitars.  The 'Gutshaker' name comes from the last hotrod I built, and the little guy painted on the top is my version of Roth's Rat Fink painted to reflect the name, and it represents the gut-shaking sound from the bass.  The large size of the box allows plenty of room for the 'f' holes and special bridge designs.  The ol'skool pinstriping on the back further carries out the theme.  But, the real fun is in the tailstock, which is a sterling silver cake server I 'borrowed' from my wife's silverware.  It fit the design well, and we never use it, so why not?  I didn't ask permission, because forgiveness always works best for me. When she discovers my procurement, I will plead senility brought on by old age, and I know she will forgive me.   {;-)

Check Out the 'Playboy' CBG

I finished my 6th guitar, the 'Playboy', a couple weeks ago.  It is the result of acquiring a cigar box made especially for Hugh Hefner.  Bunny silouettes were cut for sound holes as well as for headstock application and output jack enclosure.  And, to finalize the creation, I couldn't resist adding a few photos of 'bunnies' past and present for viewing pleasure inside the box. 

Cigar Box Instrument Plans

The attached link will provide plans for a variety of simple cigar box instruments.  Take a look, all you'll do is get hooked on this fun hobby, and the best part is that you will be able to create a piece of art that will be a functional musical instrument, as well.

archive of cigar box instrument plans

Cigar Box Guitars: building tips, music and the cigar box culture

This is my first attempt at creating a cigar box guitar, and it is the result of the encouragement and direction received from viewing the numerous examples and reading the endless dialog on Cigar Box Nation.  If you are interested, go to the link below . . . but, plan to spend a lot of time, because the trip will be exciting and educational.

Cigar Box Nation - Cigar Box Guitars: building tips, music and the cigar box culture

#s 3, 4, and 5

Attached are photos of the last three guitars.  Number 3 is pretty straight forward, without any special effects.  It sound great and is fun to play.

Number four is a bit crazy.  I made this from an old Hershey's Pretzel tin I used to store small electic parts for hotrods, back in the day when I was still building them.  It too sounds great, and has a bit of a banjo feel to it.

Five is the fun one.  It's my 'redneck' complete with the appropriate decoration.  I set it up without frets, which requires the use of a slide.

All the guitars can be played acoustically or through my amp, and they do sound very good for being constructed from cigar boxes or other unusual things.

Brian Lemin's Cigar Box Guitar Plans

If you are interested in learning more about building a cigar box guitar, I recommend that you take a look at the attached link.  Brian's suggestions can be modified to fit your desires, and you can create your own plan from his basic approach.  Give it a look, you'll not be disappointed.

Brian Lemin's Cigar Box Guitar Plans

Why TotalRojo?

A friend asked me recently, "Why do you name your CBGs TotalRojo?"

Well, on a trip to Cancun with my wife, we were on the beach enjoying soaking up the sun, surf and suds, when I ventured off to the cabana to pickup a couple towels for us.  When the young guy tossing out rags asked my name, I responded, "Allred," to which he immediately retorted, "Oh, Mr. Todo Rojo."   We bantered back and forth for a while having a good time, and off I went.

Much to our surprise, for the entire rest of the time at the resort, I was known by all the waiters and waitresses as Mr. Todo Rojo.

So, I bastardized the translation into a 'Spanglish' version of my name, and it became TotalRojo, which is the reason for the logo.

Check Out This Site

Cigar Box Nation is a very cool and informative site on which to learn about CBGs, and you just might hit my page, too.

My Page - Cigar Box Nation

Cigar Box Guitar History

Cigar box guitar - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

If you are interested in learning about my new hobby and the history of cigar box guitars, go to the above link, it will be worth your time.

The history is rich and colorful, and is the basis for the resurgence in interest in what is based on folk art in the form of music.

Number Two

The second CBG I've built, which I call my 'Ollie' is constructed much the same as the first, but the headstock is designed a little differently and the fingerboard is poplar laminated to an oak neck. 

The box is an Oliveros, lest the 'Ollie' tag, with soundholes cut in the shape of a musical f-hole design.  Like the first, frets were placed in critical positions using the neck of my Martin accoustic as a pattern for proper location.  This too is electric, but again like #1 it can be played accoustically.  The sound is different, because of the difference in design and materials, but still vibrant.

My First CBG Effort

After doing a lot of research on the web, I decided mid-December to build a three-string cigar box guitar (CBG). 

So, off to Lowes for necessary lumber and hardware; to the local smoke shop for a cigar box; and to the music store for tuners and tailstock pegs.  Strings came from my six-string guitar stock.

The box is an Arturo Fuente Hemingway series attached to neck and headstock of red oak with mahogany stained fingerboard.  I designed the headstock to reflect a modern look, but instead of inlaying fret markers on the surface of the neck, I decided to leave it clean and to inlay BBs as markers in position on the leading edge. 

After cutting away a small portion of the box to accommodate the neck, it was laminated to the inside top of the box.  Then I added leading- and trailing-edge supports to the neck, which take on a nautical bent when viewed from the side.

Sound holes were cut into the surface of the top and brass drain covers added for a little charm.  The bridge is a simple idea I came up with, which resonates sound for the Radio Shack transducer to pick it up and transmit it through an output jack to my amp, and voila, a cool little guitar with a big sound.

I chose to expand on the  Hemingway name by adding a picture of Ernest on the back of the box in tribute to the guy who had a love of the sea, and who authored one of my favorite books, The Old Man and The Sea.  Thus the nautical theme and style.

A New Hobby

I've always been involved with music in one way or another, and my wife fulfilled one of my longtime dreams by presenting me in mid-December with an early Christmas present, an Ibanez hollowbody electric guitar to share a corner of my den with a Martin acoustic and an Alvarez plank.  The Ibanez stimulated me to do a little research on the web, and while involved in surfing the many different guitar sites, I bumped into Cigar Box Nation.

I thought, "what is a cigar box guitar." 

Well, let me tell you, it is the most interesting and stimulating hobby that I have ever encountered.

It was so facinating to me that I read everything I could find about these little noise makers, and I immediately made a lumber/hardware run to Lowe's for the necessary parts to get started on my very own CBG (that's short for the little guitar name), and detoured by the local tobacco shop for a supply of cigar boxes. 

That run was on December 19, and since then I have completed the design and manufacture of five completely different and unusual cigar box guitars.

These things are a hoot to build and dynamite to play.  Yes, they sound great!  Especially wired for sound and played through an amplifier.

Take a look at my creations when I post the photos and let me know what you think.  And, if your really interested, hop over to http://www.cigarboxnation.com/ for a real treat and introduction into the world of CBGs.