What is a Cigar Box Guitar?
In the simplest form, a cigar box guitar is a stringed instrument built from a cigar box and a few simple parts. Traditionally these guitars were constructed by young and aspiring musicians without the means to acquire a "better" instrument. From the simplest version of a single wire string and a broomstick neck, to more complex multi-string instruments with hand-wound magnetic pickups, these back-yard creations continue to feed the imagination and creative spirit of many artists and performers today.
History
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Modern Movement
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What is this book?
This manual will describe a couple of proven techniques to create a beautiful and great sounding hand made cigar box instrument. The process described in here is certainly not the only method, or perhaps even the most effective method. Like all artistic and hand crafted activities, there are many ways to accomplish similar goals, and each building experience teaches its own lessons.
This book is intended to be a reference that can both introduce this engaging hobby and expand the ideas of beginning and intermediate level cigar box builders. There are several guides online that are great for first time builders and for more advanced builders. There are references to several of those guides at the back of this manual, and I encourage every builder to take advantage of these opportunities to learn from the mistakes and successes of others.
The processes in this book can all be accomplished with simple hand tools. A table saw, band saw, and drill press are not required, but access to these tools can make things a lot easier. The materials to build a quality instrument should not cost more than $40, and with some bargain hunting could even be significantly less. Of course the sky is the limit if you want to buy the most expensive and exclusive parts, but remember that isn't necessary to build an heirloom quality instrument.
In the simplest form, a cigar box guitar is a stringed instrument built from a cigar box and a few simple parts. Traditionally these guitars were constructed by young and aspiring musicians without the means to acquire a "better" instrument. From the simplest version of a single wire string and a broomstick neck, to more complex multi-string instruments with hand-wound magnetic pickups, these back-yard creations continue to feed the imagination and creative spirit of many artists and performers today.
History
Add some stuff here
Modern Movement
Add some stuff here
What is this book?
This manual will describe a couple of proven techniques to create a beautiful and great sounding hand made cigar box instrument. The process described in here is certainly not the only method, or perhaps even the most effective method. Like all artistic and hand crafted activities, there are many ways to accomplish similar goals, and each building experience teaches its own lessons.
This book is intended to be a reference that can both introduce this engaging hobby and expand the ideas of beginning and intermediate level cigar box builders. There are several guides online that are great for first time builders and for more advanced builders. There are references to several of those guides at the back of this manual, and I encourage every builder to take advantage of these opportunities to learn from the mistakes and successes of others.
The processes in this book can all be accomplished with simple hand tools. A table saw, band saw, and drill press are not required, but access to these tools can make things a lot easier. The materials to build a quality instrument should not cost more than $40, and with some bargain hunting could even be significantly less. Of course the sky is the limit if you want to buy the most expensive and exclusive parts, but remember that isn't necessary to build an heirloom quality instrument.
