![]() You can also adjust the blade within the coping saw itself by holding onto the c-shape and turning the handle counterclockwise. You can direct the path of the saw by rotating the handle and the direction of the blade. Using a coping saw is pretty straightforward. This will keep the neck centered and tight in the cigar box. If the neck is 1 1/2″ wide, measure out 3/4″ (half) to each side of your mark and make another mark. Measure the width of the cigar box and mark the center. No matter the cigar box, the next step is to mark the place where the neck will go through. A lot of non-paper cigar boxes have a thicker lid that lays down on top of the sides rather than inside it. Most paper-covered boxes have a lid that lays down inside the edges of the box. The way you cut the cigar box will depend on what type of box you have. It’s time to put the neck down and pick up the cigar box. The dent is from my dog - I left it in rather than start over. Use your coping saw to cut the neck to length if it isn’t 36″ long. This difference will not have an effect on the measurements below. After you buy the board, you’ll notice that the board’s actual measurements are 3/4″ X 1 1/2″ X 36″. The board dimensions should be 1″ X 2″ X 36″. A few good recommendations are in the parts list above. The neck needs to be a hardwood or it will slowly bend over time with the tension of the strings. Although “neck” refers to the middle part of the guitar, our neck will extend all the way through the cigar box, so it will be longer for now. The first thing to build is the neck of the guitar. To get familiar with cigar box guitars, the first thing to do is learn the terminology. Use a ruler or caliper to measure each part so that it will fit correctly. If you do choose other parts, your measurements might be different. The measurements I’ve provided below are for the parts I’ve listed. There are many different options available for tuners, strings, etc. In no way are you restricted to the parts list I’ve provided. Gitty Crafter Supply ( A cigar box can be found at most tobacco shops that sell cigars for, at most, $5. For the guitar components, the best place I’ve found to get them is online at C.B. Any tools or lumber you need can be found at most hardware stores. If you don’t have them, check with your family, friends, or neighbors. Most of the tools to make your guitar are common in homes. When you really get creative, your guitar can say a lot about your personality. As a bonus, the cost is very low and the possibilities are endless no two cigar box guitars are the same. I discovered that they are quite simple and can be built with some basic household tools. I hadn’t done much woodworking yet, but it looked like something I could tackle. The first time I saw a cigar box guitar, I knew I had to build one. When mom got home, she would give the kids a good whipping, but had no way of putting her broom back together…so the kids played, and it only hurt once. ![]() They would then take the wire that held the bristles on and stretch it over the broom handle until they could produce a sound. When mom was gone, the kids would take apart her broom and stick the handle through a cigar box. In fact, there was a saying that playing a cigar box guitar only hurt once. The necks were usually made from broom handles and most only had one string. If you lived in that time period without money and you wanted to play an instrument, you needed easy-to-find tools and supplies, along with a talent for resourcefulness and ingenuity. The trend took off in small African-American communities in the late 1800s and later during the Great Depression because of widespread poverty. The cigar box guitar was originally a homemade instrument for individuals who couldn’t afford to buy an actual instrument. Learning a brief history of the cigar box guitar should give you some serious inspiration to build one of your own. Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Luke Brown.
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