The plan is to build a custom electric 4 string cigarbox guitar. I want to do this as cheaply as possible. I bought this Fender Mini Guitar from Musiciansfriend.com to use for parts for $42.00. I will be reusing the wiring and parts from the mini-guitar including the bridge. I ordered a Ashton Cabinet #7 Cigar box (2-5/8″ X 7-3/8″ X 8-1/4″) for $7 from Ebay.com for the body of guitar.
The first step after disassembly of the mini-guitar was to sand the neck and reprofile the headstock. The new neck is 1 1/4″ at the nut, and 1 1/2″ at the 12th fret. The next step is to buy some 5/16th” dowel to plug the top and bottom tuner holes (I only need 4). I will also be buying some spruce 1″X2″ to use for cross bracing the neck and bridge.
Reprofiled headstock
reshaped neck for cigarbox guitar
Stay tuned for more cigarbox guitar building fun.
I’m still waiting for my cigar box, but I plugged the top and bottom tuner holes with 5/16th” dowel and Titebond wood glue. I also did some hand sanding to smooth out the neck.
headstock plugged
I decided on wiring a single neck pickup and a single 45mm piezo electric transducer. I found this wiring plan.
pickup and piezo wiring diagram
11/9/2010
I managed to break the first cigar box, but I ordered more. I put in cross-bracing for the bridge-tailpiece, cut the hole for the single coil pick-up and cut the neck slot and glued in the mounting block for the neck.
Interior of cigar box
front of cigar box
I am in the process of gluing the neck onto the neck block. When it is dry I will run four 2″ screws through the back to add strength to the neck.
Neck in place
Back showing screws holding neck
Piezo in place
The neck was dry enough to screw down. I ran 4 screws through the back into the neck. I reused the screws that I took out of the neck on the mini-guitar. I bought some 45mm piezo transducers. I glued one between two pieces of thin wood from the inside of a cigar box to act as a sound cushion. The completed piezo has been glued in to place directly in front of the bridge, cheating a little to the bass side.
12/01/2010
I finally ordered the electronic components to finish the gitar from www.stewmac.com. After the electronics are installed all I need to do is add the tuning pegs and strings.
0032 1 Wiring Kit for Jazz Bass $18.98 $18.98
3789 1 Self-adhesive Shielding Kit – Standard kit $14.35 $14.35
0554-G 2 Speed Knob – Gold $3.37 $6.74
0070-G 1 Oval Jack Plate – Gold $7.93 $7.93
Tax $0.00
Shipping $8.50
Your order total $56.5
