Cigar Box Tele ?!? Should it be created.

[spencer31st]

Hello everyone at TDPRI, This is my first thread so.... Here it goes!

I have many styles of guitar that I like, but only 2 that really touch me.

1. Telecasters - I think we all have that in common.
2. Cigar Box Guitars - It's unique, fun to play, and impossible to play without a smile!

So, being maybe the only person in the world that would have this idea, why not mix the two.

Please excuse the horrible computer rendering but I wanted to get an idea of what this creature would look like. Here is a picture of some of the Cigar boxes that I have made and the quality gets better with each build. Now the logistics if I build it.

1. Top loading modern style bridge. Through the body strings might pull too much through the guitar.
2. Cheapest (straight) neck that I can find. This is an experiment!
3. Maybe one of those active mod boards from Guitar Fetish that would add an effects switch where the tone would normaly be. Cigar Boxes sound awesome with overdrive.
4. Plenty of bracing inside the cigar box! I learned from experience that if you don't do this well, your new creation will collaspe within a few months.


I look forward to everyone's feedback (pos. or neg.) and then I will decide if this mutant needs to be built. Also any ideas for names would be appreciated.

[newtwanger]

Welcome to the forum!

You wanted an opinion so I'm offering two.

Don't do it. Cigar box guitars are cute for what they are but I think it's pointless to over complicate it with telecaster parts. Use the tele parts to make a tele or design your own solidbody shape to put the parts on.

Go for it. It's your idea and if you feel you have a chance at a unique playable instrument as the end result, the pride you will feel at meeting (or exceeding) your expectations will be worth it.


You are most welcome for my non-answer of your question.

[Thunders1988]

It's definately doable. But you got to make your own neck, I wouldn't recommend bolting one on the box. That would just snap off. Take a look at through-neck constructions... That should do the trick. Best of luck!

Ps: Here's one I built with a short tutorial (pic's only if you don't speak Dutch) on how to build a CBG.

[spencer31st]

Thanks for your votes ( +1, -1). You are absolutly correct, they are cute for what they are. From what I have seen and experienced over the years there are two types of Cigar Box Guitars.

1. Science fair instruments that play but leave a lot to be desired in the quality of sound, fit, and finish departments. These are great for getting young kids into music but that is about it. I built one out of a Thomas the Train lunch box for my 4 yr. old for this reason alone.

2. Labors of love instruments that time, thought, energy, and a little money have been put into that play well, look great, and if all of the other guitars that are aquired in my short time on earth are sold after I'm gone, these will be the ones that my children keep and cherish. This is the type of guitar I am pondering here.

One thing that I did not realize untill I read your post was that the Telecaster parts and the Cigar Box are uncannily a perfect fit for each other.

1. No other bridge gives as much surface area and is designed for a flat surface.
2. I cannot think of another control plate that is not intergrated into a pickguard and can be removed from the top with out disassembling the guitar.
3. The simplicity of the design allows you to leave the neck pick up out and retain the "vibe" of a vintage tele.
4. The Tele neck has a flat surface at the end of the neck that will make it easier when carving the neck pocket into the top of the box.

These are just a few of the things I thought of when I started thinking about how "over complicated" this project would be. At first I kinda agreed with you but now I think that the Tele design will make this project less complicated.

Thank you again for your response, take care.

[spencer31st]

1988,
I agree the neck would just snap through. I have only made one six string cigar box. Sold it before I even got to take a picture :(. I used a Strat neck and around the neck (inside the box) I put three braces all of the way throught the box. Bottom, left, and right sides. This worked well, shimmed the neck up to the right hieght and added some wieght to the box which balanced the guitar better. Also could not be seen from the outside so it still looked good. I will have to check out your link later, my browser at work will not let me view your pics and unfortunantly I don't speak Dutch.

[spencer31st]

Here is a picture of the neck bracing idea, it worked once before but who knows?

[F6_FullMelt]

I like this idea!

I say do it-
the telecaster is a glamorized plank, why not lend its sound to an unpolished box?

[spencer31st]

I'm thinking "Cancercaster" but that may be a little too......

[BluesFuzzer]

I think its possible to use a tele neck (or strat)

[HOBBSTER01]

Blasphemy.
Just kidding.
Do it if you want.

[Bearer]

I did this same thing about a year ago. My friend gave me an old neck, and I had a cigarbox lying around. I used some maple to brace the middle like you did, routed out an area for the pickup, and basicly built myself a nice little guitar. Of course, if I were to do it again I'd do it a lot differently, but it turned out fine! I put an f-hole on it and it actually sunds quite nice acoustic, and not all that bad plugged in!

Go for it!

[jimdkc]

I like it.

You must do it!

Jim

[udimet720]

I've been tinking of doing something similar for some time.

Here's an excellent picture of a cigar box with some pretty nice bracing. I think as long as you are not relying on the box for structural integrity, it will work fine. This is one example of how you could do it.



More here.

My basic idea is to build a hollow body inside the box. So, the box would pretty much be there for visual and acoustic properties.

There are also some great 'hybrid' designs by Bill Jehle here. And here.


They are somewhere on the site. He also has resources for building a cigar box.

Do a Google image search or a youtube search. I'm sure you can find some more examples.

I think one of the keys is getting a box of the right size. A lot of cigar boxes are a bit small to fit the bridge and neck cutout for a 25.5" scale.

I really don't see why you couldn't make one into a really nice guitar or at least a slide guitar. But, as you said, we're talking about something more than a typical cb guitar.

[PennyCentury]

Not to mention that Bo Diddley built a career on a cigar-box guitar, later improved by Gretsch as his custom guitar in 1958, and later a production model G6138.

http://www.gretschguitars.com/gear/i...?product=G6138

[spencer31st]

Thanks for the great info everyone. A good point was made, you have to find the right box. Here is a picture of an identicle box I used for my last 6 string. There were a few things that made it work well.

1. Thicker wood
2. Large dimensions
3. Straight edges (I had to look through dozens to find one)
4. Good looks.

Too bad I already used this one for a project, It would work fine. But it takes some of the "fun" out of a project if it looks like something I have done before. I think they make this box in a natural finish also, maybe I will go that route.

Great, the way I am talking I guess I have made up my mind already and am going to build it.

I will post a parts list later to see what this animal is going to run me, I may have to wait untill after Fathers day to see what kind of a budget I am on.

[spencer31st]

Well.... I looked at the parts needed to build one and I came to a conclusion. Although I am not crazy about the new headstock shape, it would be cheaper to buy the new T-style from Rondo and part it out ($99.00). I have better pickups at home and everything else is just what I need except it has a string through bridge...more bracing!

http://www.rondomusic.com/stl503ts.html

[udimet720]

If you're going to go that route and replace the p/u's and bridge, you might think about this Rondo model. It's a cheaper strat model...

SST SE

The hs has a better shape. But, the heel will be rounded.

Just a thought... Or you could go with a squier bullet, which have had favorable reviews on the necks.

Though it looks like the tuners might be a bit cheaper. So, that may not be worth the $$ difference.

[mrmorrison]

Originally Posted by spencer31st

Here is a picture of the neck bracing idea, it worked once before but who knows?

Was this your inspiration for the paint job?

[spencer31st]

Not bad, but it may need some pink and orange to!

[spencer31st]

I have a squire bullet at home (that I got free from GC through the warranty) that I would not miss but.... I want the tele hardware mostly. The string through bridge will work, and may add some sustain as a plesent byproduct. It will just be a little more work to make sure it does not collapse (implode)the box.

[iansmitchell]

He would be proud.


(I knew him, I think he would think it a cool idea, but I don't think he was mucha tele fiend.)

As for other guit-boxes...


Boxdolin:

[BlueJim]

I'm all for it; as long as I get to help empty the box of cigars.

[Arcmaster]

I think Its a great Idea! In fact I had been plannin on my own Cigar Box Guitar,
With Tele style neck and hardware. Mr Ford build the car and companys have always been Improving on em since! So why not Update the Cigar Box Guitar.
Here's my plan. I gonna use EMGs single coils for pickups (9 volt Battery). top loading hardtail,
a single piece of wood down the center of the box and mount the neck to that.
the box would just be for show. Still gonna leave as much space inside as I can,
Part of the sound is from the hollow body. Also just for fun, gonna make a couple of mounts (think 9volt battery clips) to hold a slide and couple of cigars.
maybe one of those multiple picks holders also. With the EMGs it should be pretty LOUD! Best of Luck on your build. cant wait to see it finished!

[Bearer]

Ahh, there's my cigar box mando! I was wondering where I left it...

here we go...

[spencer31st]

I have thought about a humbucker in the neck position too, I definatly want the guitar to have active pickups. I built one 4 string slide with a 2W amp inside and a speaker in the sound hole. It turned out great and was fun sitting on the beach playing it with the volume just loud enough to be heard over the waves. Turn it up all the way and it had terrible feedback though.

[spencer31st]

The parts guitar is ordered, Should be here sometime next week. I have been looking for a box but have not found the "one" yet. The search continues.......

[spencer31st]

The Rondo guitar came in yesterday. I am still going through with the project but the Rondo stuff is much higher quality than I expected.

I laid it down next to my Affinity Squier Telecaster and went for a part by part comparison and I came to the conclusion that it is twice the quality of my Squier at half the cost.

This poor guitar is destined to be dissasembled and reassembled into a different animal but the next $100.00 that burns my pocket will be put toward another SX Tele.

[jwells393]

Spencer ............ since you have the new SX headstock neck in hand, can you tell us whether it can be reshaped into a reasonable facsimile of a Fender headstock?

[Lerb21]

Didn't Terry Downs already make a Tele like that?

It had crazy sustain.

Well not quite a cigar box, but two pieces of particle board...

[spencer31st]

I laid my Squier neck on top of it just for that reason. There is not NEAR enough wood to carve it out of. When I get home I will take a picture of the two and post.

On the other hand... with the guitar in hand, the headstock is not that bad looking.

To throw off the profile a little I am going to cover the face of it with the paper from the front of a cigar box. In theroy one that matches whatever box I find for the body.

[spencer31st]

Lerb, Do you know what thread that is on? I would like to see what you are talking about. Could not find it by Terry Downs. Anyone that has tried something similar and documented their process would be a great help.

[jwells393]

That would be Terry Downs "Esquare" build ........ three layers of MDF.

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/telecaste...ound-clip.html

[spencer31st]

Intresting concept that Terry has there. If it sounds good then I say go for it, you never know what you will end up with. Not sure that his design has quite the MOJO that I am looking for but if mine ends up sounding half as good as his I will be happy.

[spencer31st]

Esquare !!!! dang it - all of the good names are taken!

[iansmitchell]

Originally Posted by spencer31st

Esquare !!!! dang it - all of the good names are taken!

Boxquier.

[spencer31st]

Originally Posted by iansmitchell

Boxquier.

Dang it all the GOOD names are still taken

"Cubancaster"
"Cancercaster"
"IdeaslikethismakemewonderifIhavetoomuchtimeonmyha ndscaster"

[spencer31st]

I just noticed that of all the people that have replied to my first thread the age range is from 15 to 65 and covers every decade in between. What a great place I stumbled on here!

Just a little off subject, but note worthy.

[spencer31st]

Here are some pictures of my squier and SX side by side. I had a hard time photographing the difference between the SX headstock and the Squier.

I think that with some creative curves you could get some thing close from the SX, if you are looking for an identical shape you are out of luck.

[tuuur]

jwells393 made a nice overlay drawing of the telecaster headstock and the SC headstock in this post over here.

[spencer31st]

looks good but.... seeing them in person I would say that they are even closer to the same shape than his drawing.