How to Make a Cigar Box Guitar
Ranked #1,720 in Music, #47,151 overall
Cigar Box Guitars - Simple and Easy to Make
There's evidence that cigar box guitars have been around since the 1840's. Early cigar box guitars had one or two strings, while our modern day ones usually have three. During the depression when money was scarce, cigar box guitars became a popular musical instrument because you could find a cigar box, a broom handle and a couple of pieces of wire from an old screen, almost anywhere. We are seeing a revival of cigar box guitars in the movies and with popular bands picking up the instrument. So let's get all our tools together and make one. Want to see some old cigar box labels? Visit Cigar Box Labels.
Image is in the public domain.
Cigar Box Guitar
Tools You'll Need
wooden cigar box
3 - tuning pegs
3' long, 1 x 2 (popular)
12 - 1" finishing nails
hack saw
pocket knife
drill
file
1/4" x 2 1/4" eye bolt
8/32 X 1 1/2" bolt
sandpaper
wood glue
stain
spongebrush
wood saw
Books About Making Your Own Cigar Box Guitar
Instructions for Making a Cigar Box Guitar
Cigar Box Guitars: The Ultimate DIY Guide for the Makers and Players of the Handmade Music Revolution
Amazon Price: $17.89 (as of 06/02/2012)![]()
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Make Your Own Instruments
Build Your Own Guitar or Banjo
Buy a cigar box guitar kit
Everything you need to make your own guitar
Basic Cigar Box Guitar Kit with Detailed Assembly Instructions
Amazon Price: $39.99 (as of 06/02/2012)![]()
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy parts for cigar box guitars
Step by Step Instructions for Making a Cigar Box Guitar
On DVD
Buy a cigar box guitar
Isn't it gorgeous?

Buy cigar box guitars on eBay
Listing updates hourly
Cigar Box Music
Great Sites About Cigar Box Guitars
- Cigar Box Guitars - Join the Revolution
- All things Cigar Box Guitars. The original home base for the Cigar Box Guitar community, Instruments, Players, Music, Members, Techniques, Festivals, Resources and More!
- Daddy Mojo Custom Cigar Box Guitars
- Handmade, custom-built cigarbox guitars from Montreal, Canada -- unique blues and old-time country music sounds.
- Cigar Box Guitar Parts and Accessories
- Your resource for information about parts and supplies for building and playing cigar box guitars and other homemade instruments.
- Cigar Box Guitar History Museum
- The most complete history of the cigar box guitar.
- Cigar Box Labels
- Love cigar box art? This page shows off some of the beautiful artwork on old and new cigar boxes.
- Songs Inside The Box, the cigar box guitar documentary by Max Shores
- Songs Inside The Box is a documentary film that takes viewers to the world's largest concert of cigar box guitar music and provides a unique glimpse into a popular hobby and growing movement of self expression participants call the cigar box guitar revolution.
Cigar Box posters
Cigar box guitar clothing

Pre-shrunk 100% cotton Cigar Box Guitar Shirt. Comes in a variety of colors. Sizes small-4X-large.

Pre-shrunk 100% cotton Cigar Box Guitar - Everything Else Is Just Parts t-shirt. Comes in a variety of colors. Sizes small-3X-large.

Pre-shrunk 100% cotton Cigar Box Guitarist T-Shirt. Comes in a variety of colors. Sizes small-3X-large.

Pre-shrunk 100% cotton Cigar Box Guitar Kokopelli T-Shirt. Comes in a variety of colors. Sizes small-3X-large.

LJK Cigar Box Guitars Long Sleeve T-Shirt made of 100% luxuriously soft ring spun cotton. Comes in a variety of colors. Sizes small-4X-large.
Cigar box street sign
Give this page a thumbs up
If you enjoyed it
This module only appears with actual data when viewed on a live lens. The favorite and lensroll options will appear on a live lens if the viewer is a member of Squidoo and logged in.
Do you have a cigar box guitar?
Or just leave a note to say you stopped by
If you love cigar boxes and their beautiful designs visit Cigar Box Labels to see more of them.
-
-
squidoopets
Mar 11, 2012 @ 2:47 pm | delete
- No I don't have a cigar box guitar, but what a super fun idea!
-
-
-
PBJasen
Feb 25, 2012 @ 4:44 am | delete
- Friend of mine is fanatic when it comes to cigarette box guitars.
According to him, this is not just an idea it's a movement.
Personally don't have it, but tried to play on some. Different than regular guitars ,but strangely charming :)
-
-
-
WatchMovie
Feb 24, 2012 @ 11:19 am | delete
- this is a cool idea, thanks for sharing this
-
-
-
MillBucks
Feb 2, 2012 @ 7:13 pm | delete
- What a great idea, I never knew this was possible! Thanks for the great project idea.
-
-
-
karelito
Feb 2, 2012 @ 5:53 am | delete
- Cool idea, gotta make one =o
-
- Load More
Nominate this page for Lens of the Day
If you really liked it
Visit some of my other pages
- Want to Join Squidoo?
- You can get started right away. It's easy, just click to join Squidoo today.
by survivorsrock
I love old cigar boxes. They are beautiful and interesting to collect. As I learned more about the history behind the boxes I discovered that people m... more »
- 79 featured lenses
- Winner of 29 trophies!
- Top lens » How to Talk to Children About Sexual Abuse
Explore related pages
- Cigar Box Labels Cigar Box Labels
- Collecting Rare Books Collecting Rare Books
- Wine Cork Crafts Wine Cork Crafts
- ★ Fun T-SHIRT Crafts! Recycling | Fashion | Sewing ★ ★ Fun T-SHIRT Crafts! Recycling | Fashion | Sewing ★
- Reusing Household Items For Green Crafts Reusing Household Items For Green Crafts
- A Guitar Tuner A Guitar Tuner





