 Cigar Box Guitar Makers Tip #2 When I make a cigar box guitar, I keep working with them until they play so good that I don't want to part with them. Just because you reuse what some folks call junk doesn't mean that you can get away with making junk... Bill Jehle |
 This vintage 1940's Corina Larks cigar box was going to be a Ukulele. When that project didn't finish to my satisfaction I set it asside until I saw that it was perfect for the pre-war banjo neck that I found... |
 This well worn, and well played pre-war neck appears to be pine (from the smell of it). The fretboard has years of grime and an original bees wax finish. String scale on this finished Cigar Box "Guitar" measures 19.6". Strung with Mandolin strings, it's tuned in 5ths and has a great chime tone to it. |
 The headstock has had some obvious repair. It's surprisingly well done. There's a mark in the neck where a G-clamp dug into the neck during the old repair. It adds charm. Perhaps the bone nut was held in place with the clamp? You can also see here the remains of a 5th hole. I think what happened here is that when the headstock broke, a new tuner hole was made to allow for 3 strings to be played. Now, it's just a good place to put a nail on the wall to hang it from. |
 A tensioner in the body adds a natural reverb and a bright tone to this instrument. It also alows for the string action to be very low, making this a solid players instrument. Without this addition, the neck would bow too far forward making this impossible to play. I was surprised to hear that it actually improved the sound of the guitar! |
