Shane SpealSep 11, 20203 minHow to Build a 4-String Cigar Box GuitarHere's a simple cigar box guitar design I came up with using a shovel handle from Lowes. It's presented here in 'builder's diary' form,...
Shane Speal2 days ago1 minThe Boat Oar Two-String Guitar by Shane SpealA two-string slide guitar made from a canoe paddle. Built by Shane Speal. How to build link included
Shane SpealApr 82 minMake a Tin Pan Banjo - 1923Vintage plans from 1923 showing a simple banjo made from a tin pie pan.
Shane SpealMar 256 minBuild a Cigar Box Greek Lyre - 1927Build an eight-string lyre with cigar box resonator. The plans call for zither pin style pegs and a wooden frame.
Shane SpealMar 176 minHow to Make a Cigar Box Lute - 1927How to build a fretless, four string cigar box instrument. Full parts list & step-by-step diagrams. From 1927
Shane SpealMar 1512 minBuild Your Own HamdolinBuild an 8 string mandolin from the tin of a canned ham. Common hardware store parts used. Full instructions.
Shane SpealJan 281 minMake An Electric Echo Mic from a Toy & Piezo!Here's an easy project that will give you a goofy electric echo microphone that you can use for cool effects in a recording or on stage.
Shane SpealJan 91 minDownload This Tracing of the Little Joe Instrument to Design Your OwnSeveral people asked about measurements of the Little Joe banjo, so I traced it and made a PDF. Download it here
Shane SpealJan 14 minHow to Build The Mailbox GuitarA look inside the Mailbox Guitar reveals an extremely simple bracing system made from poplar scraps. The wood was leftover from some cigar
Shane SpealDec 29, 20211 minVIDEO: How to Make Old Time Copper Wire FretsCreate frets for cigar box guitars using copper wire from a craft store. Tools: hammer & needle nose pliers.
Shane SpealDec 27, 20212 minA Simple Scarf Joint Glue-Up Jig for Cigar Box GuitarsThis simple hinged board gets perfect glue joints on cigar box guitar headstocks. Easy design for any builder.
Shane SpealDec 27, 20213 minBuild This Styrofoam Beer Cooler UkuleleUkulele body is made from an actual styrofoam beer cooler... and it sounds great! This has got to be the most freakish-looking uke ever!
Shane SpealDec 26, 20212 minHow to Build a Found Object Electric GuitarThis strange instrument was built in an hour using an antique bellows handle and several modern cigar box guitar parts.
Shane SpealDec 22, 20211 minPrintable 23" Fretting Template from the Book, "Making Poor Man's Guitars"Download and print this page for an easy to use 23" fretting scale template, as shown on page 173 of Making Poor Man's Guitars.
Shane SpealDec 22, 20211 minVIDEO: I Put an $85 Lace Pickup in the Worst Cigar Box Guitar!I put a Lace Alumitone Matchbook pickup in a $25 cigar box guitar! This has to be the most unfair gear review ever! This was my version o
Shane SpealDec 21, 20211 minHow to Build a Lo-Fi Telephone Mic - Easy project!The mic is perfect for blues harmonica or lo-fi vocals...and all you need is an old handset and guitar jack. Follow along with the video.
Shane SpealFeb 16, 20211 minHow to Make Your Acoustic Cigar Box Guitar Louder with a ResonatorHave you ever noticed the wooden back piece of a conventional banjo. These are called resonators and their job is to keep the sound...
Shane SpealOct 16, 20202 minHow to Build a One-String Vibro Fiddle - 1937These plans for an experimental diddley bow use an electric door bell clapper as a Dick Dale-style hyper tremolo picker. Fascinating...
Shane SpealOct 5, 20205 minHow to Make a Pre-Blues Cigar Box ViolinBefore the blues showed up in the 1920's, there were minstrel shows and Vaudeville theater. Central to many of these shows was a...
Shane SpealSep 29, 20202 minHow to Make a Simple Diddley Bow PickupThis is probably the easiest electric diddley bow pickup/bridge combo I've ever seen. It is based on a one-string "diddley bow" guitar...
Shane SpealSep 25, 20202 minHow to Build a Super Tub Bass (an improved upright gutbucket bass)An old time cigar box guitar sometimes needs some accompaniment, so we offer some classic free plans for a hot-rodded washtub bass guitar....
Shane SpealSep 18, 20202 minHow to Tie Fret Knots (Fretting Instruments with String)How to Tie Fret Knots Parts needed: monofilament nylon fishing line (10 to 15lb test). Tools needed: Scissors Small file Fret Calculator....
Shane SpealSep 18, 20201 minDangerous Electric Cigar Box Guitar Plans from 1919Don't try this at home! These plans were discovered by cigar box guitar builder and researcher, John "Reddog" McNair. I'm not sure...
Shane SpealSep 15, 20203 minHow to Make Musical Instruments from Cigar Boxes, 1923Pictured: A small round box ukulele, circa 1920's. The following plans are less detailed than others in our archives, but they give some...
Shane SpealSep 10, 20205 minHow to Build a Cigar Box Banjo (Published 1884)(Pictured: 5-string cigar box banjo, circa 2005. Unknown builder. The design is similar to the banjo plans featured here.) Shane's note:...
Shane SpealSep 4, 20203 minHow to Build a 5-String Cigar Box Mandolin (1922)These historic plans from 1922 show how to build a five-string mandolin from a cigar box.
Shane SpealSep 4, 20202 minHow to Craft a Bottleneck Guitar SlideThis article was taken from the original CigarBoxGuitars.com archives. You’ll need Wine bottle with long neck Glass cutter Masking tape...