HOW TO BUILD A CIGAR BOX UKULELE

[BibbetyBobbety]

Thanks for posting this video, you look like you enjoyed making it.

[xyFAILxy]

Sounds great! ;-)

[EMlNEM2020]

cool vid bro :)

[gmonkey808]

Very nice work.

Liverpool UK.

[dangonzalez1177]

Awesome man you r the best!!!!! Amazing

[shreddidawg]

You made my day. One of the best videos ever. I wish we could have seen the dog singing while you played one of mine started barking haha. Really, a great video. Maybe play something thru the stack with the dog on vocals. Thanks very much.

[WhenDogsSing]

@jfttvbhy Check them out on the Mainland website...They run around $30.

[antokb2]

Felipe Gregorio cigars are excellent! Greta video!

[WhenDogsSing]

@antokb2 Thanks...!!! 

[tlevin23]

Hey, great video. Im making a soprano uke for my woodworking class at school. It has to be rectangular like a CBU because we dont have the tools. I also got my neck from mainland and I realized that it is curved at the bottom to fit a normal ukulele. What should I do? I imagine I cant bolt the neck on without it being flush, right?

[WhenDogsSing]

@tlevin23 The necks you buy from Mainland are flat where they meet up witht he body so they fit flush with a cigar box...Hope this helps...!!!

[simionTheOne]

sounds awesome..!!

[WhenDogsSing]

@simionTheOne Thanks...!!!

[WhenDogsSing]

@simionTheOne Thanks...!!!

[bassbugg7]

listen to the doggy sing!



[WhenDogsSing]

@bassbugg7 He can't help it...!!!

[WhenDogsSing]

@bassbugg7 He can't help it...!!!

[gulfsurfco]

Great tone! Great job!

[WhenDogsSing]

@gulfsurfco Thanks a bunch...!!!

[WhenDogsSing]

@gulfsurfco Thanks...!!!

[Varno]

You're awesome.

[WhenDogsSing]

@Varno Awe gee whiz...!!!

[WhenDogsSing]

@Varno Gee whiz...!!!

[Olhamo]

excellent! you did great

[WhenDogsSing]

@Olhamo Thanks...!!!

[Archtops]

Awesome job! Great Tone!

[WhenDogsSing]

@Archtops Thanks...!!!

[brunoc0c0]

Bravo pour l'explication et la démonstration en duo avec le chien.

[WhenDogsSing]

@brunoc0c0 I don't know what you said but thanks...!!!

[paulius360]

let me guess canada?

[WhenDogsSing]

@paulius360 Cincinnati, Ohio

[jimfnh46]

BRILLIANT! Thanks for sharing.

[WhenDogsSing]

@jimfnh46 You're welcome...!!!

[randomaccount39]

whoah i was shocked at how good the tone was when you started playing

[WhenDogsSing]

@randomaccount39 Me too...!!! Thanks...!!!

[guitarslf132]

What are the string spacimgs at the nut and bridge (rufly) and what is it tuned to cheers

[WhenDogsSing]

@guitarslf132 I'm not sure what the string spacing is. I gave them all away to friends and don't have one to measure. It is tuned to low GCEA.

[guitarslf132]

how many frets and what scale do they use??

[WhenDogsSing]

@guitarslf132 It is a soprano with a 13" scale length and 15 frets. The necks MIke has now at Mainland Ukuleles do not have the frets installed, you'll have to do that yourself.

[Ukesouljah]

Nice! Is that a hyena you got there ? Haha

[jasan509]

Very cool!!!

[cpr58]

very helpful video, and love Haley's singing

[GunterThePenguin]

lol amasing

[TheDragonslayer360]

the hole looks like O_O



[davevallance]

The tone is beautiful - I've been keeping an eye out for cigar boxes for a while and this just makes me more inspired!

[BrennyBlues]

wow, brilliant video! great job :) great dog tooo ;)

[EmmaLikesFish]

I am extremely impressed.



[preem7]

Brilliant!!



[unklecyril]

Sweet...

[Wasabirock55]

Sounds like an angel :)

[GREENSHARKHAWAII]

God Bless you sir.Thank you for the very helpfull video. Your music is beautifull, the singing dog should be on Americas funnies videos . You are my new hero.

[Xxcalicondor]

i wasnt expectening a crinkly old man at the end ...... no hard feelings

[WhenDogsSing]

@Xxcalicondor You made my day...Thanks...!!!

[RandysWrestling]

@WhenDogsSing You know that user (Xxcalicondor) said they saw a "crinkly old man" in this video.. All I see is one creatvie guy who can play the heck out of the ukulele! ;)

[WhenDogsSing]

@RandysWrestling Thanks a bunch...The comment gave me a good laugh...!!!

[seasidesandles]

You are a very talented gentleman sir, (and so is your dog!). The tone of the uke is fantastic. You've inspired me to make one, Thank you.

[WhenDogsSing]

@seasidesandles Thank you...!!! Good luck to you...!!!

[ThePaintedUke6887]

I'm kind of confused how you attached the strings.

[WhenDogsSing]

@ThePaintedUke6887 You run the strings through the top and tie a bead on to the end so the string doesn't pull back out. Hope this helps...!!!

[ThePaintedUke6887]

does it matter how far you put the saddle (where you tie off the strings) away from the frets?

[WhenDogsSing]

@ThePaintedUke6887 The distance from the nut to the 12th fret has to be the same as the distance from the 12th fret to the saddle. You can attach the strings behind the saddle about 2-3" or at the end of the box. I hope this helps you out...!!!

[jmart94tito]

id really like to build me one of these, any secrets to getting such a nice sound that you got there...also, id want to build my own neck, i have some nice mahogany that would do the trick, any suggestions on how to build a nice neck?

[WhenDogsSing]

@jmart94tito No suggestions other than to get your top thinned down to where it will vibrate well...You can buy a neck from Mainland Ukuleles in Nashville, Indiana. Have fun...!!!

[tw1sta]

Wow, you made a cigar box ukulele, and killed it. I mean that was some good playing, along with the fact that you made the instrument. Bravo

[WhenDogsSing]

@tw1sta Thanks a bunch...!!!

[WhenDogsSing]

@tw1sta Thanks...!!!

[rchan0]

for a cigar box it sounds really good - i never knew you could make a uke out of stuff like a box

[WhenDogsSing]

@rchan0 Thanks...!!!

[WhenDogsSing]

@rchan0 Thanks...!!!

[666TrainWreck666]

nice video :)

and cute dog, anyway :)

[WhenDogsSing]

@666TrainWreck666 Harley says hi and Arf! Arf! Arf!

[WhenDogsSing]

@666TrainWreck666 Thanks...!!!

[Sabejalock]

OMG this video was great...wish i could make something that beautifu...thanks for the singing Harley...and your playing was fantastic..Thank you

[martinaxman]

Very nice job! Your dog is a little off key though! lol. Honestly, I'm way more than impressed with your instrument and your playing. Thanks for this video. I'd like to know how the top is attached. I see the corner caps (nice), but wonder if the top is recessed and glued, or set on top. I assume you sanded the spruce to get the correct thickness. Are there any tricks like planing or type of sander? Thanks again. The dog was great.

[WhenDogsSing]

@martinaxman I just glue the top down around the edges. The top is not recessed. The brass corner pieces don't do a whole lot. They are mainly for appearance only. I use a palm sander to thin the top down. It would be far better and easier to use a thickness sander but I don't have one.

[Dimeshit666]

great job but, feed your puppy man !

[WhenDogsSing]

@Dimeshit666 He's hungry all the time...!!!

[Dimeshit666]

i am ready to kill for a box of cigar in morrocco !

[WhenDogsSing]

@Dimeshit666 Please don't kill for a lousy cigar...!!!

[SconoChing]

GREAT tutorial my friend. hope you aren't smokin tooo many cigars now...

[zxcvbnst]

thanks ..... enjoyed , ... the playing and the "accompaniment" !!

[NMpackfan]

Beautiful work. I want to try this.

[8000cheese]

I dont smoke

[Idlinfarm]

That's beautiful. I'm going to add this as a favorite.

[macadder09]

That's a real nice uke' and a great sound to it. Thanks for making this video. Gives me a lot of inspiration to have a try at building one myself. I have a question, do you just bolt the neck on, or do you glue it too? Thanks, and howdy do Harley great singing. : ))

[MrFlamigo]

Great!

[rebob59]

you go harley nice uke

[oldmanpainter]

Great video!!!! Where do you get the spruce top and the rest of the pieces? What are the dimensions for placement of bridge and string attachment. My wife and I are interested in learning how to play ukes and I would like to build a couple of these for us. Thanks, I don't know if I will be able to sing as well as Harley. :)

[WhenDogsSing]

@oldmanpainter Stewart-MacDonald in Athens, Ohio. They have a web site. Bridge placement depends on size of ukulele being made. In all cases, the distance from the nut to the 12th fret must equal the distance from the 12th fret to the bridge saddle. Anchor your strings at least a couple of inches behind the bridge or at the end of the box. Have fun and good luck...!!!

[Jamesbamba]

great sounding uke, great playing and tell Harley to keep on singing! lol, nice addition. Appreciate the video.

[WhenDogsSing]

@Jamesbamba Harley says hi back at ya...!!!

[babaluboo123]

Brilliant....and great brand choice for the box....my current favorite.

Tobacco Sublime.

[Little6ster]

very very interesting, thanx for posting and sharing ;°)

Great dog singin' that reminds me one i knew ha! ha! ;°)

[babaluboo123]

Hey Sis, nice to find you here.

It's Sunday, so I think I'll go find a Little6ster hymn for the soul.

[Little6ster]

@babaluboo123 he!he! you are too kind, I'm very proud of such a trust! ;°)

[Little6ster]

@Little6ster I should say honored, so sorry... lol

[jinfuuu]

Besides looking cool and being fun, are these cigar box ukuleles louder or better sounding?

[WhenDogsSing]

They usually don't sound as good as conventional ukuleles, but there are folks making CBUs that sound real nice.

[babaluboo123]

Hello,

I noticed you used a 25 count box. Would a 50 count box produce a better sound?

[WhenDogsSing]

@babaluboo123 A bigger box would probably have more bass in its tone and would probably sound real nice.

[jinfuuu]

very cool

[WhenDogsSing]

@jinfuuu Thanks...!!!

[Theibogaineeffect]

when you bought the neck and such from mainland was the fret wire in the fret board?

[WhenDogsSing]

The first ones I made had the fretwire installed. Mike ran out of those. The ones he has now do not have the fretwire installed. You can get fretwire from Stewart-MacDonald in Athens, Ohio.

[ukuleleduccio]

Very nice!!! Great sound!!!

[WhenDogsSing]

Thanks...!!!

[jansondarnell]

Where can you get a cigar box to make a cigar box ukulele??

[WhenDogsSing]

Try a local tobacco shop.

[animatrix5000]

Sounds great! Love the dog's comments..

[WhenDogsSing]

Thanks...!!!

[ruth7784]

Great video, I found it really interesting, I wanted to know how you do make them! Great singing from Harley! :-) The uke sounds great! :-) X

[WhenDogsSing]

Thanks Ruth...Harley says hi back at ya...!!!

[UkesterBrown]

This was a good tutorial. Have you ever made one with the original box wood instead of spruce and without any bracing?

[WhenDogsSing]

Yes and it didn't have any sound

[CtwoHfive0H]

very nice

[WhenDogsSing]

What is C2H5OH...??? Thanks for the comment...!!!

[weegingayin]

It is the chemical formula for alcohol or more precisely the ethanol found in all fermented and distilled beverages :-)

[WhenDogsSing]

I see said the drunk man...!!!

[snowinwhitechapel]

One day I'm going to make one too!!!!!! And of course no video is complete without Harley :)

[WhenDogsSing]

Harley says hi...!!!

[dfrohwein]

Ahhh if you keep the box top on there is no sound?? That must have been devastating to do all that work and then find out the uke was mute!! A muke!! You shoulda just then put a pickup in and see if it had a good sound then!

[WhenDogsSing]

The first one I made was a "muke" all right...Ha! Ha! Ha!

[chaztoo]

This is just the video I've been hoping someone would do. Thank you. I will surely be returning to it when I get all the supplies for my first CBU.

[WhenDogsSing]

Good luck to you when you do build one...!!!

[worschd21]

Sounds great!

very good job.

[WhenDogsSing]

Thanks...!!!

[ctrymaus]

That's so cool to see how you make a cigar box ukulele! Sounds wonderful too! :-)

[WhenDogsSing]

Thanks Joanna...!!!

[plinthman]

I found this usefull, have been wanted to build one of these for a while. I've got a couple of cigar boxes, but the only thing stopping me is finding a neck. I don't really want to buy a good uke just to take the neck off. By the way, have you ever built one of these but kept the bottom of the cigar box on and used this as a soundboard? If so how does it compare to the spruce one?

[WhenDogsSing]

Get a neck from Mike at Mainland Ukuleles in Nashville, Indiana.  I kept the bottom on my first one and it had no sound. Go with spruce or cedar as a soundboard.

[ukecantdothat]

Glad to be the first view here! Say, hey to Harley for me!

[WhenDogsSing]

Great to hear from you...I'll tell Harley...!!!

[pigfanlover]

awesome!!

[WhenDogsSing]

Thanks...!!!

[weegingayin]

That is one sweet sounding box, and Harley seems to enjoy it.

Great stuff.

[WhenDogsSing]

Thanks Rob...It's "Harley" approved...!!!