How to Make an Electric Cigar Box Guitar for $25

[mractor]

how have you attached the strings to the end of the box...you showed the nails, but not how the strings are attached...? Are they just wound around the nail?

[Nighthawkinlight]

@mractor The nails are pulled out and pushed through the rings on the bottom of each string.

[Pixel553]

You can get six tuner heads for 10 bucks at Elderly Instruments. I find them to be of good quality.

[Mrlolol7779]

make an ALTIODS tin guitar! (or somethig else with an altoids tin)

[TheRayBanRebel]

is that box cardboard...it looks it but hard to tell

[CheifPwnsanoob]

sounds like l4d2 music:)

[TroyGrilli]

So I have a piezo pickup (I think, it just looks like a braided copper coil) that I got out of an old acoustic and I have the pre-amp but it is too big to fit in the cigar box. I noticed you didnt have a pre-amp, is it even necessary? Thanks a ton!

[Nighthawkinlight]

@TroyGrilli No, a preamp is not necessary.

[south32M4E]

gr8 guitar thanks a lot man! And what song do you play ,i love it!

[Nighthawkinlight]

@south32M4E Thanks. The song is just an improvisation.

[lars330]

@Nighthawkinlight it is? I could've sworn it was in some western movie. I was about to go ask the same question so...

[Natetaber1]

Please show how to make a fretted guitar

[vanepico]

@Natetaber1 For that you need to find and chop down a fret wire tree, they are quite rare but there should be some around where you are, if not you may have to buy pre-harvested fret wire :)

[GamingShitFace]

Nice job

[GuitarZeroable]

Check out Tyre Carter You Tube him!

[Darkfloyd73]

thats really sweet!!! i need to make myself one.

[suodallos]

coolllllllllllllll

[lepidolite2009]

haha a blues man too

[Shredin0id]

I'm gonna make it 24 strings!

[Emize568]

2:35 Tap what hoes??? haha

[Setobear]

I seriously have no idea where to find a cigar box

[BabyEater9000]

@Setobear your nearest cigar store, or amazon.com

[Setobear]

@BabyEater9000 I live out of the US so I guess I'm gonna be searching our local stores

[THExPIPER]

awesome stuff man. will you also be making a fretted guitar soon? i do hope so .

[flipside799]

does it have to be 4 strings or can it be 6?

[Nighthawkinlight]

@flipside799 6 strings will also work.

[BreakingSJC]

i own a cigar box ukulele

[MrCrapDude]

umm isn't putting the wood between your legs and putting all your weight on it a little bit risky?

[IIcyTom]

what song were you playing? lol

[Nighthawkinlight]

@IIcyTom Just a little improv..

[MrPrettyboy300]

@Nighthawkinlight how do u have all the money to do this stuff?

[Nighthawkinlight]

@MrPrettyboy300 How do I have...$25?

[MrPrettyboy300]

@Nighthawkinlight how do get all the money u spend on everything do u have a high paying job/

[drquesadilla]

@MrPrettyboy300 I didn't know $25 was a lot

[braseldazzle]

@Nighthawkinlight a question i have to make this for science can i solder the control talk thing that u can talk thru that are on some headphones to the chord jack and will that work, cuz i dont know what else to use

[braseldazzle]

@braseldazzle or can i just use a headphone speaker

[Nighthawkinlight]

@braseldazzle Yes, that should work.

[braseldazzle]

@Nighthawkinlight which one speaker of mic control talk

[Nighthawkinlight]

@braseldazzle Either one.

[braseldazzle]

@Nighthawkinlight which one will work better? i wanna use the best of em

[Nighthawkinlight]

@braseldazzle Probably the microphone.

[braseldazzle]

@Nighthawkinlight ok

[mrchimmychonga]

@Nighthawkinlight hey could you help with a question, do the 1/4 inch jack inputs that you use have negative and positive terminals?

[Nighthawkinlight]

@mrchimmychonga For this purpose positive and negative don't matter. Just solder the wires from the mic on separate terminals and it will be fine.

[Chillmaster21]

This is pretty cool, my friend love these and ive made a few more for them in different tones and its way to much fun, though i made the mistake of bringing it to school but a little black paint on the body fixed that right up.

[BrewskiBassist]

Wow, I thought he was going to use a piece of wood from Home Depot or something... not this guy, he pulls a stick out of his backyard! Great vid

[Dooogles]

Thanks again. Appreciate your videos and support. I'll give this a try.

[Dooogles]

Thanks for your quick response about neck length. If length doesn't matter, do I assume that the midpoint of whatever length I choose, is the location for the 12th fret (in order to produce those standard harmonics)? Thanks again.

[Nighthawkinlight]

@Dooogles Correct. There are no frets on this guitar as it is meant to be played strictly with a slide, but the mid point is where the 12th fret harmonics are located.

[bluestreak711]

@Dooogles There's somewhere online where you insert the all the measurements and it will give you a print out of how the frets are supposed to be mapped out.

[Dooogles]

Nicely done! Exactly how long should the neck be?

[Nighthawkinlight]

@Dooogles It actually doesn't matter how long the neck is. The longer you make it the stronger your construction will have to be though because there will be more tension on the strings. Make it to whatever size you prefer.

[Matfathew]

@nighthawkinlight very nice video! Where can I find the jack and the microphone? That's the only part I'm stuck on. Also you should definitly make more videos about guitars and stuff I enjoyed this

[ALEXCRRRC]

THANK YOU FOR THIS GREAT TUTORIAL I ALREADY SHARED IT WITH 29 FRIENDS AN THEY LOVED IT THANKYOU

[ButtersBarOneNine80]

Love it! Thank you!

[LoudMovements]

This is dope!

[BostonFan7754]

Thanks bro, my best friend is moving away. :(

I now have a goodbye present for him. :)

[OMGitsjulian1]

How big does the cigar box have to be?

[Nighthawkinlight]

@OMGitsjulian1 The one I use in the video is about as small as they come. Any size will work.

[OMGitsjulian1]

@Nighthawkinlight Thanks.

[TheFrogger182]

how does the speaker work do you just plug it up through the jack to an amp or what and whats the speaker for then?

[Nighthawkinlight]

@TheFrogger182 The speaker acts as a pickup, which feeds the sound to the amp.

[3fitzgrld]

Man, I had to go check if my CBG was stolen. I actually thought this was MY CBG! I made one using the same box and the headstock looks exactly the same too!. The only difference is I have only 3 strings and I added a gold covered humbucker pickup (to match the coins). Yours sounds very similar to mine. I used a piece of maple for the neck. I should post vid to show you how similar it is. Nice sounding and well made thanks for posting.

[ManicBat2k]

Damn it I'm in the crafts section of youtube again...

[Wired2X]

If I up-sized this, could I make it a six-string?

[Nighthawkinlight]

@Wired2X Yes. You would probably do better to use a hardwood board from a hardware store for the neck though. The bigger you make the guitar the more tension will be on the strings, and the stronger everything will need to be.

[thebigw1004]

i was hoping to see some arpeggio sweeps XD

[Skinwand]

dude..your videos are the coolest. finally something worth watching on this wasteland of youtube. Screw the Dos Equis guy.. you may very well be.. the most interesting man in the world

[Nighthawkinlight]

@Skinwand Thanks! Spread my videos around if you get a chance!

[danielhudson100]

this is...... amazing :}



[1995mustangboss]

I would buy one of those.

[tillateful]

very cool dude !

[Aidanplaysax]

This is a really good example of why you don't need to pay for great music. Nice traditional folk sound!

[EmoWader]

what kind of music is that

[Nighthawkinlight]

@EmoWader Bluegrass, sort of.

[assasinninjaking]

nice dude!

[unstrung13]

why go to all the trouble of carving a neck when you could just buy a 1x2 piece of hardwood? there are much simpler methods of construction, if you're interested. (i've mastered it.. lol)

[skeyefeye]

Maybe one day when i get stranded on an island, or if I found myself in a post apocalyptic setting.

[Wiegieboard]

What kind of axe is that? Thankis :D

[Nighthawkinlight]

@Wiegieboard It's a Gerber hatchet. My favorite hatchet by far.

[Wiegieboard]

@Nighthawkinlight Thanks. It looks pretty decent.

[IkBobNiet]

You sir, are FUCKING AWESOME!

[Nighthawkinlight]

@IkBobNiet Why thank you

[BboyFlimsy]

What strings am I going to need to buy for this, just normal bass strings. I know he says it d,a,d,g but I've never played a guitar with those strings.

[Nighthawkinlight]

@BboyFlimsy Acoustic strings, not bass. The top 4.

[DrDamager]

cow boy's coming

[AynIsBullshit]

how did u put in the strings with teh screws? just  tie the strings around the screws?

[GamerzReUnited]

what if you wanted to make a 3 stringed guitar... what would you do then?

[Nighthawkinlight]

@GamerzReUnited The same thing, with one less nail and tuning peg.

[GamerzReUnited]

@Nighthawkinlight ok thanks!



[FCTwente75]

who says you need to buy a guitar.

(jack white from the epic movie it might get load)

[AMagicalHoers]

So, @nighthawkinlight would I be able to make this into a Bass guitar rather than a regular electric guitar?

[Nighthawkinlight]

@AMagicalHoers You could try it. I'm not sure if it would work or not.

[doomsayer123]

@AMagicalHoers It Sounds possible, but you'll have to remember the trussrod, (as you probably are very well aware of already) witch might cause some pain during construction...

[rysn09]

Thank you so much for such a great video. Just having a guitar like this would be fucking awesome!

[mrstanleythenderson]

what kind of strings do we need

[UtopiaMinor666]

that is really effing cool, i may have to do this as a fall project.

[I3rightproductions]

were would you get a speaker

[Pongo1320]

very cool ~ nuff said.

[TonyFeral]

are u using just regular guitar strings?

[barryo20011]

That's cool as hell night hawk! I've gotta make on . Great video also.

[bxb72585]

what kind and size strings are you using?

[DICACIO1]

LOL when i noticed the bolt used for the nut! hahahaha

[MyEvilLaugh]

is it hard to play with the action that high?

[keithalan10]

backwards tuners....argggggh

[40Mcollins]

Cud u just use a normal wooden box

[Nighthawkinlight]

@40Mcollins Yes, you can use any box that is strong enough. People have made guitars out of mail boxes.

[proguitar89]

this also works with just those plugins when I do a normal guitar body wall because I want to own an electric guitar

[cameraguy37]

To get this kind of sound, what kind of effects are you using on the guitar? or is this just straight to amp? Thanks. Eddie.

[Nighthawkinlight]

@cameraguy37 Plugged right into the amp. Just a little reverb.

[MSNnn111]

Lol, and it fucking worked xd

[MissReade]

where does the electricity come from? battery? how is the speaker amplified? thank you! can't wait to start this guitar! <3

[MissReade]

@MissReade oh wait... i blew past the microphone part.... whoops! got it now. sorry :/

[origindirewolf]

can i just buy one from you?

[MrKeystone53]

FREE BIRD!!!!

[RcUniverseGuy]

i wouldn't build one like this lmao you know you dont need to cut the knotches in the box all the way down to the bottom of the box, it looks much better when the lid closes and there is no huge gape between the lid and the neck the pocket should be nice and tight for a louder better sound

[AllCricketTalk]

Hahaha nice. that song sounds like someone being lazy on a hot summer day with nothing to do...

[TheBarryNoVa]

nice build



[elvis7hockey]

2:35 - That's what he said

[MrPyroEnthusiast]

How does a speaker work as a microphone?

[betsingerb]

@MrPyroEnthusiast this is basic but a mic and a speaker are made very similar. a speaker takes an electric signal to move the diaphragm to move the air creating the sound. A microphone goes in reverse and any sound moves the air, moving the diaphragm, creating an electric signal.

[GrindStreetMusic]

Thank you for this.

[wiccanmoonman]

would speakers from an old telephone work 

[Nighthawkinlight]

@wiccanmoonman Yes. They're not very good speakers, but that might give you an interesting tone.

[Indy7861PunkGrundge]

@wiccanmoonman can you make a 6 string version?

[JasontheGuitargod]

@Indy7861PunkGrundge yeah probably

[hsvdt]

what hard wood timber is that, i like the grain

[Nighthawkinlight]

@hsvdt Maple

[Nighthawkinlight]

@zdiaz88 It's not a dollar bill, it's a seal. A sticker that is placed over the seam of the box that shows it has not been opened when it is not torn.

[necr0n2]

@Nighthawkinlight

lol watch all video

[eddvyz]

@necr0n2 me too



[exp4ndable]

THIS is the god damn blues-soud from the grave...love it!

[johnbananas100]

can you use normal string with that nut or will they break?

Im asking this because it looks like you have bass strings on it

[Nighthawkinlight]

@johnbananas100 They're normal strings. E A D G strings tuned to open D

[xhimiz14]

Great! but please i need to know , can i make this an acoustic guitar. i mean without putting the mic and the jack? if so how? shall i just open a circle hole ?

[Nighthawkinlight]

@xhimiz14 Yes, it can be an acoustic. I recommend you use a longer neck and a bigger cigar box in that case. Just drill a few holes in the box to make it louder.

[xhimiz14]

@Nighthawkinlight big thnx man! i needed this tutorial for a project in school . i'm in high school and we had an option in physics to choose this theme for our project so making an acoustic instrument. once again thnx i'm gonna try it!

[timmeTheOnly]

Thats just genious. Simple, but simply genious. If I could work with wood, I'd build one of them...

[Nighthawkinlight]

@timmeTheOnly I am certainly not known for my woodworking ability. I bet you could do it without much trouble.

[thatguyplayinguitar]

when you're playing the guitar, you're not pressing down on the strings? You have that metal thing.

And also can you conect it to a real guitar amp?

[Nighthawkinlight]

@thatguyplayinguitar The metal pipe is called a slide. Look up slide guitar.

I was playing through an amp for the video, an old style Peavy Bandit 65 with a Scorpion speaker if i remember correctly.

[tristanwatson1]

whats a good length and diameter peice of wood for the neck

[Nighthawkinlight]

@tristanwatson1 The diameter is up to you. Whatever feels comfortable in your hand. The length should be at the least 2 feet. That's about how long mine was and it probably should have been a bit longer. You could easily go as long as 3.

[frichikendz]

This is ingenious.

[tristanwatson1]

alright i was thinkin the nails were put in perminent thanks for the info



[tristanwatson1]

how did he hook the strings to the nails on the box

[Nighthawkinlight]

@tristanwatson1 The nails are not glued in. You pull each one out and insert it back through the ring on the end of the strings.

[tautvydux123]

thanks dude realy helphul

[thebigcheese17]

great video! looks so easy and cheap. im definitely trying this! thanks for the vid

[darthjeff3]

wow. its really that simple?



[Nighthawkinlight]

@darthjeff3 You can certainly make them nicer, but yes.

[alexis221woodworks]

Beautiful...Great job

[Nighthawkinlight]

@alexis221woodworks That means a good deal from a woodworker.

[glenwoofit]

Hahaha, Nice sound from a cigar box...

[daytonairsofters]

listening to the demo makes me want to play left 4 dead 2.

[KeniLeeBurgess]

Nice video. I especially liked that you started with an actually tree limb. Definitely gives it that old time country made feeling. Thanks for sharing. Enjoy.

[Rhandahl]

haha this was just amazing, never seen anything like this before :P is there anything that comes to your mind that you don't make:P?!

[FerrilEwok]

beautiful cigar box guitar, have you tried to overdrive with the mic? i know it works well with piezo transducer's and pickups. wondering if that'll work before i build my own

[Nighthawkinlight]

@FerrilEwok Yes you can. The problem I have with this particular mic is that it wants to feed back easier than anything i've used before. It could simply be how I have it positioned in the guitar body. You can always try both a mic and a piezo and see which works best, neither are very expensive.

[AerotechMan101]

Hey man, nice build. My uncle makes cigar box guitars, I play six string but his are fun to play. He hasn't posted any videos on youtube, except of his chainsaw carvings. Nice job on the neck.

[stallohas]

sell me that gitar?

[Nighthawkinlight]

@stallohas Nah you would be disappointed by it for what I'd have to charge to make it worth my time. You could make one and enjoy in much more knowing it was one of a kind. It's easier than it looks.

[Ho11aBackMatt]

I don't have the mental capacity to do this. Sorry.

[proskills1996]

Hey nice cheap guitar and sounds great

[ERFireworks]

he is the king of homemade everything

[xman66675]

your awesome man where can you get a cigar box

[Nighthawkinlight]

@xman66675 Any smoke shop usually sells the boxes once they are empty. Some charge more than others. One in my area charges depending how nice the box is up to $20, another just sells them all for $1.99. Check a few places.

[xman66675]

your awesome man 

[TycoTrainAL]

This is awesome man! I've been looking at these for some time now. I thought about buying a Red Dog because I hardly have the time to build one. I find it hard to find the time to play too.

[pyromaniackid1]

Awesome!

[girc52]

I didnt know speakers work as microphones!!! thats awesome