A few of my latest cigar box guitars..with a quick rundown on my approach to building them..and a few pointers on how to play. www.chickenbonejohn.com/
Look....you are a natural presenter..a passionate craftsman...and a damn nice player...bloody brilliant I reckon, and you do it in a really interesting way. Well done.
John, Thanks for the great video. Amazing sound and great playing! I really enjoyed watching and listening. My son and I make musical instruments, but have not tried a cigarbox guitar yet. Thanks for a little inspiration. I'll bet your mind is constantly at work with new ideas.
For this tuning, it's like the top 3 of a regular open G..so that's G B D low to high (or think of it as the top 3 strings of standard guitar with the high E tuned down to a D). String gauges are approximately .024 .016 .013 (but this may vary depending on your scale length). As an alternative, use G D G(octave) with .042 .032 .024 gauges for a deep, rootsy sound.
I always set the action reasonably low. 1mm above the first fret is plenty for fretted and slide playing...one of my more recent videos deals with the subject. Any more than that and it's difficult to fret and tends to pull the string sharp when you do fret it. The better you are at playing slide, the lower you can go with the action, especially if you've got some weighty strings with a fair bit of tension in them.
VERY nice. I have a cigar-box guitar my deceased brother-in law built years ago. It's a 4-string and though it has in-line tuners like a Strat, it has the heaviest (lowest) string on the bottom, vs. the top. I can't remember if he was left handed or not. I think he referred to it as a 'nicotina'. Frets are set for standard 8-note scale intervals except the 7th is flat. I have to re-string it as the strings are rusty, so I'll go with light-guage D-G-B-E guitar strings and tune it to Open G
Really like the CBG in this video John. You did an excellent job on this one. Tell me, how does the sound holes effect the single coil pickup? I am trying to figure out what it does to the sound since you have a nice pickup on the box and what the sound would be like if you did not have the sound holes? Can you explain. Awesome looking CBG by the way. Love it.
gotta say i got hooked the first time i heard that little guitar play!! i built my first one this week but am havin all kinds of trouble with the strings and tuning!! any advice would be great not sure on size of strings or tuning! you got some nice stuff keep it up brother
With respect, a telecaster style pickup isn't a "lipstick" pickup. The "lipstick" pickup was originally a Danelectro pickup..reputedly originally built using surplus chrome lipstick tubes. They look different and they aren't built in the same way as a tele pickup, as they use a bar magnet unlike the Fender type individual polepiece magnets.
Very interesting, with surprisingly good sound, but wouldn't a harder wood than mahogany be better for the fretboard? Also, how do you ensure the fret fitting is accurate enough?
how much do one of these go for and how hard are they to play condiering the 3 strings. iv played guitars for 14 years now and i have never seen somthing like that O_o
I love the way you play these CBGs. Can you tell me what gauge strings you would recommend for a 4- string CBG with tuning for DGBE like a standard guitar lower positioned four strings?
For the top 4 strings of regular tuning (by the way, DGBE are the TOP 4 strings, not the lower...convention is to refer to the highest pitched note as the top or high string, the lowest pitched string as the bottom or low string) just use the top four of a set of regular strings. It's not a tuning I use - for 4 string I generally use GDGB or DGBD, and we produce sets specifically gauged for these tunings.
Thanks for the info John. I am surprised not more people use the standard guitar tuning(dgbe). I guess it is just easier to play with the open tuning of G or D. would you agree?
Using only 4 strings and a "cut down" standard tuning can be problematic as many of the familiar chord shapes will be missing the root note in the bass, so won't sound right. The way round this can be to use different chord inversions, but this gets more difficult to work out, and even then the chord voicing may not work very well musically, and can be more difficult to play. It is easier to use a conventional 4 string tuning such as tenor banjo or octave mandolin or to use an open tuning.
High John. Can you advise me as to what would you recommend for the string spacing on a 4-String CBG if I wanted to use it for fingerstyle playing the majority of the time? Thanks for any info.
Hi, it's personal thing, but I make my 4 string necks 42mm wide (but have also made them 36mm wide), 11mm string spacing at the bridge, so around 33mm overall. You can keep the strings parallel up the neck or taper them in by a couple of mm at the nut.
Thank you John. The information you gave me is very helpful. I will have to see how mine ends up but from what I have heard the spacing may be somewhat closer. Hopefully I will be able to finger pick with it because I wanted to use it for both finger picking and slide playing later. I appreciate your advice.
Sir, I was wondering if you could post on your website not only how much things cost in pounds, but also in US dollars. It would be Great if we could know how much we have to save up for, Lol Your presentation & playing really made me want one of your guitars! Thank you
Because of daily fluctuations in exchange rate, the best thing to do is check with one of the online exchange rate services to see what the market exchange rate is.
It's a cigar box guitar, not a Martin or a Stradivarius, so mahogany, oak, walnut, maple or or whatever is to hand works fine... if it sounds good..it is good. There's no surprise in getting them to sound good...skill and experience goes a long way...I've made nearly 500 of them. As for fretting - it's computer calculated and slotted with an accurate jig, so a combination of technology and old fashioned craftmanship ensures accurate intonation.
I have one of your signature guitars that has open back machine heads and the box is a cheap £7 one as I got one of ebay exact the same to make my own. mhhh the money must be in the neck and electrics as it cost £250.
No worries, it's a free world and it is your choice. I run a business, so need to make money where I can, and taking adverts gives me a little income to cover the time out of my business that I take to make these videos.
He can call a tele style pickup whatever he wants, but whoever he is, he's wrong to call it a lipstick pickup in my book! Tele = Fender , Lipstick = Danelectro. Please educate me, who is Lee Anderton?!
No I believe you, I mean you have so much information to back up your beliefs, that my arguments are redundant, thanks seriously for the info. Lee anderton is the current owner of Andertons music, you know the big store? Him and a youtuber/guitarist called rob chappers make videos together
USA English= aluminum ah loom in um British English= aluminum ah loom in eum Interesting. you added a sound but not a letter. and YOU laugh at the way WE speak?
![Lp. Последняя Реальность #107 РОДНОЙ ДОМ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/IK3QKzKUlHM/mqdefault.jpg)
Look....you are a natural presenter..a passionate craftsman...and a damn nice player...bloody brilliant I reckon, and you do it in a really interesting way. Well done.
Beautiful playing and building. Thanks for the narration and sharing your views.
I'm not a musician - wish I was - but I love this video. Great instruments made by a great guy. Thanks for sharing.
Really awesome, your workshop was really awesome love my cigarbox guitar
John, Thanks for the great video. Amazing sound and great playing! I really enjoyed watching and listening. My son and I make musical instruments, but have not tried a cigarbox guitar yet. Thanks for a little inspiration. I'll bet your mind is constantly at work with new ideas.
Fantastic as always. I love your stuff!!!!
When I heard you talk I was so surprised .....lol unbelievable... I love it !!
Very nice instrument! Congratulations!
A friend of mine has one of your instrumenst, and loves it. great sounding little thing
Cool thanks I got some real kickass boxes from a friend hope to get some more built soon
Very cool guitars.
For this tuning, it's like the top 3 of a regular open G..so that's G B D low to high (or think of it as the top 3 strings of standard guitar with the high E tuned down to a D). String gauges are approximately .024 .016 .013 (but this may vary depending on your scale length). As an alternative, use G D G(octave) with .042 .032 .024 gauges for a deep, rootsy sound.
Thank you! You need to make more video's I like your teachings
love that low strung licence plate one!!
I always set the action reasonably low. 1mm above the first fret is plenty for fretted and slide playing...one of my more recent videos deals with the subject. Any more than that and it's difficult to fret and tends to pull the string sharp when you do fret it. The better you are at playing slide, the lower you can go with the action, especially if you've got some weighty strings with a fair bit of tension in them.
VERY nice. I have a cigar-box guitar my deceased brother-in law built years ago. It's a 4-string and though it has in-line tuners like a Strat, it has the heaviest (lowest) string on the bottom, vs. the top. I can't remember if he was left handed or not. I think he referred to it as a 'nicotina'. Frets are set for standard 8-note scale intervals except the 7th is flat. I have to re-string it as the strings are rusty, so I'll go with light-guage D-G-B-E guitar strings and tune it to Open G
Magnificent!!!
AWESOME !!!
Well. you've enlighted me, cheers, about to ask another question on another one your videos, so stayed tuned haha
Really like the CBG in this video John. You did an excellent job on this one. Tell me, how does the sound holes effect the single coil pickup? I am trying to figure out what it does to the sound since you have a nice pickup on the box and what the sound would be like if you did not have the sound holes? Can you explain. Awesome looking CBG by the way. Love it.
This guy is a vertual genius
gotta say i got hooked the first time i heard that little guitar play!! i built my first one this week but am havin all kinds of trouble with the strings and tuning!! any advice would be great not sure on size of strings or tuning! you got some nice stuff keep it up brother
thanks for sharing
With respect, a telecaster style pickup isn't a "lipstick" pickup. The "lipstick" pickup was originally a Danelectro pickup..reputedly originally built using surplus chrome lipstick tubes. They look different and they aren't built in the same way as a tele pickup, as they use a bar magnet unlike the Fender type individual polepiece magnets.
Thx for the video, am wondering what would be the larvestadie sounding acoustic cigarbox guitar ? I have one allready an Electric
Yes..I know the store...they are only young guys..enthusiastic but still lots to learn.
Very interesting, with surprisingly good sound, but wouldn't a harder wood than mahogany be better for the fretboard? Also, how do you ensure the fret fitting is accurate enough?
A telecaster style pickup is called a lipstick pickup john
i want em all!!!!!
Here's a technical question.how high do you set the string action at the nut?
how much $$ for one? pretty fancy.. id dig one with no frets
Wow, really nice, i wish i could buy one, i wonder how much shipping would be from the UK to USA ?
Typical shipping cost is £37.50, around 50 bucks.
how much do one of these go for and how hard are they to play condiering the 3 strings.
iv played guitars for 14 years now and i have never seen somthing like that O_o
I love the way you play these CBGs. Can you tell me what gauge strings you would recommend for a 4- string CBG with tuning for DGBE like a standard guitar lower positioned four strings?
For the top 4 strings of regular tuning (by the way, DGBE are the TOP 4 strings, not the lower...convention is to refer to the highest pitched note as the top or high string, the lowest pitched string as the bottom or low string) just use the top four of a set of regular strings. It's not a tuning I use - for 4 string I generally use GDGB or DGBD, and we produce sets specifically gauged for these tunings.
Thanks for the info John. I am surprised not more people use the standard guitar tuning(dgbe). I guess it is just easier to play with the open tuning of G or D. would you agree?
Using only 4 strings and a "cut down" standard tuning can be problematic as many of the familiar chord shapes will be missing the root note in the bass, so won't sound right. The way round this can be to use different chord inversions, but this gets more difficult to work out, and even then the chord voicing may not work very well musically, and can be more difficult to play. It is easier to use a conventional 4 string tuning such as tenor banjo or octave mandolin or to use an open tuning.
Thank you John for clearing that up for me. Now I understand and it makes good sense. I guess I was just comparing it to a baritone ukulele tuning.
High John. Can you advise me as to what would you recommend for the string spacing on a 4-String CBG if I wanted to use it for fingerstyle playing the majority of the time? Thanks for any info.
Hi, it's personal thing, but I make my 4 string necks 42mm wide (but have also made them 36mm wide), 11mm string spacing at the bridge, so around 33mm overall. You can keep the strings parallel up the neck or taper them in by a couple of mm at the nut.
Thank you John. The information you gave me is very helpful. I will have to see how mine ends up but from what I have heard the spacing may be somewhat closer. Hopefully I will be able to finger pick with it because I wanted to use it for both finger picking and slide playing later. I appreciate your advice.
Sir, I was wondering if you could post on your website not only how much things cost in pounds, but also in US dollars. It would be Great if we could know how much we have to save up for, Lol Your presentation & playing really made me want one of your guitars! Thank you
Because of daily fluctuations in exchange rate, the best thing to do is check with one of the online exchange rate services to see what the market exchange rate is.
It's a cigar box guitar, not a Martin or a Stradivarius, so mahogany, oak, walnut, maple or or whatever is to hand works fine... if it sounds good..it is good. There's no surprise in getting them to sound good...skill and experience goes a long way...I've made nearly 500 of them.
As for fretting - it's computer calculated and slotted with an accurate jig, so a combination of technology and old fashioned craftmanship ensures accurate intonation.
Can i buy that first guitar!
I have one of your signature guitars that has open back machine heads and the box is a cheap £7 one as I got one of ebay exact the same to make my own. mhhh the money must be in the neck and electrics as it cost £250.
Thanks Jake..you're no slouch on the harp either!
do u need a truss rod for the neck?????
With 3 & 4 string guitars I usually don't bother with a trussrod, but I do laminate lot of my necks.
Where can I buy the electronic parts for a CBG guitar like yours?
From my website www.chickenbonejohn.com
ChickenboneJohn
I need a good boxes guitar I love the guitar I play all the time
Matthew Mettler
I'm in the West Midlands.
I heard lee anderton say it.
We call it Y'allTube
pretty good!,but grandfather of CBG....Mmm ?
+Rod Amo Not the grandfather, The Godfather!
Lol.....ok
I’ll just watch one time ...you have 2 ads on your channel...I don’t watch ads
No worries, it's a free world and it is your choice. I run a business, so need to make money where I can, and taking adverts gives me a little income to cover the time out of my business that I take to make these videos.
He can call a tele style pickup whatever he wants, but whoever he is, he's wrong to call it a lipstick pickup in my book! Tele = Fender , Lipstick = Danelectro. Please educate me, who is Lee Anderton?!
No I believe you, I mean you have so much information to back up your beliefs, that my arguments are redundant, thanks seriously for the info. Lee anderton is the current owner of Andertons music, you know the big store? Him and a youtuber/guitarist called rob chappers make videos together
Hueso de pollo 😂
USA English= aluminum ah loom in um
British English= aluminum ah loom in eum
Interesting. you added a sound but not a letter. and YOU laugh at the way WE speak?
Not sure of your point...in the UK we spell it with an additional letter and voice it with that additional sound - aluminium.
@@ChickenboneJohn That's the point. You say it wrong, so you spell it wrong to cover your ass. It was never aluminium.
He's a lot smarter than you