Just a couple pics...

The string height is perfectly parallel across the square neck to the bridge, making it play nice and clean for lap or regular slide playing.

Back to basics...

I've been using wine boxes for my last couple guitars -- more air, more volume. This time I wanted to get back to using a cigar box.

It's difficult to find junk guitars I don't feel some remorse about cutting apart, so a cheap oak 1x2 works well for a 4-string'r neck. I had some ideas about creating an angled headstock and using a small resonator cone, this time it's a cat dish.

How I Cut a Bottleneck Slide

I use a $3 glass cutter that's usually in the mirror section of the hardware store. Note that you're not actually "cutting" -- you're scoring a line where the glass will naturally want to break. It's important not to double-back or overlap your score line, the glass will want to break at both lines and often chip out.

For a clean score guide: on a level surface I take an existing slide of my preferred height and rest the tip of a sharpie on it. Leaving the sharpie stationary, I rotate the bottle against the marker.

I use the inside corner of my L-shaped desk to cradle the bottletop. Note where you begin the score, this is you'll want to meet at the end. Leaving the bottle cutter stationary against the glass with firm pressure, I rotate the bottle with my free hand.

Heat the score line with a candle, rotating it and warming it evenly. Sticking the bottleneck under cold water should pop it off. Be careful not to let the slide fall into the sink.

Who's on the playlist now...

Robert Johnson, Blind Willie McTell, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Bukka White, Charley Patton, Johnny Shines, Mance Lipscomb, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Son House.

If you don't know the White Stripes past their "popular" hits, I'd give them a serious listen. From their first album to their latest, you can hear Jack White paying homage to many of the great artists listed above.

How it started...

Back in '07 sometime was my first attempt at cutting a bottleneck slide. I had a file, a hacksaw, and no idea what I was doing. It's pretty ragged but sounds pretty good. A few broken bottles later, I've gotten better...



My slide collection started to grow and I needed a guitar as unique as each bottleneck, so I built a cigar box guitar.

The Dog Dish Resonator

I continue to make resonator guitars, searching for the right sound. This is the closest so far. The scale length is 24.75" approximately.

Someone emailed for a detailed description, so I obliged...

As far as construction goes, I started off with a 13" x 21" wine crate. These boxes do not have a lid so I disassemble knowing I'll be cutting it down to 13" x 10" thus leaving enough wood for a top. I save the original nails and wood glue everything together, leaving the back open to work on the inside. I reinforce the corners, gluing in quarter round and adding wood supports where I'll mount the neck and tailpiece. Since the box is short, I needed a long electric guitar neck for proper intonation. Some necks require an extension, I only added a larger heel to this one. After trimming and shaping the heel, I simply glue and screw the neck to the body keeping it square.

I measure the nut to the 12th fret, then the 12th fret to the box for the center of the reso hole. I draw a proper circle and cut the reso hole with a hand-held jigsaw. The sound holes are cut with a hole saw on a drill press. I fit the back and trim as needed, securing with wood glue and nails. The dog bowl is like any from the pet store, I just measured the diameter for a proper fit. I look for dings and dents, and for one with a good bell-like tone when tapped.

Some notes on building... If you have a guitar you'll use for parts, lay it next to the box you plan to use, note where you'll need to place the saddle and make sure you have room to cut the reso hole. Also see if you'll have to extend the neck away from the body.

Dry fit before you glue and promptly clean any excess glue as it will seal the wood pores and make staining difficult. I don't sand the wood much (only the rough edges after a cut) to leave it original. First stained with water-based maple, then covered with a pecan polystain.

The Spider Bridge Resonator

My 3rd project was another resonator -- I wanted an acoustic only guitar so I chose a nice (free) wine box from a local store. It's almost done minus the need for a spider bridge and I have to finish the neck.

I'm using a paint can lid for now, and it sounds pretty good. I may leave it as-is.

The wine box was a really pale pine, so I did some selective staining/wiping and satin poly finish for the distressed look.

The Banjitar

My 2nd project was a banjitar constructed from a Remo hand drum and a neck from a broken classical guitar. It has a unique echo-like resonance. I have since added an arm rest.

My 1st CBG (Jan '08)

After listening/learning a lot of Delta/Country Blues and cutting bottlenecks, I decided to make a cigar box guitar.

After some drawing and planning I created this...





Completed with hand saws, 1 file, glue, sandpaper, clamps, and a drill. My hands were messed up. Wired with a piezo pickup, it's great plugged in.

It's kind of a sneaky resonator, the biscuit bridge goes through the top -- I liked the look without a pie plate. I added the drawer handle since I've always like that covered look on old Fender bass guitars.

Here's a sound clip -- I plugged the guitar directly into the mic jack on my computer, it's pretty rough but you get the idea...