For decades, the cigar box guitar has resonated with musicians, captivating them with its raw aesthetic and distinctive sound. Bridging the gap between a traditional guitar and a resonator, this instrument offers a unique sonic palette without demanding a new learning curve. Favored by artists across genres, including Paul McCartney, the cigar box guitar stands as a testament to DIY ingenuity in music history, being arguably the world’s first DIY electric guitar. Our Cigar Box Guitar Kit elevates this legacy, enhancing the quality of materials and electronics while preserving the unassuming charm that defines these instruments.
More Than Just a Novelty Instrument
While its appearance might suggest a departure from conventional instruments, the cigar box guitar kit harbors a secret for guitarists: it features a standard 24-5/8″ scale length and familiar fret spacing, mirroring that of a standard guitar. This ingenious design allows you to seamlessly transition your existing guitar skills, playing your favorite tunes with an entirely new and exciting tone within minutes of picking it up.
Whether you prefer the crisp articulation of fretted notes or the smooth glide of a slide, this three-string marvel accommodates both styles effortlessly. The simplified string configuration is particularly conducive to exploring slide guitar techniques and achieving compelling voicings without the complexities of a six-string neck.
Professional Playability Meets Homemade Authenticity
Our cigar box guitar kit captures the unpretentious spirit of classic homemade instruments while significantly upgrading the components, playability, and overall sound quality. The cigar box body is expertly crafted from clear pine, ensuring resonant tone and durability. The mahogany neck arrives shaped, fretted, and inlaid, requiring only minimal setup to achieve optimal playability straight out of the box.
Departing from makeshift pickups often found in traditional cigar box guitars, our kit incorporates a full-sized P-90 pickup. This premium choice delivers a rich and versatile tone, ranging from warm and nuanced cleans to powerful, overdriven screams when you crank up the volume. Maintaining the instrument’s vintage character, we’ve included a simple floating bridge with a bolt saddle. This not only enhances the guitar’s authentic aesthetic but also contributes a distinctive bite and sustain to its sonic signature.
Beginner-Friendly Build for First-Timers
No specialized workshop is needed to assemble this guitar kit, and chances are, you already possess the necessary tools. We’ve meticulously addressed the most challenging aspects of guitar building: the neck is precisely fretted, the body is pre-constructed, leaving you to focus on the rewarding final touches that will personalize your instrument and make it uniquely yours.
With minimal preparation, you can proceed directly to applying your chosen finish, allowing for complete creative control over the guitar’s final look. To further streamline the process, the potentiometer is pre-wired, minimizing soldering to just a few simple connections.
Beyond the ease of assembly, this kit includes comprehensive, step-by-step instructions designed for beginners. Our dedicated world-class support team is also readily available to provide expert assistance and answer any questions that may arise during your build journey, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience from start to finish.
Everything You Need in One Kit:
- Finely sanded mahogany neck for smooth playability
- Sanded clear pine body for resonant tone
- Precisely routed body, neck, and tail blocks for easy assembly
- Fretted and inlaid neck with pre-installed 2-way truss rod for optimal neck relief
- Standard 24-5/8″ (625mm) scale length for familiar feel
- Pre-slotted nut for accurate string spacing
- Comprehensive hardware set including tuners and strap buttons
- High-output P-90 pickup in the neck position for versatile tone
- Pre-wired potentiometer for simplified electronics assembly
