Tim LaFave's Blog (2)

For my first CBG, I wanted to test my limits and see how far I could go with building a guitar. None of these "fret-less three-stringers" for me; no, I wanted a fret board and at least four strings, which I felt was the limit before I'd have to worry about bowing the neck. So, wanting to be sure I was understanding all I needed to do, I ordered David Sutton's book "Cigar Box Guitars", and waited patiently for it to arrive.

When it finally came in the mail, I read through it carefully,…

For those new to cb fiddle building, permit me to share some hard-earned tips to get you started right.

1.   Getting Started:   If you want to build a full-size (4/4) violin, it is critical that you get the correct measurements for the string length from the nut to the bridge, and the height of the bridge must be the same as a real violin. Bear in mind that a violin has an arch top, which raises the bridge height. Your cigar box will have a flat top, so to compensate, you must angle…