3-String Cigar Box Guitar Kit with How-To Guide

Build a fully playable, Depression Era cigar box guitar using our modern parts and fully detailed directions. 

Just add your own 1 x 2 x 34-inch hardwood plank for the neck. 

Thousands of builders have used these kits to create their own distinctive instruments! 

Thank you to Chris from CMR Woodworks for this great demo video featuring our Cigar Box Guitar Kit.

See part 2 of this video in the “Videos” tab above.

See also: 4-String Cigar Box Guitar Kit

What is included in the kit?

You get all the hardware, strings and even the cigar box.  

Simply add your own 1 x 2 x 34-inch hardwood plank for the neck, which is easily found at a lumber yard or hardware store such as Home Depot or Lowes.

Contents of the basic kit include:

> One cigar box (styles vary)

> One set of strings, chosen specifically for cigar box guitars

> Three open-gear tuners with bushings and screws

> Eight brass box corners with screws

> Four 1-inch screened brass sound hole covers

> One 1 1/2-inch threaded rod cigar box guitar nut

> One 1 1/2-inch threaded rod cigar box guitar bridge

> One brass-plated hinge tailpiece

> Our 26-page assembly instructions booklet

We’ve also included many options in the drop-down menu above where you can add frets, electronics, guitar slides and more. 

What tools do you need for the basic kit?

You will only need a saw, screwdriver and a drill.  

You won’t need a dedicated woodshop or expensive tools.  

Each kit includes a 26-page, easy to follow guide chock full of detailed photos and instructions.

We designed this kit for the beginning woodworker.  

If you’re looking for an even simpler kit, check out our Pure & Simple Cigar Box Guitar that you can assemble with only a hammer and screwdriver!

Are there lessons to play this once I’m done building it?  

Yes...and they’re totally free!  

C. B. Gitty is dedicated to the education about, and preservation of, cigar box guitars and has a vast knowledge-base of free lessons and other useful information on CigarBoxGuitar.com.

Notes on the extra options:

Slide/Guitar Pick: Pictures above show the completed kit. Please note that the copper pipe slide and guitar pick are shown for illustrative purposes only and are not included in this kit.

Electronics: Add a pickup to your guitar so it can be amped. Here is an install guide for the Basic Piezo Harness option. The electronics kit (soldering required) includes instructions. The rod piezo (sold separately) is a more advanced option. Here is an article to get you started with them.

Cigar Box: Also please note that you may not receive the exact cigar boxes shown in these photos, but you will definitely receive a paper-covered box perfect for use as the body of a cigar box guitar. The cigar box may be partly constructed from hardboard instead of wood, but don't worry - hardboard boxes sound great as CBGs!

Fretting Kit: This is a set of fret wire and a how-to guide on CD so that you can try your hand at fretting your cigar box guitar. This does NOT mean a fretted neck is included (see our fretted neck add-on here). Please note: Fretting is a much more advanced topic and may not be something to tackle for your first cigar box guitar build.

All-Wood Box option may alter construction of the guitar: If you choose an all-wood box, the procedure for mounting the neck may be somewhat different than what is described in the how-to guide. This is because all-wood boxes differ in construction from paper-covered boxes, and their exact configuration varies widely from box to box. So choosing an all-wood box may require a bit more figuring and creativity on your part. Also, on the all-wood boxes the corners are often rounded or the sides have some curve to them, so the brass box corners might not be usable.

Adding a Digital Tuner: If you are new to musical instruments, you probably don't have a digital tuner. These are handy little devices that you clip onto the headstock of your guitar, and when you pluck a string it tells you what the tuning is. This guitar is meant to be tuned to G, D, G, so getting it to those exact pitches is made a LOT easier if you have a digital tuner. These tuners can also be used to tune most other instruments, including standard store-bought guitars, ukuleles, etc., so it is a useful thing to have if you intend to get further into music.

Click on "Videos" tab above for part two of CMR Woodworks’ guitar kit demo video.