3-String Cigar Box Guitar Kit with How-To Guide - Great for Woodworkers!

Build a fully playable, Depression Era cigar box guitar using our modern parts and fully detailed directions.  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 “Product Videos” tab below.

 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 1x2x34” 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 (3-string CBG Acoustic Medium)
• Three tuners with bushings and screws
• Eight brass box corners with screws
• Four 1" screened brass sound hole covers
• Two threaded rods which serve as bridge and nut
• One Brass tailpiece hinge
• Our 26-page assembly instructions booklet
• We’ve also included many options in the drop-down menu above.  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 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 and preservation of the cigar box guitar.  Go to CigarBoxGuitar.com, our knowledgebase of free lessons & information.  

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

About the cigar boxes included with this kit: please note that you will likely not receive the exact cigar boxes shown in these photos, but you will definitely receive a box perfect for use as the body of a cigar box guitar. The cigar box may be paper-covered wood or MDF, or solid plywood/wood, but don't worry - it will work great! It is important to be aware that all-wood cigar boxes may alter construction of the guitar:  At our discretion, we may send you a premium all-wood cigar box. In this case, 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... but often on these premium boxes the corners wouldn't look quite right anyway, so you can just keep them as a bonus item for your next build.