Cigar Box Guitars for Students or Service Members

Did you know you can make a rudimentary guitar out of almost anything?  During the Great Depression, when life was considerably less exciting and guitars were a real luxury item, folks started making little guitars with just three or four strings using attractive wooden cigar boxes.  Some of those old guitars still exist and some were exquisite.  Expert players can make them sound almost like the real thing. 

Cigar box guitars are back!  The "maker movement" includes a whole new generation of craftsmen and they've taken the art to the next level.  There are cigar box banjos, ukuleles, violins and mandolins.  License plates are a popular addition and a variety of electronics can be added.  We'll start with a kit, but we can swap out parts and customize to our hearts' content.  We can carve, stamp, paint, stain, woodburn, distress, varnish...  what can you think of?

But first, students will need to make an important decision.  Two years ago, Cigar Box Nation launched a program called CBGs for Servicemembers which matches guitar makers with military personnel.  These are often service members who play already and could not take their instruments with them while deployed.  Students who choose this project will have the option of making an instrument for themselves or for a service member.  One of these options earns service hours, the other does not.

Build your own cigar box guitar or make one for a service member!  No previous knowledge is necessary and you don't need to know how to play.  You do need focus and dexterity and detail-orientation.