Beginner Cigar Box Guitar

Step 11 The Strings & Finishing Touches

So, now your cigar box guitar is basically built. You just have to add the strings. How you'll attach them will depend on what sort of materials you used to make your bridge. In my case, I just tied them through the 3 holes on my hinge with a simple loop.

This site has a free video that shows you how to wrap them around the tuning pegs. It's simple, but hard to describe with words.

Finishing Touches and Final Thoughts

I didn't stain or mark frets on my guitar neck, but by all means do both of these things if you really want to do the job properly. Since this was a first attempt, I didn't want to go to all of that trouble until I was sure the whole thing was going to work out.

I need to fix some of my mistakes before my guitar will be truly playable. Most notably, I need to reposition the tuning heads at an angle. Then I also need to sand down my nut or use something different for that part. The bridge might be a little high too.

It took me most of a Sunday to finish this project and write this instructable. I'm a little peeved at not ending up with a workable instrument, but it's getting dark outside, so I guess I'll have to fix my mistakes some other weekend. Hopefully YOU, by now, having avoided my mistakes, will be rocking out on a fully playable cigar box guitar.