I have a cheap CBG just like that. The good thing about it is that it got me excited about Cigar Box guitars. Yes, I got it quite playable too when I made enough corrections. 😄 However, the end result was that I ended up getting a decent Cigar Box guitar. I haven't listened to the CD and I haven't read much of the book because you learn a lot more from these videos than from that book. 🤔🤷🏻♂️😄 It was also good about that guitar that building them also became very interesting. Why? Because that was so bad that out of necessity I started to think that I could do better myself. 😂 That's why I've started to get tools for working with wood. Thanks for the good videos. 👍😊
Hi Del. Thank you for your insight. And thanks to all who made supportive comments below on my guitar. You are the ones that get it. I believe that the BBG has done exactly what I intended, introducing thousands of people to the joys of cigar box guitars at a very affordable price. Many of these people have moved on to much better cigar box instruments with the confidence in knowing what they are all about. By all means rip the cardboard box off and attach the neck to a real cigar box or tin. Pull out the piezo and reuse it. Have fun, make music and enjoy. Nick Bryant.
Should be getting mine in a couple of days, can't wait. Hopefully I can learn on this one to justify getting a more expensive one. Thanks for making one this affordable.
I got one of these for my brother for his birthday last November .(my brother is dealing with brain cancer ) He loved this thing ,it made him cry . This inspired me to build something better . 10 guitars later lol I am presently dealing with some severe arthritis ,only 55 can`t work anymore . I had to quit my regular job ( electrician ) This is what I do now . Thanks for your videos Brother ,I enjoy them
I got one a few years back at Barnes & Noble book store for $20.00, I knew what I was getting for that $20.00 and find it okay for what it is, mine stays in tune okay and also came with a slide.
Got mine to see if I would like it. 10 mins I was hooked. Bought a second one and tore the body off and used a cigar box that belonged to my father to build a little better one for my granddaughter. Now she has one that pawpaw made with a box that belonged to great pawpaw. Now she is hooked too. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us all. I have really learned alot from you.
There's a clear finger slide as this is a complete kit. Look in all spaces in your black part of packaging tray..... maybe your wife got one that was missing it....
Well, I guess the strings, piezo, jack, and tuners are worth $10 bucks ! But it is still amazing to me how you can take a POS and make it sound good ! Thanks
I love your vids man they make me so happy and I’m going through a bit of a rough patch but being able to take a few minutes and watch you live your insanely wholesome passionate life through cbgs really makes me happy and inspires me man. Keep up the great work and thank you!!
When you're showing someone something you've put genuine effort, original ideas and often some fairly pricey parts into, And their response is to show you a pic of one of these on their phone,, it's like a kick in the balls!
This was the thing that sent me down this rabbit hole. More than 2 dozen of my own later... I still haven't found my way out. A Cigar Box Guitar is not an instrument, it's a virus. This is how I got infected.
Maybe I should complain to Nick as I got one of these a year ago and followed the book, and mine won't play like yours. But 3 strings are all you need, even on a cardboard box. You give us hope Del.
They're low-cost/entry/fun level pieces of kit. I bought one a couple of years ago, with a glass slide included, knowing that I wouldn't have a great deal of time to play it (I was right) but wanted to try slide guitar. It does what it says on the tin. One day, I might get a better one. Or perhaps not.
Was an absolute hoot to watch you rip into this thing, I honestly have one of these and I'm going wild with it and am quite happy. Mine came with a slide, not sure why you didn't. Nonetheless, I still follow along to your videos and love your stuff. Been absolutely hooked on CBGs and your videos are what got me started. Once I've got a proper set of tools and workplace I'll be getting down to brass tacks on a proper one you'd be proud of! In the meantime though, do share some guides on these things in terms of that beautiful lick you had going when you first sat down with it!
So who makes decent CBGs that are customizable? I want one, but would like to stain it and maybe some other stuff. Should I look at a Gitty neck and make the body myself, or try? I don't think this kit is what I want. Anyone make real solid kits?
Hey Del, or anyone willing to answer, a question for you. I got this as a stepping stone to try to get into cigar box guitars. I followed the directions, and tuned it to G,D,G, everything appears to be all good. When I try to practice doing one finger chords though, it sound muted. What am I doing wrong? Keep up the great videos!
True story, yesterday was my shelter-in-place birthday and my brother-in-law coughed up this bad boy, apparently from the closet of misfit toys intended someday for grandchildren. Which is just barely better than a Hallmark card, but I digress. Anyway ... I get so excited about this thing it never occurred to me it might be a piece of total crap. So I'm strumming and tuning and strumming and tuning and wondering wtf is up with that low G after all, and the lame tuning pegs, and the painfully slow realization that it can't be played as a fretted instrument would be played (duh). Now, my brother-in-law is a hands-on kind of guy, great with all sorts of tools, and every now and then I hang around with the young'ns in a maker group, e.g., rootaccess.org/. So after a day of me bitching and moaning about the low G and thinking up ways to hack this piece o' ... something .... into something more presentable and playable, bro goes back to the closet and coughs up the good stuff: A true CGB kit with an actual cigar box, for starters, bad-ass tuning pegs and so much more, and less if you count the parts already gone missing. It's going to be a great project even if I never play another note, but here's the point to this long-winded intro: If I were to, say, just blow up the faux cigar box and use its "best of" parts in a rebuild, what would you keep and what would you toss?
The big beauty of those CBG's is that it was one of them that I seen and liked the idea of the three strings because I thought that looks like some thing I could play as I have never played any thing in my life and now I am on my forth CBG build. All thanks to one of those. I would never have known about CBG's if it wasn't for one of those.
@@PuckettCigarBoxGuitar Yes mate I got hooked big time and now I think I need a bigger shed. I am great full to you and your show mate as I have learnt so much from you and I love all your tips for building better CBG's.
Hey Del, First let me say that I really enjoy your channel. I've been playing slide guitar for over forty years and have always wanted to build a cigar box, but never get around to it. Then I came across the item you're reviewing, and have found it to be a blast to play, especially plugged in. I've bought a few for some of my guitar playing friends and every one came with a glass slide which l upgraded to a Dunlop 218. I have written a couple of songs with it and have even played it live with my band; people love it! Heavier strings and smaller bolts to lower the action help it a lot with intonation. So, thanks for the review, but l would recommend that you take a second look at it; as others have noted it's a great place to start. Later, Steve Bowman
As an absolute beginner myself, i bought I good set of strings and that was enough to clear up the sound so that it didnt sound like 2 cats fighting. I can actually get a decent 12 bar blues going. There was an english guy that did a review on the same guitar, his review was a little more positive.
Exactly my story. Hey, what if I got real strings, stabilized that bridge on the saggy "box" lid? Improved, but still lacking so ... I'm almost done with my first CB Gitty build, after which I may reverse-engineer the BBG.
I bought this and this was the reason I got into CBG's and building them for myself. Also led to me finding you on RU-vid. Well worth the money I paid for it. Mine stayed in tune just fine. WELL WORTH THE MONEY!!!!
Thanks! Thanks! I was thinking about buying it, but seeing that the wood is flaking being fake, 3:16 I changed my mind. Maybe I'll try to build one with my own hands. Regards.
Hi, do you think it’s a simple thing to separate the neck from the body? I have some real Cigar boxes and my idea is to substitute the paper body with a real Cigar box
Like others, this 'kit' actually got me interested in CBG-ing (is that a word?) LOL so, in that alone it's a useful product. Yes, if I do get hooked I will probably outgrow this *very* quickly, but I'm even guessing I may have a little fun 'upgrading' this until I feel confident enough to try making my own from scratch. SO... I can see how an expert might pour scorn on this product - but if it get's people into CBG at a minimum outlay then it can't be all bad. [I mean it got me searching RU-vid and I found Puckett's channel! So win?] :)
I just got mine and expected utter crap quality. To my shock, while a bit too quiet acoustically, the *quality* of the sound is outrageous and the amp is outta this world, first time playing it I got that same eureka feeling I got when I first sat at a piano and felt I just *got* this instrument, and now I feel like I just met a future best friend!❤
Mine did come with a glass slide. I didn't have the overtone that you have. This thing is meant for the absolute beginner. for what it is, for the price you pay, it's not too bad. It's a way into cbg without having to pay a bunch of money.
I reckon it's an excellent idea! (£25 from Amazon England). Anything which brings 3-string Cigar Box Guitars to the attention of the general public has got to be a good idea. I suspect that the purchasers after trying it out, will either build their own (doubtful), or purchase a good quality, ready-made one (more likely), and enjoy playing it. Don't knock it, Folks, it will get you started on the 3-string road!
This cheap thing got me started with it. Really need to get off my butt and go work on another one, soon. Just haven't found all of the parts I want to use, yet. That's the hardest part for me; gathering all of the materials to make it look the way I want when it's done. =)
They're not great but they get people started. I stumbled across one while shopping a couple of years back, picked it up out of curiosity. It was enough to get me interested in playing them and have now built three of my own. But I probably wouldn't have gotten started if it hadn't been for the cheap and nasty BBG.
I sprayed mine with about a half a spray can of clear enamel and it seemed to improve the tone as it stiffens the box and waterproofed/protected it too
I picked one up one of these last week for 20 bucks as my first ever slide guitar.. I looked them up on RU-vid so I knew what I was getting, I really only got it for the neck to save time..I put it together, listened, then ripped the box apart. I just finished putting the neck into a nice wooden Punch GrandCru box and it sounds much better.. I'm hooked! Adding a new Piezo with tone and volume as soon as it arrives... Thank you for your videos brother, they are very helpful and informative..Props!!
G'day mate. Have you seen and heard those BBG's when they have a pickup added to them? I thought they sounded great. I want to bye one for myself just because it was one of those that got me into GBS's in the first place but the only place I can get one from so far is America and by the time I pay the exchange rate and postage they are up around $100.00. Just not worth it.
@@nealeware9163 Hello! Yes I've heard them hooked up but I was looking for one to use the neck for a build to save time.. Have you checked Amazon? They have a 4 string for 25 dollars free shipping.. My next one will be from scratch.. I am hooked
@@repairguy59 Thank you Biff. I haven't seen them on Amazon mate but I'm glade you told me about them. I will for sure go and get one. If they have them in a four string they will have them in a three string. I don't normaly go to Amazon as I get all my stuff off eBay. The hardest thing I have trouble getting is cigar boxes. There is no place around where I live that sells them so I have to try to find good byes on line and they don't come cheep that way.
@@nealeware9163 there are many cigar box guitars in Amazon, plus you can also buy necks and parts needed.. They also have unfinished boxes starting for around 5 dollars and up.. friend me on FB if you can and we'll be able to talk about it and respect this channel. Good luck! I'm assuming you are in Australia.... G'day
@@repairguy59 Yah mate I am in Australia. The G'day gives me away ha. I'll look you up on FB today so you should get a friend request from me soon. I like the idea of getting unfinished boxes as you can do what you like with them.
Thanks for sharing the video. This product is not for you, this is clear... You are an experienced builder, so... This is not for you... I saw several reviews here on youtube and generally, the opinions are all positive. Some people changed the box as well. The acoustic sound with the box is a bit dark, which is fine for me... The book is nice, and it came with an slide, so I decided to buy it. Maybe it is a bit small, but it is quite ok for my taste, althought I prefer to make my own simple cbg. Moreover, with good gear, you can make them sound brilliant (as always nowadays, ;) ), since the demo tracks of the CD are recorded with this cbg. And maybe you can solve this overtone issue, I guess it is related to bad position of the string respect to the groove of the bolt... Btw, I added frets and experimented a bit with thinner nut and saddle... Other thing is to use acoustic guitar strings of the gauge suggested in the book to make it sound good... To learn to play, and play the basics is more than enough... I find interesting that your wife bought you 4 or those... Kind woman... 🙂
Your correct about the fretboard,,,my wife got mine for me...it a good learner.....low investment.....kinda like low cost fly-fishing...start low and get addicted to the fun ....and then onward and upward .....you were more kind than Mr.shane..
Got one of these about two years ago for about 25€ - also on sale. They aren't produced anymore from what I know. Anyways, for the price that's probably the best you can get and I'd rather have only that one than none. By the way, mine came with a glass slide inside the box.
Thanks for reviewing this. My wife bought me one and I think it’s not a bad starter but I’d be happy to move on to something higher quality once I start getting the hang of it. I’m really starting to love the sound of cigar box guitars!
The one thing you completely forgot, which makes it totally worth it in my opinion is that these are made for an absolute beginner and encourage them to really get curious and start getting into making a real cigar box guitar. Other than that, you pretty much are spot on lol
I agree with you, I am an absolute beginner and I will upgrade one day, but I feel I need to learn a few things before I just all-in on one. I just wish there were more video's showing how to play. Oh yeah, mine doesn't have an overtone that I've heard
@@RichardChelson check out shane speal, lots of good lessons. There are plenty of guys that do lessons on RU-vid, Shane is the one I tend to watch the most.
It got me into making my own CBGs. Love the ones I'm making (and the cool tone that comes from using electric fence charger housings as the bodies). Really want to find a nice 1 gallon gas can (or 1 gallon WD-40 can) and try making one from one of those at some point.
LOL.... Cigar Box Guitar "snob". Mine came with a clear glass slide and, I believe, bushings around the tuners. I had to install them myself. But, the holes were pre-drilled. It's a bit small. But, it stays in tune well and is fun for starting out on CBG. My wife bought it for me for Christmas 2018 at a local "Discount Books" store. I had never even considered 3-string CBG. But, this hooked me. So much fun to just noodle around with the slide.
I got one of these a few weeks back, just about a month after finding your channel. It should come with a little glass slide btw. But I just wanted to thank you for actually playing on it because most of the stuff I find for it is junk. it is kinda junk and i've read some bad reviews but i think it's a nice little think i can mess around with from time to time. anyways I love your channel, thank you!
I guess you could learn on something like this, but as a musician that plays other instruments the sound of that low G would drive me crazy and would probably de-motivate me to pick it up.
Yep mine came with a glass slide, wish it had a 25 inch scale. I didn't play it long, moved onto a good one made by a guy who lives near me, but I'm going to make my own.
Can't say I liked this one. Looks like something for a kid. A kid you don't like. I hope your wife didn't spend to much on all that shit. You seemed to like the book anyway!
I see a common thread here, a whole heap of people have been inspired enough to build their own !!!!! I bought one (it had a slide included) to teach myself to play it, like a lot of other attempts I didnt get very far but my twin grandsons loved to pretend to play it. Trouble is 2 boys cant play the same guitar and one of them is a south paw anyway, so I decided to use it as a template and build one specifically for him. He helped me build and decorate it and I gave it to him for his 9th birthday. That was 12 months ago and today I am going out to my shed and start work on my 15th home made stringed instrument....and....in the last few weeks leading up to my 60th birthday I knuckled down and finally taught myself how to get some half decent music out of one of these things. So I thank the cheap discount supermarket chain I bought my Blues Box from for getting me started and I thank you Del for taking me even further down that rabbit hole Andrew Rollason descibed.....
Great review! I just ordered one of these. My first CBG. Since you've already assembled one of these, do you see a problem in flipping it over and stringing it for left hand? Thanks!
If your wife really bought you a stack of these things, she thinks you spend too much time in the shed building them. If she can cut out some of your work you should have more time to play with her.
My son bought me one for Xmas a couple of years ago. He did it to encourage me to make some myself . Little did he know that I had already built one for him. To put it mildly the paper one is a POS and I think you went very gentle on it Del. I have built about 70 3 string guitars since and I some times take the paper one to shows as a comparison for potential buyers. I also thought of modifying the neck but like you did not think it worth the effort. Sentinel Guitars - Montana.
I must have got the deluxe version, mine had a clear slide included. 😂 Got it yesterday, put it together last night. I think the length is similar to a tenor ukulele. Bit of fun, but I’m going to look for a full length model.
So, now that you have seen how a pretty basic one is configured, try making your own. A 24” scale is more like it. You can make them simple or fancy, but once you start, it’s hard to stop! Have fun.
@@PuckettCigarBoxGuitar I love them mate. They are a poor mans guitar. I feel that some times we loose sight of what we are building and I have spent lots of money on pickups and fancy tuners and corners for the $20.00 box to end up with a $200.00 + poor mans guitar.
They are made of cardboard with a cigar box pattern laminate on top. That is what he was referring to when he said it was paper and was starting to peel off.
