For number 046 I used an old cigar box that was a little busted up and I used a resonator cone from Old Lowe in the USA. The cbg's that I have built before using these cones required the box to be hand built but for this one the cigar box was large enough to house the cone. This is the last of the cones that I have from Mike.
I used a 40 mm x 12 mm piece of Tassie Oak + fretboard. I then inlayed rosewood on the headstock so as to accommodate the tuning pegs. Again, 635 mm from nut to bridge, 3 strings, a Klangbox "Original Flatpup" pickup (also the last Flatpup that I have) and a homemade bridge. Tuned to AEA.
For number 047 (not really a CBG) I tried my hand at building a kit guitar. It is a Strat style guitar and I called it a Frank's Frankocaster. I have been pretty happy with the build process but a couple of frets did need a redress as there was a little bit of buzz on a couple of strings. The neck had a slight bow as well so I had to adjust the truss rod a little to get the action sweet. I painted it a matt black and varnished the neck. Overall, it looks good and the sound is not too shabby. I might consider upgrading the pick ups in the future to give the guitar a little bit more bite.
Number 048 I call the Texas Special and I like this one a lot. I used a large box and a Precision style bass pickup with a volume pot. This CBG sounds mighty fine, looks mighty fine (according to the Monte Cristo website it has actual leather glued to the top) and plays mighty fine as well. Give it some distortion and it growls.
This (as well as the H. Upmann # 45) is more like an electric guitar. Nearly all of my CBG's can be played either acoustically or plugged in but # 048 is better plugged in to an amp. Tuned to AEA using the 2nd, 3rd and 4th strings.
For Number 049 (once again not a Cigar Box Guitar) I won off Ebay for $62.70. I was going to use it for parts but once I played her when I got home I couldn't believe how great she sounded. The pots were a mess so I basically just kept the pickups (a Jap Strat copy "Legend" from the 80's). I bought new pots, a 5 way selector, tidied up the wiring and rebadged her as another Frank's Frankocaster. So for a total cost of about $80 I have a decent sounding Strat copy that is a dream to play. I own a couple of nice vintage instruments and this one plays and sounds nearly as good and at a fraction of the price. It is the same colour as the first electric guitar I bought in 1985. A 1972 Fender Strat that I sold for a fair price about 20 years ago but which is now worth a "lot" more than what I sold her for....arhhhh but hindsight is so overrated.
I am now on to build Number 50 and this time I am going to create a Telecaster copy. I have purchased a Tele neck off Ebay for $28.08 (so much easier than building my own...maybe one day I'll give it a go) from China as well as all the electrics (I might consider upgrading the pickups if needed). I have a slab of Camphor Laurel that I have used for the body and for a total of $60 I'll have a Tele copy. I have a 2003 American Telecaster which is just beautiful to play. I am not expecting #50 to be anywhere near the same quality as I am just having some fun making guitars. :) It does give me a huge appreciation for all guitar luthiers around the world, whether they are large companies right down to little one person shows.
You can contact me directly at: frankscigarboxguitars@gmail.com
Here are some sounds of some of the latest CBG's that I have made at soundcloud.com
https://soundcloud.com/frankscigarboxguitars/h-upmann-cbg
https://soundcloud.com/frankscigarboxguitars/resonator-cbg
Till next time, keep building, keep playing and keep having fun.
