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Tom's cigar box guitar

Posted: Mon May 11, 2015 3:52 pm
by Dave Bagwill
Tom Thompson is building a guitar in my shop, a KMG L-00. He mentioned that he has build some cigar box guitars and I asked him to bring one over.
I am blown away. There is some great craftsmanship and ingenious use of materials - a friend gave him a piece of Koa for the top, he got some oak for the neck at Home Depot, sawed the headblock angle by hand! and lots of other touches. He added an active pup so had to cut an access hole in the back.
It is way fun to play - tuned ebeb.
A few pix attached.

Re: Tom's cigar box guitar

Posted: Mon May 11, 2015 7:49 pm
by John Parchem
that is very nice!

Re: Tom's cigar box guitar

Posted: Tue May 12, 2015 12:13 pm
by John Link
First time I've seen Koa used in place of the cigar box. Looks like a labor of love.

Re: Tom's cigar box guitar

Posted: Tue May 12, 2015 4:45 pm
by Will Reyer
Hey, Dave, your guy Thompson did a nice splendid little piece of craftsmanship on this cigar box git- tres kool!

It would probably take me too long to figure out how to play in that tuning though, to bother trying to make one. I'm still struggling with Open G on the reso I built.

Probably 20 years ago when I lived in Austin, TX, I wandered out east of town one morning and arrived at Hembrook Basses totally unannounced. He builds electric basses and guitars using mesquite, among other indigenous Tejas woods. Graciously showed me around his shop. He was using combination side/fingerboard markers like Thompson, though they may have been circular, memory fails me. I like the idea of one set of markers to show on the fretboard as well as the side. Good design element. Thanks for posting this.

Re: Tom's cigar box guitar

Posted: Tue May 12, 2015 5:17 pm
by Dave Bagwill
Here's a youtube vid of one he made, with him playing it in the background


A vid of the one I posted at the thread opening:


He brought this one to the shop today: here's a youtube vid:

pix of that guitar attached

Re: Tom's cigar box guitar

Posted: Tue May 12, 2015 5:54 pm
by ken cierp
Fun!!!

Re: Tom's cigar box guitar

Posted: Wed May 13, 2015 12:22 pm
by Herman
Am I hearing Sea Sick Steve there?
I saw Wovenhand here in town. same kind of sounds. Love that.
Herman