1-Week Cigar Box Guitar Building Course
- Michael Whitney
- Dec 21, 2023
- 5 min read
Updated: Jan 15
Build your own Cigar Box Guitar!
Thank you for your interest in our one-week Cigar Box Guitar Building Course. If you’ve ever dreamt about building your very own cigar box guitar from the ground-up, this one-week, on-site course will give you an amazing one-on-one, hands-on experience and have you completing the course with a cigar box guitar that you’ve completed by hand! *All materials and hardware are included.
This course is a perfect introduction to guitar building for either the hobbyist or aspiring luthier.
For course details and answers to common questions, continue reading...
Michael Whitney | Luthier, Instructor
A Personal Connection
My own journey as a luthier actually began with a cigar box guitar that I built years ago. I’ll never forget the excitement I felt when I plugged that guitar in for the first time after spending several months researching and finally building my very first instrument.
What it taught me was the basics of instrument construction: scale length, fretting, wiring, carving of bone for the nut and saddle, and finally bringing an otherwise random collection of hardware and up-cycled materials into musical form! It was that very fire that inspired me to continue to evolve as a guitar maker and to create the instruments that I’m making today.
A Brief History
Cigar Box Guitars harken back to the depression era when necessity drove invention and musical instruments were often fashioned from the most basic and common materials.
Typically, cigar box guitars were made from pretty much anything that was available; old oil cans, shoeboxes, cigar boxes, fence wire for strings, old keys and bolts for bridges and saddles — people became very resourceful!
Inherent to these guitars was an unmistakable tone and ‘rawness’ that is now reminiscent of ‘Delta Blues’ or ‘Porch Blues’ as commonly referred.
The Typical Setup
Cigar Box Guitars are typically setup with the 3 or 4 middle strings from a standard guitar (one-stringed guitars are referred to as ‘Diddley Bows’), and are tuned to an open chord, such as ‘D’ or ‘G’, perfect for that old-time bluesy sound.
For beginners, cigar box guitars are easier to play and for seasoned players, they add a very unique complement to one’s musical instrument ‘arsenal’.
Course Snapshot
Our 1-week Cigar Box Guitar Building Workshop will have you creating a refined version of its depression-era counterpart, complete with modern tuners, scarf-joint headstock, complete fret-job, an electronics package, professional setup, and everything you need to let those blues out!
Don’t forget your slide!
The goal of the one-week cigar box guitar building course is to teach students how to build a cigar box guitar from scratch using our shop templates and tools. If you wish to take a deeper dive into guitar design theory, mold making, finishing and building more than one guitar, we encourage you to consider one of our other guitar building courses.
Past Project - 'Le Bijou' Guitar
Past Project - The 'Apehanger' Guitar
Student Spotlight
SAM PETHERS - AUSTRALIA
Mike is a great teacher and a highly skilled luthier. He has a very creative eye and is able to bring out the best in his students. I had minimal experience working in a wood shop but Mike walked me through everything I needed to know and I was very comfortable with all of the tools by the end of the week. I was expecting to come home with some very basic knowledge of how to build a Cigar Box Guitar but the course takes the experience much further. The design and concept of the guitar is totally up to the student with guidance from Mike. The process included: selecting the cigar box from a wide range provided by Mike, blueprinting / designing the guitar and selecting the woods to use, carving out the neck of the guitar, staining the woods used and selecting and installing the hardware. The guitar sounds great plugged into an amp and I would highly recommend the course to anyone interested in woodworking, music, guitar playing or just looking for a different experience. The only downside was the come down of returning to my day job after the course finished... ~Sam Pethers | Australia
1-Week Cigar Box Guitar Building Course Details
Certificate Program Yes |
Course Type On-site; hands-on; one-on-one. |
Style Cigar Box Guitar (3 or 4 string). |
Body Wood Cigar Box (student's choice) |
Nut Bone or Corian |
Fretboard Walnut, Wenge or Maple |
Finish Hand-rubbed |
Course Duration 1-Week |
Hours 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM |
Deposit $600 (includes $100 registration fee) |
We ask that you review our School Policies before registering.
Past Project - CLE 'Eve' Guitar
Past Project - 'Ashton' Guitar
Frequently Asked Questions
What course dates are available?
As we are a working shop, much of our calendar year is reserved for custom guitar commissions. With only a portion of the year being allocated to teaching, course dates vary from year-to-year. Be sure to view our specific courses for the next available dates.
Please not that we operate on a first-come-first-serve basis and recommend that those interested register as far in advance as possible. Requested course dates will be taken into consideration but are not guaranteed. Registrants may submit their course deposit to secure their spot in our calendar. All courses require a $600 deposit which includes a $100 non-refundable administration fee. Please see our ‘Registration and Payment Policies‘ before applying.
How do I submit my deposit?
If you are interested in studying at our school, the first step is to register for a given course. Successful registrants will be able to submit their deposit at that time.
NOTE: The remainder of the course fee is due on the first day of class. A payment schedule for our longer 3-month, 6-month and 1-year courses will be considered and arranged via our admin department on a case-by-case basis. Please see our ‘Registration and Payment Policies‘ for more information or contact our admin department directly to discuss additional payment plan options.
Do you provide accommodations?
Unfortunately, we do not currently offer accommodations. However, most of our students stay at local AirBnBs. The Okanagan valley is a tourist mecca boasting endless wine-tasting, stunning scenery and tons of outdoor activities. You’ll definitely love the quaint town of Summerland and the surrounding area.
Can I go on a wait-list for your next course?
Yes. Students wanting to pre-register are encouraged to do so as far in advance as possible.
If you have questions about coming course availability, feel free to contact the school to discuss.
Do I need to bring anything with me for the course?
As you’ll be in a working shop, hearing protection, safety glasses, a dust-mask, and appropriate footwear is recommended. If you’d like a specific list of items, please contact our admin department.
Notebooks, binders and pens / pencils are recommended as well.
Some students like to work with their own lutherie tools. If you have a small kit you’d like to bring, that is encouraged, although not necessary.
Do I get to apply finish to my guitar?
Within the scope of this course, the focus is on guitar building and assembly. During this tight window, most students are able to apply one-three coats of a hand-rubbed finish to their instruments.
Additionally, students are free to apply finish to their guitar at their own shop or pay me a fee to finish the instrument (i.e. high-gloss lacquer) and ship it to them when complete.
Do I require my own hardware? What is included?
All woods and hardware are included in the course cost. We only use quality-made parts and tonewoods. NOTE: We do not offset course fees for student-purchased parts.
I still have questions. Can you help?
Of course. For all other inquiries, feel check our ‘General FAQs‘ or free to email our admin department.
Comments