Cigar Box Guitar - Your Doing it Wrong.. The Back Angle

Very good explanation. My CBG's will now have this back angle added. I have been struggling with this issue for a while now. Tanks you for learn'n me.

Great good information beginners thanks i've

If you are building cigar box guitars you are doing everything wrong.
In fact if you smoke cigars you are doing everything wrong.
A real man with this much time on his hands would build a real guitar.
These things are retarded.

You've inspired me to build one. I've been going through your videos for tips and tricks. I built a neck with a back angle yesterday, and cut fret slots on a fingerboard today, and I'll be using a zero fret and nut as you suggested in one of your videos.
You've helped me avoid a lot of mistakes.

From a displaced Floridian, loved the content and looking forward to more. This looks like so much fun! Definately going to try to make one. Thank you for sharing your experience.
The few boxes I have are falling apart from Dad's tools and parts being stored in them. Going to have to get on the hunt. =) Ending up on the left coast, hearing that "swamp" sound instantly brought a smile to this Southern boy's face.
God bless

Wouldn't a lower/shorter bridge accomplish the same thing? Maybe I'm just confused...

Apposto 'mpare! Many thanx from Sicily

Good example of how the back angle works. What is your recommended hight of the strings at the 12th fret?

Excellent Demo !!! As a buyer I've noticed the majority of builders have high string height ..........it took me a long time to track down a box with low 2mm action !! I know they tout them as " slide guitars" but their actions are just too high for me.

Thank you for the info, it certainly makes a ton of sense and is exactly what i needed to learn.😊

Could you please explain the relationship between the thickness of the neck inside the box and the box resonation function...
Is it better to have the box completely hollow to get a great acoustic sound?...
👉🏼 =----------[ ]

Grrat demonstration! Simple and effective.

You da man!

😊

This was fun AND informative, thank you, I've built a dulcimer and am ready to move to the cigarbox guitar, again thank you

👍

Thank you so much. I guess I should use the string or fishing line test to make sure I have enough back angle.

what would be the string height off of then neck at the nut and the box end so you do not get string buzz? Thanks

This is helpful for me. GBG is my next project and that's a very easy to implement tip.

This is the first time I've seen anyone discuss back angle on a cigar box. Bonus thanks for the laughs.

Great video! Nice slide work in the outro!

Great video!

Thanks for the info

Very cool, especially that I’m about my 4th CBG. What a fun thing to do at the ripe old age of 71 😉🤙🏼

Great info! Your explaination was easy to understand and the props really helped show what you were talking about. Thanks a bunch! Nice outro too 😁🤘🏻

I didnt see the benefit of the back angle in the vid. It helps raise the string height in the struming and picking area of the guitar so there is less tapping / scraping sounds and wear on the guitar top; Its nice to have the room to wail away.

Java? Sounds tasty to me...

Yes, I like bad jokes😅

Java? Sounds tasty to me...

Yes, I like bad jokes😅

I liked it and sent it to a fellow cbg maker

Nicely explained. No complex math or calculations needed. My type of instruction.

Thanks for the tips, Michael! great outro, always inspiring!

Good video thank you

OK. Backangle. Seen several vids. NOW I get it! Thanks. Formerly confused beginner.

Del Puckett also does a very nice discussion of back angle. You recommend a difference of 1/8” front to back, Del suggests two quarters stacked one on top of the other for the difference. Both approaches make a lot of cents (sorry Michael could not resist 😁).

Awesome stuff right there!

Thanks going to put this info to use

I use back angle so strings are not so close to the box. If you are adjusting string action, I dont get why you are using backangle? Cant you just adjust the height of the bridge?

You also could just make the bridge shorter, so that it does not raise the action so high.

Great video! Instead of a back angle could I just lower the bridge?

Ah yes ... back angles
Is it feasible to set the back angle only by angling the top face of the neck, and attach the neck to the front face of the cigar box?
Will that sound okay?

Thanks for the props

I made one 3 string cigar box guitar about four years ago. Still play it a lot but I never completed another one even though i have all the wood cut out for several, including a four string neck through with truss rod (all of mine are neck through). The reason is I couldn’t figure out the correct luthier approved way to make a back angle. Instead, I routed out the box on my 3 string and dropped the bridge in it. It would be great to get a video explaining in detail how to do it.

Thanks very helpful

Thanks for the demonstration!

Ok just the info i was looking for I will watch it over and over again thanks dude!

Michael thank you! Wanted to ask if I can use my jigsaw to cut the length off my back angle ?

Thanks!!

Thanks that was very good

one of these dayz i'll add some vid to my works that has an adjustable 2" abs pipe neck over a 1x2 inner 'neck', the 2 thickest strings from a 5string bass guitar set and eye screws and wingnuts to make tuners.
I like the sound board to not touch the neck;, and often go from the opposite corners of the box to get access to higher frets. I prefer magnetic pickups, but piezo bars and disks often are easier to place and the combination, each with tone and volume pots; and a main volume knob.
Blend pots are ok but separate controls work best; and just being able to control the pre-balanced volume/tone to a suitable level without getting at the amp knob is nice too.
Also i've come to prefer the box or can lid as the back so I can work inside there later. by time sound holes, bridges, tailpieces cover up the sound board;... just decorate and have the well finished back... screws and wedges can use the sides and sound board....
oops! my 3string bass has a 1x2 neck and those wingnut tuners and the thinner 3 strings from the bass pack. the uses bass tuning gears
....and i carefully work at getting the fret or fretless action close. mag pickups need care for clearance as well... so that's what brings back angling or the 'other 'tilts' versus bridge height into use. Nice works, thanks for sharing.

Nice work ! good music. regards Peter from Holland