Useful Gear For Absolute Beginners – Beginner Cigar Box Guitar

Guitar Picks

Buy a selection to find what suits you : Dunlop plectrums from amazon or Fender plectrums from amazon
These nylon plectrums have a textured finish which might help you with grip : Dunlop Textured Plectrums on amazon.
A wide range of shapes in this selection Fender shape medley from amazon
Make your own with this plectrum punch on amazon which has some plastics for you to cut. You can also cut up old credit cards with this punch.

My current favorites are the Zilpha strings by Chickenbone John
I like these light acoustic guitar strings from Amazon which can be used with a piezo pickup: D’Addario Wound Strings on amazon
These are light electric guitar strings from Amazon for a coiled pickup: D’Addario Nickel Wound Strings on amazon

I bought my first cigar box guitar from my local folk music shop. They will ship to your home. To buy direct from the manufacturers in Bristol, UK visit Drummond and Hammett

I used this prewired piezo on amazon and found it really easy to install and it worked well. I would suggest that you choose one with a volume control like this, rather than one without a control. As it’s prewired, you don’t need to do any soldering

Star Singer Blue Lagoon Ceramic Slide. I’m lucky enough to live near where these are made so I bought one at my local music shop but you can order one from amazon on this link

I wanted a strap button for my tenor ukulele build so I ordered this se t from amazon

I bought this set from amazon.co.uk which is a bit cheap and cheerful but includes strings and a string winder all in a tin. For a first build, I was happy. I couldn’t find the same set on amazon.com

I first bought this precut set from amazon, but then bought longer lengths to cut myself.

I wanted to try a bridge saddle made of bone so I tried this pack of two on Amazon These are unslotted and I cut them in half to use as the bridge saddle and nut.

Many Cigar Box Guitar players including me like the Roland Microcube link here on amazon and many prefer the Vox Mini link here for amazon
Before I bought my Roland Microcube, I had previously been using an old Peavey amp which was a bit big, so I bought this tiny one from amazon for easy movement around the house. It can work with a battery or on mains but it’s really not very loud at all.
I bought my son this even tinier one that needs headphones available here on amazon

I love this Shinto rasp for shaping necks, available on amazon but beware as it’s really sharp. It’s like lots of saw blades bound together.
This panel saw for cutting frets. which we bought it at our local woodworking shop. This one is very similar on amazon
This is the bandsaw we bought available on amazon
This planer thicknesser from amazon is only really useful if you will make your own boxes from thicker planks of wood rather than using thin plywood or similar. It was a considered purchase and one we will use for lots of future projects but cost about £400 . You do not need one as a beginner builder as it would be far cheaper to buy the boxes.