WORLD'S LONGEST-RUNNING
CIGAR BOX GUITAR
MUSIC FESTIVAL
Celebrating 21 Years...May 30-June 1, 2025
LIMITED EDITION CBG
This is a unique opportunity to own a piece of history! We are commemorating the World’s Longest-Running Cigar Box Guitar Festival with a limited edition, 21st Anniversary, three-string cigar box guitar. Only 10 of these guitars were built by artist, Jeff Mello cbg luthier and owner of The Cigar Box Guitar Store.
Guitar #1 will be given away in a drawing at the Finale Concert on Sunday, June 1. The remaining guitars are $350 each with the proceeds going to the Microwave Dave Music Education Foundation. You can make one your own by reserving here, visiting The Cigar Box Guitar Store at Studio 106 in Lowe Mill A&E in person or contacting us. Guitars can be shipped anywhere in the world.
To celebrate 21 years of cigar box guitar festivities in Huntsville, Alabama, luthier Jeff Mello has designed this Blackjack inspired CBG. The body is crafted from a classic banded style Arturo Fuente cigar box. The 25” scale neck is made from hard maple and features Craps Table inspired fret markers. The face of the headstock is covered with green felt to mimic the surface of a gaming table. The acrylic pickguard hides a ghosted 13K ohm humbucker style pickup. The volume and tone control knobs are crafted from game dice. The bridge sits upon a poker chip while the strings are secured to the body with a steel tailpiece that resembles a playing card.
Other notes on construction and finishing details:
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The fretboard features medium height fret wire. Wood surfaces are sealed with 3 coats of acrylic lacquer, smoothed with #0000 steel wool, waxed and polished for a silky feel.
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A Delrin string guide and jumbo size zero fret wire establish the nut position.
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Strings are at .5” spacing and tuned to open G (GDg).
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To protect internal wiring from breakage from transit and usage shock and vibration,
all soldering is performed to industrial IPC workmanship standards. All interconnections are made with shielded cable. Solder joints are covered with silicone to provide strain relief.