The original and best! That's no empty boast - we've pioneered the making of cigar box guitars in the UK. We have made and sold over 2400 of them, and have been featured in the UK music press, and on UK & European TV & radio.
All our guitars are set up for easy fretted and slide playing - as a guitar player I understand how a guitar should perform. We source the best components for the price, and carefully craft them into truly gig-worthy instruments, with unparalleled playability and tone.
We build to a quality, not down to a price - wherever possible we use European and North American timbers. We also use European and USA made components such as Van Gent machineheads & fretwire, Newtone strings, Van Damme cable, Neutrik & Switchcraft connectors etc, instead of relying on cheaper "sweatshop economy" parts.
We now have our own range of custom made stainless steel parts featured on some of our guitars - tailpieces, jack sockets and control plates. These are designed by us and manufactured right here in the UK West Midlands.
We ship guitars worldwide, and all our guitars are packed with care, double-boxed in custom made twinwall corrugated card boxes. When ordering a guitar please include a phone number with the delivery information.
We stand behind our products, and are proud to say that our guitars come with a 3 year guarantee.
CUSTOM ORDERS - We are taking orders for custom guitars. If you can't find a guitar that you like on our site, or have seen one of our earlier guitars that you'd like, we can make one for you! We ask for 50% deposit, and delivery time is typically 2-3 months. We can advise on specification and special features, and will give you a fixed price quote, including shipping anywhere worldwide.
Cigar Box Guitars
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{"id":15981292355965,"title":"Tabak fretless 3 String Cigar Box Guitar, compact pickup, short scale","handle":"tabak-fretless-3-string-cigar-box-guitar-compact-pickup-short-scale","description":"\u003cp\u003eDeep Tabak cigar box with darkburst neck.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeech neck, sapele fretboard, inlaid fret markers with white face and side position dot markers and finished with a machine screw nut. Our guitar necks are fully profiled by hand using traditional methods with a gun stock oil and wax polished finish for great play-ability and comfortable in-the-hand feel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e22 3\/4 inch scale length, balanced tension Zilpha nickelwound hexcore strings. The shortscale make it ideal for easy playing, with less stretches for your fingers and lower tension strings.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTuned G D G.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSingle coil compact pickup, volume control with aged bronze knob, Van Damme hookup wire and Neutrik jack. \u003c\/span\u003eGreat volume and tone for both at home and stage. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNice quality aged bronze finish sealed mini machine heads .\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAged steel deco tailpiece with strap button.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSapele fretwire bridge. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGreat sound and great action out of the box for fingered or slide playing.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSerial #2732\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/IRSuZwC9skg?si=gWspWIFZvf52wKH6\" title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","published_at":"2026-08-04T12:06:12+01:00","created_at":"2026-08-04T12:02:57+01:00","vendor":"chickenbonejohn","type":"Cigar Box Guitar","tags":["3 String","Bolivar","Cherrywood","ChickenboneJohn","Chickenhead","Cigar Box Guitar","Compact","Handmade","Sapele","Tone \u0026 Volume","Volume"],"price":18000,"price_min":18000,"price_max":18000,"available":false,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":58484361920893,"title":"Default Title","option1":"Default Title","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":null,"requires_shipping":true,"taxable":true,"featured_image":null,"available":false,"name":"Tabak fretless 3 String Cigar Box Guitar, compact pickup, short scale","public_title":null,"options":["Default Title"],"price":18000,"weight":2500,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_quantity":0,"inventory_management":"shopify","inventory_policy":"deny","barcode":null,"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[],"quantity_rule":{"min":1,"max":null,"increment":1}}],"images":["\/\/www.chickenbonejohn.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/blaktabak4.heic?v=1785841548","\/\/www.chickenbonejohn.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/blaktabak3.heic?v=1785841501","\/\/www.chickenbonejohn.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/blakrabak4.heic?v=1785841501","\/\/www.chickenbonejohn.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/blakrabk5.heic?v=1785841501","\/\/www.chickenbonejohn.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/tabcblack1.heic?v=1785841520"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.chickenbonejohn.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/blaktabak4.heic?v=1785841548","options":["Title"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":69284186751357,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.333,"height":1500,"width":2000,"src":"\/\/www.chickenbonejohn.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/blaktabak4.heic?v=1785841548"},"aspect_ratio":1.333,"height":1500,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.chickenbonejohn.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/blaktabak4.heic?v=1785841548","width":2000},{"alt":null,"id":69284180623741,"position":2,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.333,"height":750,"width":1000,"src":"\/\/www.chickenbonejohn.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/blaktabak3.heic?v=1785841501"},"aspect_ratio":1.333,"height":750,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.chickenbonejohn.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/blaktabak3.heic?v=1785841501","width":1000},{"alt":null,"id":69284180656509,"position":3,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.333,"height":750,"width":1000,"src":"\/\/www.chickenbonejohn.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/blakrabak4.heic?v=1785841501"},"aspect_ratio":1.333,"height":750,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.chickenbonejohn.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/blakrabak4.heic?v=1785841501","width":1000},{"alt":null,"id":69284180689277,"position":4,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.333,"height":750,"width":1000,"src":"\/\/www.chickenbonejohn.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/blakrabk5.heic?v=1785841501"},"aspect_ratio":1.333,"height":750,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.chickenbonejohn.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/blakrabk5.heic?v=1785841501","width":1000},{"alt":null,"id":69284183015805,"position":5,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.333,"height":750,"width":1000,"src":"\/\/www.chickenbonejohn.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/tabcblack1.heic?v=1785841520"},"aspect_ratio":1.333,"height":750,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.chickenbonejohn.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/tabcblack1.heic?v=1785841520","width":1000}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp\u003eDeep Tabak cigar box with darkburst neck.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeech neck, sapele fretboard, inlaid fret markers with white face and side position dot markers and finished with a machine screw nut. Our guitar necks are fully profiled by hand using traditional methods with a gun stock oil and wax polished finish for great play-ability and comfortable in-the-hand feel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e22 3\/4 inch scale length, balanced tension Zilpha nickelwound hexcore strings. The shortscale make it ideal for easy playing, with less stretches for your fingers and lower tension strings.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTuned G D G.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSingle coil compact pickup, volume control with aged bronze knob, Van Damme hookup wire and Neutrik jack. \u003c\/span\u003eGreat volume and tone for both at home and stage. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNice quality aged bronze finish sealed mini machine heads .\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAged steel deco tailpiece with strap button.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSapele fretwire bridge. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGreat sound and great action out of the box for fingered or slide playing.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSerial #2732\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/IRSuZwC9skg?si=gWspWIFZvf52wKH6\" title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e"}
Tabak fretless 3 String Cigar Box Guitar, compact pickup, short scale
£180.00
Deep Tabak cigar box with darkburst neck. Beech neck, sapele fretboard, inlaid fret markers with white face and side position dot markers and finished with a machine screw nut. Our guitar necks are fully profiled by hand using traditional methods with a gun stock oil and wax polished finish for great play-ability and comfortable in-the-hand feel...
{"id":15981316276605,"title":"Workshop Series - \"Hoodoo Spirit\" sage green - 3 string cigar box guitar","handle":"workshop-series-hoodoo-spirit-sage-green-3-string-cigar-box-guitar","description":"\u003cp\u003eOur simplest and most basic guitars, the \"Workshop Series\". Sage green crackle finish over veneered ply box with a hand painted \"Hoodoo Spirit\" design and \u003cspan\u003ezinc plated fixing brackets.\u003c\/span\u003e Derived from our highly successful \"Make and Play\" workshop guitars, these offer genuine playability and great tone at a bargain price.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYellow poplar through neck with through body reinforcement, BlackwoodTek fretboard with white face and side dot markers, Van Gent jumbo frets and machine screw nut. Our guitar necks are fully profiled by hand using traditional methods for great playability and comfortable in-the-hand feel. Finished in hand rubbed shellac, satin gunstock oil with a final wax coat. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e25 1\/2 inch scale length.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eZilpha nickel wound strings. Tuned G D G.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePowerful rail humbucke pickup wired direct to a high quality Neutrik jack.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBronze finish open back \"Sta Tite\" pattern machine heads.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWalnut fretwire bridge .\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur most basic fretted guitar, but still with the classic Chickenbone John playability and quality..plus the extra kick of a rail humbucker pickup. With over 2500 guitars to our credit, and despite the modest price, these are certainly not \"wall hanger\" guitars! Over ten years of experience making and playing cigar box guitars goes into these instruments, so our workshop is lean, mean and efficient, but our instruments are still full of soul and passion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSerial #2740\u003c\/p\u003e","published_at":"2026-08-04T12:22:43+01:00","created_at":"2026-08-04T12:17:50+01:00","vendor":"chickenbonejohn","type":"Cigar Box Guitar","tags":["3 String","ChickenboneJohn","Cigar Box Guitar","Handmade","Handpainted","Light Sage","Maple","Oak","Poplar","Singlecoil","Strat","Workshop","Yellow Poplar"],"price":20000,"price_min":20000,"price_max":20000,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":58484441579901,"title":"Default Title","option1":"Default Title","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":null,"requires_shipping":true,"taxable":true,"featured_image":null,"available":true,"name":"Workshop Series - \"Hoodoo Spirit\" sage green - 3 string cigar box guitar","public_title":null,"options":["Default Title"],"price":20000,"weight":2500,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_quantity":1,"inventory_management":"shopify","inventory_policy":"deny","barcode":null,"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[],"quantity_rule":{"min":1,"max":null,"increment":1}}],"images":["\/\/www.chickenbonejohn.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/greenworkrail1.heic?v=1785842514","\/\/www.chickenbonejohn.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/greenworkrail7.heic?v=1785842513","\/\/www.chickenbonejohn.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/greenworkrail6.heic?v=1785842512","\/\/www.chickenbonejohn.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/greenworkrail4.heic?v=1785842513","\/\/www.chickenbonejohn.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/greenworkrail3.heic?v=1785842514","\/\/www.chickenbonejohn.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/greenworkrail2.heic?v=1785842513"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.chickenbonejohn.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/greenworkrail1.heic?v=1785842514","options":["Title"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":69284274700669,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.333,"height":1500,"width":2000,"src":"\/\/www.chickenbonejohn.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/greenworkrail1.heic?v=1785842514"},"aspect_ratio":1.333,"height":1500,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.chickenbonejohn.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/greenworkrail1.heic?v=1785842514","width":2000},{"alt":null,"id":69284274733437,"position":2,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.333,"height":1500,"width":2000,"src":"\/\/www.chickenbonejohn.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/greenworkrail7.heic?v=1785842513"},"aspect_ratio":1.333,"height":1500,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.chickenbonejohn.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/greenworkrail7.heic?v=1785842513","width":2000},{"alt":null,"id":69284274766205,"position":3,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.333,"height":750,"width":1000,"src":"\/\/www.chickenbonejohn.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/greenworkrail6.heic?v=1785842512"},"aspect_ratio":1.333,"height":750,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.chickenbonejohn.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/greenworkrail6.heic?v=1785842512","width":1000},{"alt":null,"id":69284274798973,"position":4,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.333,"height":750,"width":1000,"src":"\/\/www.chickenbonejohn.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/greenworkrail4.heic?v=1785842513"},"aspect_ratio":1.333,"height":750,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.chickenbonejohn.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/greenworkrail4.heic?v=1785842513","width":1000},{"alt":null,"id":69284274831741,"position":5,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.333,"height":750,"width":1000,"src":"\/\/www.chickenbonejohn.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/greenworkrail3.heic?v=1785842514"},"aspect_ratio":1.333,"height":750,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.chickenbonejohn.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/greenworkrail3.heic?v=1785842514","width":1000},{"alt":null,"id":69284274864509,"position":6,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.333,"height":750,"width":1000,"src":"\/\/www.chickenbonejohn.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/greenworkrail2.heic?v=1785842513"},"aspect_ratio":1.333,"height":750,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.chickenbonejohn.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/greenworkrail2.heic?v=1785842513","width":1000}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp\u003eOur simplest and most basic guitars, the \"Workshop Series\". Sage green crackle finish over veneered ply box with a hand painted \"Hoodoo Spirit\" design and \u003cspan\u003ezinc plated fixing brackets.\u003c\/span\u003e Derived from our highly successful \"Make and Play\" workshop guitars, these offer genuine playability and great tone at a bargain price.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYellow poplar through neck with through body reinforcement, BlackwoodTek fretboard with white face and side dot markers, Van Gent jumbo frets and machine screw nut. Our guitar necks are fully profiled by hand using traditional methods for great playability and comfortable in-the-hand feel. Finished in hand rubbed shellac, satin gunstock oil with a final wax coat. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e25 1\/2 inch scale length.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eZilpha nickel wound strings. Tuned G D G.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePowerful rail humbucke pickup wired direct to a high quality Neutrik jack.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBronze finish open back \"Sta Tite\" pattern machine heads.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWalnut fretwire bridge .\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur most basic fretted guitar, but still with the classic Chickenbone John playability and quality..plus the extra kick of a rail humbucker pickup. With over 2500 guitars to our credit, and despite the modest price, these are certainly not \"wall hanger\" guitars! Over ten years of experience making and playing cigar box guitars goes into these instruments, so our workshop is lean, mean and efficient, but our instruments are still full of soul and passion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSerial #2740\u003c\/p\u003e"}
Workshop Series - "Hoodoo Spirit" sage green - 3 string cigar box guitar
£200.00
Our simplest and most basic guitars, the "Workshop Series". Sage green crackle finish over veneered ply box with a hand painted "Hoodoo Spirit" design and zinc plated fixing brackets. Derived from our highly successful "Make and Play" workshop guitars, these offer genuine playability and great tone at a bargain price. Yellow poplar through neck ...
