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Hi
I built this cigar box violin for my wife for Christmas and have fallen in love with it so much I am already building another for myself. I am not a fiddler but used this site to learn Twinkle Twinkle and am going to keep learning once mine is finished.
I have built many cigar box guitars before but a violin was a different challenge all together. I bought the fingerboard, bridge, tailpiece and pegs off ebay but made the neck and built and assembled everything else myself. It is not perfect and may yet need some minor modifications but I am pleasantly surprised at both the quality of the tone and the power it puts out.
I have memories of my younger brother murdering this tune night after night about 40 years ago when he tried to learn violin at school, he gave up after a few weeks, much to the relief of the rest of the family as I recall!
At least my wife and I are both learning at the same time so cannot complain too much about each other 
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Welcome @EnglishDave !
Awesome self-build !
It may just be the camera angle, but it does seem there is quite a high "action" on the strings-to-fingerboard distance.... but I'm just nit-picking - it matters-not - great job - there's nothing quite like the thrill of playing a home-built instrument - be it a double-bass-like thing built from a broom-handle, tea-chest and a bit of string....
I had a project planned for this year - but "life got in the way" - although I do have all the parts I should need - it's a "pick-axe-handle" electric violin. The project may well be on the cards for 2017... It will be based on this item I saw on YT -
I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh - 
Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)
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Hi Billy
I think you are absolutely right about the high action, fortunately I deliberately used hide glue for the build in anticipation of potential modifications so should be able to remove the fingerboard and insert some sort of wedge to raise it up at the bridge end. It is quite playable in first position despite the high action but it would get harder any further along the neck.
Feedback most welcome, thanks.
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Very cool I love CBV and CBG. I may still yet make a Cigar Box Violin. I have made four Cigar box Guitars with a little help.
Cool!~
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato
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CBV are definitely more involved than a CBG but only in terms of angles of neck really (as I am learning!) - the construction skills are the same. I would definitely recommend anyone to use the hide glue though so they can disassemble and reassemble if needed, I am very glad I did.
Regulars
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Really cool! I love CBV, and would like to build one someday
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World's Okayest Fiddler
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The woodworking skills required are not ridiculously high, it is more about precision and careful planning I think. For my second build (currently in progress) I did what I should have done first time and made a full size plan on paper which will then become a cardboard template for cutting the neck and laying out the body. That way I can be double sure everything is right before wasting time and wood.
Regulars
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@EnglishDave that was terrific!!!!!
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Oh yes - for a new member - with a first post (a) of a home-built CBV and (b) a video to-boot - @Fiddlerman - I guess @EnglishDave deserves both a DIY and a Video badge !!!!
LOL - ^5s Dave
I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh -
Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)
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BillyG said
....... @Fiddlerman - I guess @EnglishDave deserves both a DIY and a Video badge !!!!
It's a done deal. Congratulations on your first badge.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Well thank you all, I have to say the learning resources on this site look amazing and have got me really inspired to learn.
Can't wait to get my own fiddle finished so I can practice without feeling guilty at using my wife's!
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LOL @EnglishDave - good man !
LOL !!!!
Yeah - make your OWN one man ! And more progress vids ! great stuff mate !
I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh -
Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)
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I think the underside of the neck needs to be smaller and rounder, playing it last night I found it hard to reach the G string easily (and I have long fingers) and will raise the fingerboard angle slightly, all good learning feedback from build #1
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That's great stuff - you already know what "feels good, or, doesn't quite feel right" - and sure - for something like that ( heck - that sounded bad - I didn't mean to suggest that for a minute - I just meant something built "from-the-ground-up" ) - sure- there are always going to be refinements.... Absolutely....
Happy fiddlin' mate and 
to you ! Yeahhhh !!!
Keep us advised !
I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh -
Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)
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I just have to decide which to tackle first, modifying my wife's instrument or getting on with the build of my own - more coffee required while I cogitate 
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I am so glad I used hide glue, ten minutes with a pan of boiling water to apply steam to the neck and the fingerboard popped right off.
Wedge manufactured and glued onto neck, fingerboard will be replaced later.
Underside of neck re-profiled to much more of a D shape - can't wait to try out the modified instrument.
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