Birdwood Guitars
Built to last , , , built to blast !
The Birdwood Guitars Story
I first discovered cigar box guitars in 2011, at a market in Noosa. I couldn’t believe the sound that the little guitars could make. As I’d been building six string electric guitars for a couple of years, I thought I’d make one for myself and call it quits. Well, its been over fourteen years and I’ve built over 2,500 CBGs and created a successful home business.
Every guitar that I build is a unique creation. I don’t use pre-fabricated necks or kits, I build each instrument using a variety of reclaimed and ethically sourced plantation timbers as well as a variety of empty cigar boxes or hand made bodies depending on what I feel like building. Every CBG will have a pickup installed so you can play it through an amplifier.
Thank you for visiting us and looking at our range of cigar box guitars. We are also the Australian representative for KILLER STRINGS Australia.
All cigar box guitars come with a limited, lifetime, Fair-wear guarantee so you know that you are buying a quality instrument.
Adam Harrison.
Get that signature "Steve Arvey Sound" with these Made In The USA Cigar Box Guitar Strings. “People always ask how I get that massive sound?" The trick is the gauge size and quality of the strings. After months of experimentation and fine tuning, I've finally created what I believe are the perfect strings for the Cigar Box Guitar. These nickel wound strings are designed to give you that monster tone and stay in tune. 
Say Hello to our Meanest Set of Strings Ever.If you've been looking for a set of strings that deliver extra grunge, you've come to the right place. These strings are extra heavy and all nickel wound. These strings are designed to give you that monster tone and stay in tune no matter how hard you push them. 
New & Best sellers
The ‘Juke Joint Rocker’ is our best selling CBG style ever! It’s super tough design allows it to be taken on stage and survive all the knocks and bumps that life on the road can dish out. It utilises an electric guitar pickup to provide killer tones at high volume and with loads of distortion as well.
All Birdwood Guitars are set up to provide beautiful playability and excellent intonation from the nut all the way up the neck to the bridge saddle. I am a luthier who has been working on and building electric guitars for the last 14 years. My mission is to provide you with the an instrument that you won’t want to put down.
Your Guitar
Handmade heavy duty body
rustic styling
oak neck
rosewood fretboard
powerful CBG humbucker pickup
Fixed hardtail bridge
volume
tone
Box corners
strap buttons
large sound hole for acoustic projection
Set up with USA made KILLER STRINGS tuned GDG
Every Juke Joint Rocker is a one of a kind creation and as such there may be slight differences between each guitar built depending on hardware availability and timber used.
These guitars are made to order. There is an approximate 6 week build time. Just like any quality instrument, these take time to build. Different things can impact build time, demand, the weather and attention to detail. However, you WILL receive an instrument that you will love. That is my promise!
Covered by our limited, lifetime Fair-wear guarantee.
Our LIGHTNING BOY SERIES utilise electric guitar pickups and are finely fretted to give you an exciting and effortless playing experience.
This CBg has been hand stained using water based inks and sealed in a water based lacquer to I create a unique and beautiful finish.
We have chosen to use an American made flat pickup in the bridge position and teamed it with a volume control. It’s got a punchy output and your amplifier is going to love it.
YOUR GUITAR
handmade box with purple/blue stain
Thin line build for a super comfy playing experience
Flat humbucker pickup (USA)
3 string steel fixed bridge offering full intonation
Eucalyptus neck
Walnut fretboard with maple dot markers
Volume control
Closed guitar heads
Quality hardware
Box corners on top side
Limited lifetime fair-wear guarantee to first owner.
Our LIGHTNING BOY SERIES cigar box guitars are built using genuine cigar boxes and a range of reclaimed and repurposed Timbers. We have chosen a beautiful, hand made, 3 pole ‘Fear No Beard’ guitar pickup which perfectly compliments the cigar box and neck timber. Add jumbo frets and you’ve got a great blues and rock n roll machine.
Your guitar
Genuine cigar box
Oak neck
Huon pine fretboard.
Jumbo frets
Handmade ‘Fear No Beard’ P90 pickup (USA)
Volume
Traditional bridge
Closed machine heads
Top box corners.
Strap button at rear.
Handmade by Adam Harrison in Hazelbrook NSW.
Say Hello to our Newest 4-String Set of Killer Strings!Steve Arvey's Killer Strings - 42/34/24/16p are the perfect choice for a cigar box guitar player who wants to add some serious edge to their sound. With a heavy gauge and nickel wound construction, these strings are built to deliver powerful, grungy tones. The 42/34/24/16p gauge ensures that you'll get plenty of low-end punch and sustain. Plus, these strings are designed to stay in tune no matter how hard you play, so you can focus on your music instead of worrying about your tuning. Say hello to your new go-to set of cigar box guitar strings and get ready to unleash some killer tones.Friends of Birdwood Guitars
New Product
The Riff Lord Series is back!
4 string in off white available now!
Our solid body Riff Lord Series have been designed to provide you with recognisable instruments in either 3, 4 or 6 string formats. Each instrument is built one at a time using plantation and reclaimed timbers and is guaranteed to be a head turner. We build our instruments to look rustic and rough while being comfortable to the touch and easy to play. We offer made-to-order options so you get to choose exactly what you want and it also reduces the costs associated with building stock instruments and storage costs.
Your guitar
V-type body with easy access contour at the neck
Relic-style off-white finish
25.5 inch scale length
oak neck on 3 and 4 string
Pre-made maple neck with rosewood fretboard on 6 string
Walnut fretboard on 3 or 4 string
Bone nut
Medium Jescar frets
3, 4 or 6 in line headstock
Chrome closed tuners
Fully intone-able steel bridge
CBG sized humbucker provides crushingly heavy tones
Volume
Tone
Black scratch plate
Sold tuned to EADG the lower 4 strings of a standard guitar. You can tune it any way you like.
8 week build time
Watch a video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5SBfjwErpY
This is not a bass guitar. It has been designed as a 4 string electric guitar.
Lifetime limited Fair-wear guarantee
Handmade in Hazelbrook NSW by Adam Harrison
What a killer traditional cigar box guitar this is!! It’s a short scale 21inch cigar box guitar loaded with an American made Gittybucker flat pickup. This is the perfect guitar to get if you want to play slide guitar. It’ll handle anything from blues all the way up to heavy metal!
YOUR GUITAR
• genuine Plasencia cigar box
• reclaimed timber neck
• reclaimed timber fingerboard with fine dot markers
• Gittybucker pickup (USA)
• volume control
• open tuners
• Hardwood nut and floating bridge
• strap button on rear bout
READY TO SHIP.
Our most basic model is shrouded in historic significance. These are the kind of instruments that would have been played by blues musicians of all ages in the 1920s and 30s who didn’t have access or the means to afford a ‘proper’ guitar. We have upgraded our model with modern machine heads and a piezo pickup system so you can amplify your music. This instrument is not designed for heavy distortion but likes a little bit of dirt.
Your guitar.
• genuine Padron, cedar cigar box
• oak neck with screw fret markings
• piezo pickup
• modern machine heads
• sound hole
• tuned GDg
Handmade by Adam Harrison in Hazelbrook NSW
Cigar Box Guitar Styles
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STAGE SERIES - Premium Electric
Our STAGE SERIES instruments are designed to perform night after night, year after year on tour or at home. We build these guitars to be rugged, sound awesome and feel amazing. We offer a fantastic range of options. Order yours today.
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LIGHTNING BOY SERIES - Fretted Electric
Our Lightning Boy Series of cigar box guitars are professionally fretted instruments that also utilise an electric guitar pickup. This will provide a fantastic range of tones from classic blues to crushing metal riffs. Play on stage or play at home, you will love the versatility that our LIGHTNING BOY CBGS will provide.
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ROLLING THUNDER SERIES - Fretless Electric
Just like the name implies, you will have a tone like thunder thanks to the powerful electric guitar pickup that is installed in every ROLLING THUNDER CBG. If you want to play slide guitar, this is the axe for you! No frets to get in the way means smooth playability, and remember that its a great way to work on your slide chops!
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STORMRIDER SERIES - Fretted Electro/acoustic
A piezo, acoustic pickup amplifies the acoustic qualities of this series of guitars. This allows you to use the guitar as a percussion instrument, perfect for accompanying yourself while you play. If you want to play acoustic blues or rock, or kick in a little overdrive for that early ACDC tone. You will love playing a STORMRIDER CBG.
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HURRICANE SERIES - Fretless Electro/acoustic
It’s time to get totally PRIMAL. This is as close as you will get to the roots of rock n roll without having to travel to the Delta! No frets to get in the way and an electro/acoustic pickup to provide all the primal groove that you’ll ever need! Grab a slide and create your own blues HURRICANE!
Get in Touch
Whether you have a question, an idea, or just want to say hello, feel free to reach out—we’re here to help.
