The cigar-box guitar dates at least to the Civil War; an etching of two soldiers shows one being played at a campfire. Moller once spent $50 to get a box that was piano-shaped.

SHICKLEY, NEB. - 12/19/2014 - A solid oak neck, which passes completely through a cigar box for a body, make up the bones of another guitar Levoy Saltzman is working on in his Shickley garage.

Since cigar box guitars are smaller in size, he is able to strum the instrument with ease. "Smaller body guitars are just easier to play which is why a lot of people start of with them," said Zwetsch.

In [Dino]’s case, they’re the ones you make for yourself. In honor of his 55th, he built the Sqonkbox 55, a 13-note cigar box organ based on a 555 and amplified with an LM386.

Saltzman used to take along a cigar box guitar when he and his late wife, Norma, performed at nursing homes. She played the piano accordion and keyboards.