New Bedford Native Makes Cigar Box Guitars In New York

Timothy "Tim" Prescott graduated in 1984 from Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational-Technical High School's culinary arts program with the thought of becoming a chef.

He enjoyed cooking, but after working in the industry for a while, he went in an entirely different direction.

Somehow, Tim became involved in the sign-making business. Tim worked with a local sign company manufacturing and installing signs for area businesses.

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By the 1990s, Tim had his fill of New Bedford and was looking for new adventures. He wandered to Upstate New York, where he stayed for a while before buying a Jeep to tow a classic Shasta camper west for some new experiences in New Mexico.

Ultimately, the lure of family ties drew Tim back to New York State and Saratoga County, where he remains today.

In 2013, Tim began making cigar box guitars. "I saw one in a tobacco store and was very intrigued by it," he said.

Tim has created dozens of cigar box guitars, some of them electric.

"I have built 32 guitars now and given most away to family and friends."

That's not all.

"I also build amplifiers out of repurposed items to go with the guitars," Tim said.

Tim made one amp using an old trombone case.

Tim, now 57, calls himself a "hobbyist builder" rather than a luthier and hasn't made a guitar in a while. "I don't have space to build right now, but I have lots of friends that build them."

For the moment, Tim continues to design and install signs for businesses. Given Tim's creative abilities, I suspect it's only a matter of time before he cranks out some more cigar box guitars.

Here are a few other cigar box guitars designed by Tim Prescott: