Make Your Own Cigar Box Guitar / Mp3 Player Amplifier

I've wanted to create a Cigar Box Guitar and Amp for quite some time, and it seems like the Instructable Sound Hack and Battery Powered contestst were just the extra incentive I needed to give it a try.

This Instructable shows how to create a Cigar Box Amplifier, of course it can also be used as an MP3 player or Phone amplifier. I decided to build the amplifier before the guitar since it's certainly easier, but hopefully a Cigar Box Guitar Instructable will follow soon!

If you haven't heard of Cigar Box Guitars, you should check them out. YouTube has lots of videos demonstrating amazing sound from these 3 stringed instruments. 

Here's an example of a CBG in Action:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIIEhH7xOXg

Actually they don't all have 3 strings, but hey this is about the amplifier anyway,
let's build one!What's Needed for this Guitar Box Amplifier Instructable?
Cigar Box - I have a friend who occasionally smokes a cigar, he tells me they are all legal (at least somewhere in the world ;-) ). I noticed these can also be found at Yard Sales, on eBay and sometimes for free in Tobacco Stores. LM386 chip based amplifier circuit - I got a kit for this from http://tymkrs.com/, (some sites sell pre-soldered kits as well) but you can likely make your own. Parts needed are: Potentiometer, LM386 Chip, Resistor, 2 Capacitors, 9V battery connector and Guitar jack. 8 Ohm Speaker (I got mine from an old projection TV) Switch (optional) - didn't come with the kit, but I thought it would be handy to save on batteries. Wire Miscellaneous parts for decoration, most important is something to cover the speaker, (I used the plastic which originally covered the speaker on the TV). Optional: Handle, Legs, battery holder, Something to cover keep the box closed,  Tools Needed for This Instructable: Drill  Soldering Iron and Solder (unless you buy a pre-soldered kit) Hole Saw (optional) to cut the speaker hole (or use a drill and Dremmel or X-Acto knife) Now that you have your parts... 
Step One is to solder together the kit, as seen in the picture below. 
(It's a good idea to get a general feel for where all the parts are going to be installed before you actually start cutting wire and soldering. You'll notice I left way too much slack on my speaker wire)

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