Book in the Works: "The Art of the Cigar Box Guitar"--Help me write my book.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Bob Harrison on July 21, 2010 at 8:45pm

David,
You are welcome to use any of my photos in my file. Of possible interest I built a cigar box guitar pickup winder from an old Singer sewing machine. It has a time traveler theme about it. It has a reproduction 1930’s John Deere hit and miss engine build into the Singer sewing machine. There are gears , chains, olde gauges and all sorts of items that make the winder machine interesting. It not only is it a fantasy work of art but it is very functional.

My advertising plan is to say something like this “ if you want the 1930’s delta blues sound out of your Cigar box guitar, then let Harrison Musical Instrument company take you back in time.” My intension is to display this machine at trade shows to draw in customers.

Thanks
Bob:)

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Permalink Reply by chris koh on August 20, 2012 at 11:17pm

Hey Bob I have just started a CBG group on face book were people can show there pi's & vid's share there knowledge etc thought you might be interested would be great to have your input on there ..... here's the link
http://www.facebook.com/groups/345844995503402/

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Permalink Reply by David Sutton on July 22, 2010 at 9:23am

Funny thing, Bob, I was just looking at your sewing machine. That's awesome. Functional art and it makes you laugh just to see it, then it works.

David

Bob Harrison said:

David,
You are welcome to use any of my photos in my file. Of possible interest I built a cigar box guitar pickup winder from an old Singer sewing machine. It has a time traveler theme about it. It has a reproduction 1930’s John Deere hit and miss engine build into the Singer sewing machine. There are gears , chains, olde gauges and all sorts of items that make the winder machine interesting. It not only is it a fantasy work of art but it is very functional.

My advertising plan is to say something like this “ if you want the 1930’s delta blues sound out of your Cigar box guitar, then let Harrison Musical Instrument company take you back in time.” My intension is to display this machine at trade shows to draw in customers.

Thanks
Bob:)

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Permalink Reply by Ben on July 22, 2010 at 10:09am

Hi David,
I left my thoughts as a comment on your page. Thanks for the opportunity to participate in such a great undertaking!

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Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on August 30, 2010 at 11:19pm

My statement:

So some of the most attractive aspects I find being involved in Cigar Box Guitar (and note I most always capitalize CBG...) and its community here on the Nation are that for such a simple instrument made of something that wasn't supposed to be an instrument, add to that the style and soul of the builder along with the mastery of the player, you have quite an impressive true work of art. We live by one rule - There are no rules. We have builders that can build, players that can play, young and old, but when you are involved in the Cigar Box Guitar culture after all is said and done, we see each other as pretty much the same.

So to have a [virtual] Nation which we all hold as real as any nation, that's phenomenal. We might as well be living next door to each other as to be living states or countries apart. We freely share information about our 'obsession' here. We share our talents openly knowing that we are artists either in song or build. We are accepted and accept those who come before and after us. We learn and grow from others and within ourselves by being here and being involved in this amazing place.

You know, one of the members I admire here said once that the Nation is a Rorschach test - It's what ever you make of it and so far, its worked.

-WY

Feel free to use anything I have here.

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Permalink Reply by YeahDoIt on August 31, 2010 at 7:25am

I wanted a raw sound, a primitive, savage driving sound. I can't get that from factory instruments; the sound is too polished and smooth. I had to make something from a stick, cigar box and wire to hear that sound. Then I had to learn to play it. Mine has no frets and only three strings. I play with a slide. It's not exactly a guitar, but I don't want to duplicate the music on the radio. I want a guitar sound that I have not heard before. I discover what the CBG does, not force my guitar skills on the instrument. And I hear new sounds, opportunities for composition, an antidote for same old radio songs.

YeahDoIt, Musician, Florida

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Permalink Reply by Keni Lee Burgess on August 31, 2010 at 8:41am

Hello David,

Well, I am mainly a player of CBGs, not a builder. A NYC subway platform performer and music teacher. If there is anything you might be interested in, or if I can be of assistance, please let me know.
Thank you for your consideration, Keni Lee
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqLc5zjp-po
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuOF6_oDY18

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Permalink Reply by Salty Sea Empire on August 31, 2010 at 3:09pm

for me...I just like to build. Being a musician it only made sense that i started building instruments. I tend to use wine boxes(crates) vise cigar boxes, but that is the beauty of having no rules. You can do what ever you want, however you want, and whether it is a simple or complex build it will still be functional and is admired by anyone who sees it. I have yet to show (or talk about) my builds and not have someone say "Hey, that's really cool!"

N.P. Miller

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Permalink Reply by Steve on September 1, 2010 at 12:11pm

Playing any instrument has been my embodiment of heart, mind, soul and whatever else is that has shaped my makeup through thick and thin. I have brought this realization to light by building a rudimentary "concept" of a guitar from a cigar box. Having played guitar most of my life, I realized in fact I have made a simple equation and formulated many complex solutions, musically speaking.

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Permalink Reply by Julz aka Varnum Slim on September 1, 2010 at 5:46pm

Well everyone has already mentioned getting "that" sound from the old Blues records so I'll say that what I got out of building Cigar Box Guitars was coming more in touch with the music. A beautiful Gibson or Fender fresh from the store is a work of art but almost another creature entirely. There's a mystery and reverence about that store bought guitar you saved and scrimped for. You wouldn't dare open it up and fiddle with the guts yourself no matter how noisy the knobs get or how off the action is.

The Cigar Box Guitar sidesteps that fear of breaking this precious thing but it's just an old cigar box. You make it an instrument by your imagination and ingenuity. And no matter how your first CBG sounds, it's always sweetest when made by your own hands. I remember as I was making my first CBG wondering the whole time what it would sound like. I was so amazed the first time I tuned it up. The thrill of slowly watching a table full of parts turn into a wonderful sounding instrument is something I think everyone interested in music should experience once even of they just watch. - Julian Weaver

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Permalink Reply by Ben on September 1, 2010 at 7:32pm

Well said Julian. I wonder how many people on here have gotten a bit bolder with their "factory" instruments after tinkering with a CBG or two. (Guilty here)

Julz aka Varnum Slim said:

Well everyone has already mentioned getting "that" sound from the old Blues records so I'll say that what I got out of building Cigar Box Guitars was coming more in touch with the music. A beautiful Gibson or Fender fresh from the store is a work of art but almost another creature entirely. There's a mystery and reverence about that store bought guitar you saved and scrimped for. You wouldn't dare open it up and fiddle with the guts yourself no matter how noisy the knobs get or how off the action is.

The Cigar Box Guitar sidesteps that fear of breaking this precious thing but it's just an old cigar box. You make it an instrument by your imagination and ingenuity. And no matter how your first CBG sounds, it's always sweetest when made by your own hands. I remember as I was making my first CBG wondering the whole time what it would sound like. I was so amazed the first time I tuned it up. The thrill of slowly watching a table full of parts turn into a wonderful sounding instrument is something I think everyone interested in music should experience once even of they just watch. - Julian Weaver

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Permalink Reply by petey twofinger on September 5, 2010 at 5:55pm

i built some more complicated amplifiers for cbg's .

http://bbs.bunglefever.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=50674&hilit=...

page 2 has a pic of one that uses a cigr box for the chassis . these amps have effect built in , so they are a little more complex then the normal cbg amps .

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