Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Michael Glenn on May 9, 2011 at 6:17am

That brings up another question.  I think you mentioned in your videos that this is the same build that you use on stage; how do you think it compares to other "stage worthy" instruments?  I mean I think the one I built is definitely far superior to any imported 6 string "beginner" guitar - but I'm not a professional musician yet.  I just play for kicks.

 

So how does the uncle crow style hold up in live performance?  Also does it have anything like a "life expectancy?"  Do you have to build a new one every couple weeks, months, years?

 

Thanks again,

Michael

Wichita Sam said:

Uncle Crow,

 

Since I have time on my hands (part of my convolesence), I finally watched the full set of your tutorials... Well done sir!

 

A couple questions.....

 

1. Have you ever just crazy glued the necks onto the box (especially cardboard)?

2.  Have you had any interested in 4 string, or fretted or dulci-strummer variations?

3.  Have you gone craft show, music festival sales with these?  If so, how were they received?

 

I've going to be busy in the Ozarks as part of my retirement and an Old Crow style CBG might be a fun thing to try out.

 

Again, thanks for sharing,

the best,

 

Wichita Sam

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Permalink Reply by Michael Glenn on May 9, 2011 at 6:24am

Yeah, I'd be happy do that.  It might take a day or two to get it worked out.  (I used to be a Navy journalist, and I'm still kind of a perfectionist when it comes to writing stuff like that.)  Do you want me to message you when I'm done, and you can check it for errors or omissions?

Crow said:

@michael glenn

 

you know, it seems i keep telling myself i'll sit down and do a full write up, but like i said in the videos, it seems like it takes less time to just build the guitar than it would take to write it all out LOL

michael, if you would have the time and would be so inclined to do a write up, i'd be more than happy to accept your help. if you would like to start with the notes you have, i'd be glad to do the final formatting and fill in any additional information that i may have been unclear about.

 

i'm getting so excited, i'm so happy to see others take so much interest in my method, this is exactly what i set out to do, discover and share!

 

Michael Glenn said:

I was actually thinking of doing a write up myself.  I've still got all my notes handy, I just hadn't got around to writing everything out in an easy to read format.  If that's something people are wanting, then definitely somebody should do it.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Crow on May 9, 2011 at 6:28am

@wichita sam

 

man im honored to see you have interest in my builds, i've seen the incredible stuff you've made! i'll answer your questions below:

 

1. Have you ever just crazy glued the necks onto the box (especially cardboard)?

crazy glue? no. white elmers glue worked just fine, but took a while to dry. worked especially well with cardboard body. i expect crazy glue would work fantastically, so long as it was spread evenly on the primary surface.

 

2.  Have you had any interested in 4 string, or fretted or dulci-strummer variations?

actually the very first instruments i built were four string fretted, but were very complicated builds, and i wanted to keep whittling away until the final instrument was more basic and easier for everyone after me to reproduce. my first frets were square wooden toothpicks glued down and sanded, and later tried bent heavy wire. eventually i decided fretting instrument is more difficult and time consuming than i liked, considering the infinite accuracy and care that must go in to them to have a good sounding instrument. and i have made a handful of single string dulci-tuned instruments which used common staples for frets, used fishing line for string, worked out very well! i have considered a hybrid instrument which would have slide strings for chording and staple frets under the first and last string for noting leads and bass notes, but ultimately i like slide instruments to have a very high action, as they sound best this way, and does not work well for noting the string against the neck.

 

3.  Have you gone craft show, music festival sales with these?  If so, how were they received?

i have actually never taken any to a craft show or festival, and i want to BADLY, but i never have the resources to build many at once, nor the time to go to festivals.. which is a large regret of mine.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Crow on May 9, 2011 at 6:42am

@michael glenn

 

about life expectancy and on-stage performance:

 

performance:

you simply have to see it in person. there's no way to say in an email what it's like, but it completely blows them away when i plug my guitar in, and get that thick, roaring powerhouse sound.  the quality of sound i achieve with my simple build sounds better than most expensive acoustic/electric guitars, and for a variety of reasons, but mostly because i PLAY it better. it has a clear, loud, beautiful tone that really comes through when plugged in.  you simply HAVE to hear it in person, plugged in to a huge full sized stage setup. there's no other guitar like it, and i only play my own builds on stage.

 

life expectancy:

 

if anyone recalls, there is a series of pictures from over a year ago, where NOX and i built like 6 of these guitars in the same night. the guitar that i perform with on stage now is one of that very series, completely original. every single show i perform at has been with this guitar. this guitar has been battered, dragged, soiled, and even left OUTSIDE OVERNIGHT IN THE GRASS on several occasions when i've been out camping, and the night time dew settles on it, and i shake it off in the morning, re-tune, and plug it in later that day to perform at the festival. this build, with its single-stick body, it practically fool proof. you just can't mess it up. i'll make a video of my axe this evening to show you how it has aged.  i would shudder to think of abusing any store bought instrument as i have my own, and it still sings as sweetly and growls as deeply as the day it was first built, and the stains, marks, and age that shows on it just gives it more character and "street cred".. the more i use it, the more i think it deserves to be used, lol

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Wichita Sam on May 9, 2011 at 7:44am

Crow,

 

First thanks for the kind words.  I have always believed that the CBG universe would grow to be big enough to have room for all  her children.....  And,  thanks for the response... I build a similar (?) instrument last summer when doing a workshop for kids building "cardboard guitars".... It ended up being a 4 string fretted on a medium sized Priority Mailer.  It's amazing how good cardboard can sound.  Anyway, thanks for being another port of entry into the CBG world for beginners and others....

 

the best,

 

Wichita Sam

 

Crow said:

@wichita sam

 

man im honored to see you have interest in my builds, i've seen the incredible stuff you've made! i'll answer your questions below:

 

1. Have you ever just crazy glued the necks onto the box (especially cardboard)?

crazy glue? no. white elmers glue worked just fine, but took a while to dry. worked especially well with cardboard body. i expect crazy glue would work fantastically, so long as it was spread evenly on the primary surface.

 

2.  Have you had any interested in 4 string, or fretted or dulci-strummer variations?

actually the very first instruments i built were four string fretted, but were very complicated builds, and i wanted to keep whittling away until the final instrument was more basic and easier for everyone after me to reproduce. my first frets were square wooden toothpicks glued down and sanded, and later tried bent heavy wire. eventually i decided fretting instrument is more difficult and time consuming than i liked, considering the infinite accuracy and care that must go in to them to have a good sounding instrument. and i have made a handful of single string dulci-tuned instruments which used common staples for frets, used fishing line for string, worked out very well! i have considered a hybrid instrument which would have slide strings for chording and staple frets under the first and last string for noting leads and bass notes, but ultimately i like slide instruments to have a very high action, as they sound best this way, and does not work well for noting the string against the neck.

 

3.  Have you gone craft show, music festival sales with these?  If so, how were they received?

i have actually never taken any to a craft show or festival, and i want to BADLY, but i never have the resources to build many at once, nor the time to go to festivals.. which is a large regret of mine.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Crow on May 9, 2011 at 7:48am

sweet man! that mailer looks like the perfect platform for an instrument, it's always difficult finding a reliable source to aquire the same sized/make of box repeatedly for multiple builds, i'll get one myself and see how it sounds with a three string slide.. keep up the good work man!!!! thanks for the video!

Wichita Sam said:

Crow,

 

First thanks for the kind words.  I have always believed that the CBG universe would grow to be big enough to have room for all  her children.....  And,  thanks for the response... I build a similar (?) instrument last summer when doing a workshop for kids building "cardboard guitars".... It ended up being a 4 string fretted on a medium sized Priority Mailer.  It's amazing how good cardboard can sound.  Anyway, thanks for being another port of entry into the CBG world for beginners and others....

 

the best,

 

Wichita Sam

 

Crow said:

@wichita sam

 

man im honored to see you have interest in my builds, i've seen the incredible stuff you've made! i'll answer your questions below:

 

1. Have you ever just crazy glued the necks onto the box (especially cardboard)?

crazy glue? no. white elmers glue worked just fine, but took a while to dry. worked especially well with cardboard body. i expect crazy glue would work fantastically, so long as it was spread evenly on the primary surface.

 

2.  Have you had any interested in 4 string, or fretted or dulci-strummer variations?

actually the very first instruments i built were four string fretted, but were very complicated builds, and i wanted to keep whittling away until the final instrument was more basic and easier for everyone after me to reproduce. my first frets were square wooden toothpicks glued down and sanded, and later tried bent heavy wire. eventually i decided fretting instrument is more difficult and time consuming than i liked, considering the infinite accuracy and care that must go in to them to have a good sounding instrument. and i have made a handful of single string dulci-tuned instruments which used common staples for frets, used fishing line for string, worked out very well! i have considered a hybrid instrument which would have slide strings for chording and staple frets under the first and last string for noting leads and bass notes, but ultimately i like slide instruments to have a very high action, as they sound best this way, and does not work well for noting the string against the neck.

 

3.  Have you gone craft show, music festival sales with these?  If so, how were they received?

i have actually never taken any to a craft show or festival, and i want to BADLY, but i never have the resources to build many at once, nor the time to go to festivals.. which is a large regret of mine.

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Permalink Reply by jim Kasmir on May 15, 2011 at 8:46pm

These videos sort of opened my eyes to new ways to build a guitar. Thank you uncle crow for putting in the time to post these vids. Your hard work and caring is very much appreciated by a CBG nutball like me!!!!

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Permalink Reply by Michael Glenn on May 16, 2011 at 7:15am

I just did a write-up of my experience with building an Uncle Crow guitar.  It's a five-parter on my blog, and parts four and five deal with mistakes I made, and my overall impression of the design.  Check it out: http://www.cigarbox101.com/my-build-blog.html

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Permalink Reply by Ryan Rose on May 16, 2011 at 7:54am

Great read, Michael.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by jim Kasmir on May 16, 2011 at 8:59am

I notice that Uncle Crow never did post a video of how he turns his design electric. I would be interested to know where he places the piezo, if that's what he uses. Did you make yours electric, Michael? I will definitely check out your blog! Thanks!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by jim Kasmir on May 16, 2011 at 9:16am

Michael, I loved the blog. I am definitely going to attempt an Uncle Crow build. What did you think of the final sound? And, like I said above, I am eager to know if you added a pickup? Thanks again! Very helpful. I knew when I watched the videos that the eye bolt tuners were tricky; I just couldn't figure out what he was doing. So thanks for explaining that a little better,

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Michael Glenn on May 16, 2011 at 9:53am

I did not include a pickup.  I think I mentioned in my blog I've hardly ever used a power tool before - I'm even more behind the curve when it comes to electronics.  C. B. Gitty sells a piezo kit though that I want to order.  I'd love to have an electric guitar.  Of course, that also means building an amp...

 

I'm sure there are threads here that talk about how to install a piezo.  It's just so dang hard to find exactly what you're looking for...  You just have to keep digging until you find gold.  I know I've seen a good description somewhere.  Just like building a CBG, I imagine installing a pickup is simple once you know how to do it.

 

For final sound, check my video of "build 2" on my profile page.  I like the sound - it's loud enough that I can just hear when my nephew picks it up even if I'm at the other end of the house.

 

Also you should know that this build only sets you up to play slide guitar!  Not an issue, because it's so quick and easy to build and it is a lot of fun to play - just something to be aware of.  So when you buy your parts, get a 2 inch length of copper pipe.  Home Depot and Lowe's sell a 3/4" NIBCO copper coupling that makes a great slide.  The other thing Crow mentioned for a slide - I couldn't find it at my Home Depot.  The guy I asked looked at me like I was stoned or something and said "I don't think we have anything like that."  Oh well.

 

I also just finished a write up of my notes as kind of a supplement to the video.  (I had to write everything down and refer to my notes and the videos as I built.)  I should have a link to the write-up later today or tomorrow.

 

jim Kasmir said:

Michael, I loved the blog. I am definitely going to attempt an Uncle Crow build. What did you think of the final sound? And, like I said above, I am eager to know if you added a pickup? Thanks again! Very helpful. I knew when I watched the videos that the eye bolt tuners were tricky; I just couldn't figure out what he was doing. So thanks for explaining that a little better,

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