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Making a 3 string guitar...in Africa

I'm just back from a quick holiday. We went to Africa..not the "Dark Heart" of Africa, but to Marrakech in Morrocco. Here in the souk is a Berber craftsman making a gimbri (or guembri) which is a stick in a box 3 string instrument. It's a remarkable and very direct link to the history of the modern cigar box guitar. We saw them being played on the street by solo buskers and also in the main square Jemaa El Fna (The Assembly Of The Dead")by Gnawa musicians, playing hypnotic Islamic music on guembri, percussion and accompanied by an amazing and seemingly ad-hoc choir. Definitely back to the roots!!

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Comment by Preston J. Laisure on November 30, 2015 at 4:24am: After a little brainstorming, I thought you might substitute some other type of hide for camel. Here state side we would have buffalo, elk or an other animal hide that may have similarities to camel and yes, it still will not be the same as the original, but it will be a "Chicken Bone John" creation.

Comment by Preston J. Laisure on November 30, 2015 at 2:29am: Judging by the creativity you've shown over the years I've been watching your video's. I have no doubt that you could easily create your own version of a gimbri. Is it legal to purchase camel skin in England? I can just see that smiling mug of yours playing a demo of one with a piezo & pre-amp. LOL.

Comment by ChickenboneJohn on November 29, 2015 at 10:19pm: I wanted to bring one back, but they are just too big for me to have got one on the plane as cabin luggage, and I wouldn't want to have risked it as hold luggage, so unfortunately I didn't buy one. I've studied them pretty closely and played one, so I've got a fair idea of how to put one together...however getting the camel skin for the top may be tricky here in the UK!

Comment by Preston J. Laisure on November 29, 2015 at 12:19pm: Wow. What a throw back in time, but yet so pertinent to what we do today. Did you bring one home with you?

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