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Richard Sanabia Male Tellico Plains, TN United States: Like

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Cigar Box Guitar Museum …

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CBG Tabs

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London and nearby

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2011 Recycled Contest

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Richard Sanabia's Discussions

Shipping a CBG to Australia

Started this discussion. Last reply by Richard Sanabia Jan 8, 2012. 13 Replies 0 Likes

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Latest Activity

Richard Sanabia replied to Will King's discussion Short Neck Bass in the group Cigar Box Basses

"Hi, I,ve made short scale basses with scale length as short as 24.5 inches. Years ago Japanese builders built small basses with very short scales. I build them with 25.5 inch Scale and they play very well. To make it easy, use an old electric guitar…"

Mar 19

Richard Sanabia replied to Will Maldonado's discussion 4 string bass project in the group Cigar Box Basses

"Hi Will. I would start out by getting an old bass neck and grafting it onto a reinforced guitar box so you can learn how to set up and learn some basics. Since you play already it will be much easier because you know what a bass needs to feel like.…"

Feb 10

Richard Sanabia left a comment for Randy Burks

"Hi Randy. Thanks! I mentioned the dulcimer because of ease of play, and if you build an electric it will play in the low ranges. Here's a picture of mine.. "

Nov 10, 2012

Richard Sanabia replied to Randy Burks's discussion Wanting to build a bass in the group Cigar Box Basses

"Have you thought of learning to play a mountain dulcimer ?"

Nov 9, 2012

Richard Sanabia replied to Randy Burks's discussion Wanting to build a bass in the group Cigar Box Basses

"Don't remove any frets unless you want to play in limited keys. Yellowbelly's advice is excellent. Follow it. "

Oct 29, 2012

Richard Sanabia replied to Peter Giulietti's discussion First Time Bass Build - Questions About Neck Strength in the group Cigar Box Basses

"Thank you. It's fun to play. Folks expect it to sound like a dulcimer. It's fun when I hit the low A."

Sep 7, 2012

Richard Sanabia replied to Peter Giulietti's discussion First Time Bass Build - Questions About Neck Strength in the group Cigar Box Basses

"Hi Peter. Nice plan. I would continue with the steel bar, and use the cigar box to cover it, but you have plenty of bracing to prevent any flex. I play the dulcimer bass like a dulcimer, except I play the bass line, playing the 1-5 or a…"

Sep 3, 2012

Richard Sanabia replied to Peter Giulietti's discussion First Time Bass Build - Questions About Neck Strength in the group Cigar Box Basses

"Hi Peter. The rod was square. I used standard scale, (34" scale base). I just snip the string like a guitar string, but you need to trim on the narrowed part, (for the two biggest strings), so you will have to use a piece of string to figure…"

Sep 2, 2012

Richard Sanabia replied to Peter Giulietti's discussion First Time Bass Build - Questions About Neck Strength in the group Cigar Box Basses

"Hi Pete, I made a bass exactly like the one you are working on. Before I installed the fingerboard, I routed a 3/8 groove and installed a 3/8 rod, then glued on the fingerboard. The added weight of the rod improved tone, and gave it the needed…"

Sep 2, 2012

Richard Sanabia replied to Graham Alibone's discussion Help ! tuning&playing fretless bass. in the group Cigar Box Basses

"Hi "G". Use AD strings, tune to open A, and D. Locate where C note is, then where the F is on the D string. mark them. Then play 1-4-5 progressions until you can play them smoothly. A 1-4-5 in A would be A,D,G, then G,D,A. Use a tuner to…"

Jun 5, 2012

Richard Sanabia replied to Nardcore714's discussion I'm making my first stand up bass how do I set the scale for it???? in the group Cigar Box Basses

"Hello. The scale is the distance from the nut to the bridge. 41" is the scale normally used for a standup. but 34" is used a lot also. Most electric guitars are 34". You will have to use a commonly used scale because of the strings.…"

Mar 31, 2012

Richard Sanabia replied to Cpt. Nemoff's discussion Cpt. Nemoff - NEW CBG ALBUM "Spirit of the Box" december 2011, Moscow, Russia in the group CB Nation Recording Studio

"Outstanding!! I really enjoyed your album. The spirit of the box is in you, Cpt Nemoff. "

Feb 23, 2012

Richard Sanabia replied to Nardcore714's discussion I'm making my first stand up bass how do I set the scale for it???? in the group Cigar Box Basses

"Use steel. Cheap, and adds nice "heft" to the bass. At first the bass would try to swing around, it needs to rest around against your body to stay put, like a real stand-up does. I put a little "foot" on mine so I can step on it…"

Feb 10, 2012

Richard Sanabia replied to Nardcore714's discussion I'm making my first stand up bass how do I set the scale for it???? in the group Cigar Box Basses

"PS, Here is my stand-up with a 34 inch electric bass scale, and flatwound strings. The next is a 41 inch with piezos. "

Feb 10, 2012

Richard Sanabia replied to Nardcore714's discussion I'm making my first stand up bass how do I set the scale for it???? in the group Cigar Box Basses

"I got a set of the strings on ebay, and they work great. Nylon strings, very reasonable, and nice feel. http://www.ebay.com/itm/280817702465?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649#ht_902wt_1139"

Feb 10, 2012

Richard Sanabia joined Shane's group

Cigar Box Guitar Museum at Speal's Tavern

Get updates on The Cigar Box Guitar Museum at Speal's Tavern, the world's first permanent museum collection of Cigar Box Guitars. Speal's Tavern is located near Pittsburgh in the town of New Alexandria, PA. Speal's features live blues every Friday and Saturday and an open stage on Thursdays. Under 21 are permitted before 10:30pm.See More

Feb 7, 2012

27 Comments 9 Likes

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At 7:32pm on April 6, 2011, Doug Thorsvik said…: Richard, Thanks for the positive feedback. You have quite a variety in your builds. How are the ones with paired strings doing for you? Doug

At 12:03am on March 2, 2011, Henry Strat-o-varius Lowman said…: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

At 2:05pm on February 16, 2011, Henry Dervaric said…: Very understandable. Thanks Richard.

At 1:02pm on February 16, 2011, Henry Dervaric said…: Hello Richard, building my first Dulcimer or Blucimer. Is 17" or 19" really the recommended scale lenght depending on box?

Nut to bridge?

Thanks

At 3:42pm on January 10, 2011, Rusty Shackleford ( Mike ) said…: Thanks Rich I will try that site for the fret placement...Rusty

At 1:49pm on January 10, 2011, Rusty Shackleford ( Mike ) said…: Great work Rich...I'm looking for a strumstick type fret board template for my build the neck lengh is 35"...Can you help? Thanks Rusty (Mike) Shackleford

At 6:43pm on December 31, 2010, Wichita Sam said…: Sorry, but I shipped your CBG before getting your email... let me see what I can do about getting a CBG to the soldier....

thanks,

Sam

At 2:44pm on December 30, 2010, Wichita Sam said…: Hi,

I'm back home and have your CBG boxed up... all I need is an address....

my address is:

Sam Wood

2750 S. Laura

Wichita, KS 67216

the best,

Sam