Cigar Box Guitars: building tips, music and the cigar box culture
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Shane Speal
- Male
- York, PA
- United States
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- Blog Posts (1)
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- Videos (14)
Shane Speal's Groups
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CBNation Worldwide Gathe…
47 members
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The Open Mic
57 members
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BLUE KAZOO GROUP
10 members
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Steampunk Collective
73 members
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DUMPSTER DIVER'S MUSIC U…
78 members
Shane Speal's Discussions
Neck is bowing...
Replied Mar 6
Shane Speal's Events
Shane Speal
Music
Shane Speal's Photos
About Shane Speal
Shane Speal is a musician and marketing professional from York, PA. He is married to Melissa (Bilello) Speal. The couple has two sons, Shane Jr. (age 7) and Brennen (age 4).
Speal is the self-proclaimed "King of the Cigar Box Guitar" and the creator of www.cigarboxnation.com.
The History of the Cigar Box Guitar Revolution
In 2003, Shane Speal posted the first free plans for a simple 3-string cigar box guitar on the internet using a free 1-page Geocities website. In the site, Speal declared himself the "King of the Cigar Box Guitar" simply because noone else was too stupid to claim it first! He also declared there was an uprising "Cigar Box Guitar Revolution" made of musicians who were looking for a deeper music made on the most primitive of instruments.
That single web page presence grew into a fuller Geocities site and eventually into a Yahoo based Cigar Box Guitar Forum. At its height, the forum boasted over 3000 members. After 5 successful years, the Yahoo forum is becoming eclipsed by Speal's newest endeavor, CigarBoxNation.com.
Music
Speal has performed cigar box guitar concerts solo and with his bands Jug Fusion and The Primal Brothers. He has appeared at the first Cigar Box Guitar Festival in 2004 and in many subsequent cigar box concerts. He is a central figure in the Max Shores documentary, Songs Inside the Box (www.songsinsidethebox.com).
Recordings
Speal has recorded more than 10 self-released cigar box guitar albums. He releases them under the name Insurrection Records. He has also appeared on releases by Crow Tongue, By The Way, Boz and Chris Ballew. His cds all use his hand-assembled "poverty art" packaging and are sold at INSURRECTION RECORDS on Etsy (and eventually a full store at www.cigarboxguitar.com). Speal also compiled 4 volumes of cigar box guitar music from around the world in the Masters of the Cigar Box Guitar series. He also publishes Uncle Enos zine (underground magazine) dedicated to cigar box guitars and other primal poverty art/music.
You can contact Shane Speal at shanespeal@yahoo.com
Speal is the self-proclaimed "King of the Cigar Box Guitar" and the creator of www.cigarboxnation.com.
The History of the Cigar Box Guitar Revolution
In 2003, Shane Speal posted the first free plans for a simple 3-string cigar box guitar on the internet using a free 1-page Geocities website. In the site, Speal declared himself the "King of the Cigar Box Guitar" simply because noone else was too stupid to claim it first! He also declared there was an uprising "Cigar Box Guitar Revolution" made of musicians who were looking for a deeper music made on the most primitive of instruments.
That single web page presence grew into a fuller Geocities site and eventually into a Yahoo based Cigar Box Guitar Forum. At its height, the forum boasted over 3000 members. After 5 successful years, the Yahoo forum is becoming eclipsed by Speal's newest endeavor, CigarBoxNation.com.
Music
Speal has performed cigar box guitar concerts solo and with his bands Jug Fusion and The Primal Brothers. He has appeared at the first Cigar Box Guitar Festival in 2004 and in many subsequent cigar box concerts. He is a central figure in the Max Shores documentary, Songs Inside the Box (www.songsinsidethebox.com).
Recordings
Speal has recorded more than 10 self-released cigar box guitar albums. He releases them under the name Insurrection Records. He has also appeared on releases by Crow Tongue, By The Way, Boz and Chris Ballew. His cds all use his hand-assembled "poverty art" packaging and are sold at INSURRECTION RECORDS on Etsy (and eventually a full store at www.cigarboxguitar.com). Speal also compiled 4 volumes of cigar box guitar music from around the world in the Masters of the Cigar Box Guitar series. He also publishes Uncle Enos zine (underground magazine) dedicated to cigar box guitars and other primal poverty art/music.
You can contact Shane Speal at shanespeal@yahoo.com
Shane Speal's Videos
Shane Speal's Blog
Spambots are out in force...and I'm picking 'em off as fast as possible
Sorry for all the Viagra type spams in the BLOG section. Due to our success, the spambots are after us. I suspect it will last just a few days, maybe a week. Until then, I'll just keep nuking them as they show up.
I hate to make membership a "wait and get approved" thing. If people want to join, then hell...COME ON IN. So expect some stupid blogs for a while. I'll keep my finger on the NUKE THE F*CKERS button.
-Shane
I hate to make membership a "wait and get approved" thing. If people want to join, then hell...COME ON IN. So expect some stupid blogs for a while. I'll keep my finger on the NUKE THE F*CKERS button.
-Shane
Posted on February 12, 2010 at 8:23pm — 6 Comments
Latest Activity
A place to discuss, dream up and create Steampunk instruments.
YOU CAN PICK IT UP SAT.ITS GONNA BE FRETLESS WITH CIGAR BAND FRET MARKERS@3/5/7/9/12FRETS THE REST WILL B MARKED IN BLACK MY JIG IS MESSED UP
cool beans buddy get that guitar built so I can make an ass out of myself with another viedo
YUP THAT SOUNDS LIKE A WINNER
hey mike mabey we could get together and do one spot. sell guitars and amps let me know wht ya think wes
Scavengers unite! We want to know what unusual trash you've used to build instruments. Post your trash-to-treasure creations. Follow up on Dumpster Diver contests.
A cigar box guitar was meant to be played!!! Cigar Box Nation is encouraging all its members to get out and perform in public. Find an open mic and PLAY. Then come in here, post pictures and setlists and exchange ideas. Tune up and rock out.
I am making every effort to get to this - and I would like to play as myself and as my alter ego Reverend Larry. I'll be coming from halfway around the world (in the middle of the Indian Ocean) so can I ask for a playing slot or is it casual / first…
A place to buy, sell, trade cigar box guitars and other related gear.
Here's where the freaks hang out. Get the inside scoop on wild cigar box guitar designs, advancements and experiments. Not for the timid builder!
The basics for first time builders. Where to start, what to do, tips and techniques.
Playing tips and secrets. Tunings. Primal music theory.
I also would like to vend my stuff .let me know the details
This has nothing to do with the gathering...but on April 15th I'm gonna open for Peter Tork of the Monkees at The Record Collector in Bordentown NJ. I wanna play my cbg for one of the Monkees !!!
THANKS FOR THE GREAT COMMUNITY YOU HAVE CREATED! Thanks for these great lessons. You are awesome.
I got a high hat.
Yeah, I wanna be there for sure if possible. Someone got a bass drum and hi-hat I can borrow? :)
Ok, I'm putting it out here... I've been working behind-the-scenes with York PA businesses and organizations about hosting a massive Cigar Box Guitar Fest at the end of August, 2010.
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You are too kind. I've just laid down the third coat of finish on my CBG #1. I'll post photos tomorrow.
Thank You
Roger
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