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Tres Seaver's CBG Page

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Tres Seaver's Blog

The Donkey's Dilemma

Posted on November 18, 2009 at 8:00pm 2 Comments

I have a nascent blues song in my notebook with lyrics that start:

   I've got an ocean of gin to the right of me,

I've got a river of whiskey to my left,

And just like a donkey, for the life of me,

I can't figure which one is best.



I feel just like a stubborn donkey,

Stuck between two bales of hay,

No matter which way I turn my head,

I have to let something sweet slip away.

and go on from there.



I… Continue

Thinking out loud

Posted on August 25, 2009 at 11:30pm 4 Comments

I'm thinking about my next build: I have a reasonably nice white Macanudo box (maybe these are Shane Speals' favorites?) which I would like to make into a "nicer" box for a friend's birthday.





I scrounged a bunch of old oak screen panels, one of which had a cool oak "pull" on it, which I am thinking of using as the bridge. The piece is about 3/4" high, which seems a bit high for the standard "flush neck" design, so I'm thinking to drop the neck down below the top and… Continue

Tweaking the Doodle Bass

Posted on August 16, 2009 at 6:12pm 0 Comments

I spent most of the day yesterday in the shop, working on two projects: my first "real" CBG (more on that later), plus updating the "Doodle Bass" CBB my son and I built while on vacation a couple of weeks back. We made

the following tweaks to his bass:



  • Replaced the "E" string (old one doubled the "A" at .090") with .105" weed whacker line.

  • Added a piezo pickup inside the box under the bridge sandwiched between two…
Continue

Latest Activity

Gary Wensley replied to Tres Seaver's discussion Rumba Stick in the group CIGAR BOX KALIMBAS
"WOW! Very unique and downright funky build, Tres. You've inspired me to find some material for the tines and get to work on one of these. Thanks for sharing your photos with us."
Jan 12
rusty case replied to Tres Seaver's discussion Rumba Stick in the group CIGAR BOX KALIMBAS
"Well by golly it's not Glen Miller or henry mancini, nor even Flatt & Scruggs, but it sure brought a smile here! Gosh I'll bet you're having fun with it! Best rc "
Sep 12, 2012
Tres Seaver replied to Chuck Dubman's discussion Cheap pedals
"I've fooled a bit with software effects on a "raw" piezo signal for slide blues:  I find that compressing the signal a bit before adding drive / overdrive seems to make for a "warmer" / "thicker" sound (more…"
Feb 25, 2012
Tres Seaver replied to BeetleJuice!'s discussion John Lennon's CBG thing type Square guitar
"Cool!  Looks like it might've been built from a dresser drawer."
Feb 25, 2012
John Eich liked Tres Seaver's discussion Bridge height, anyone?
Feb 21, 2012
Tres Seaver added a discussion to the group CB Nation Recording Studio
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Rhumba Blues in E

A backing track of drums and bass for a rhumba-style blues in E, 120 BPM.The form is 4 12-bar verses (swing temp), an 8-bar bridge (straight time), another 12-bar verse (swing) and a 4-bar tag.See More
Feb 10, 2012
Tres Seaver replied to MBliss's discussion Recording tips and tutorials in the group CB Nation Recording Studio
"For those who might be interested in a free/libre/open source DAW tool with more of the "pro" capabilities than Audacity, I can recommend Ardour very highly.  It sits atop the F/L/OSS JACK audio chain, which makes it possible to route…"
Feb 10, 2012
Tres Seaver replied to James Boutilier's discussion Fiddle Scales - Length - Postion - 4/4, 3/4 ??? Hellllp in the group CB Fiddles
"Per Wikipedia, the standard violin scale length (4/4) is 327mm (12.8 in)."
Oct 21, 2011
Tres Seaver commented on richard Woolrich's video
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hate me

"Nice -- I like the way the playing supports the lyrics without getting in the way."
Sep 22, 2011
Tres Seaver replied to Tristan Chambers's discussion My New Three String Fiddle in the group CB Fiddles
"Really cool looking fiddle!  I would love to see a video sample.   Tres."
Sep 22, 2011
olds sleeper left a comment for Tres Seaver
"thanks for listening...i appreciate it."
Jul 9, 2011
Tres Seaver commented on Roadkill a.k.a. John Maw's video
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My first video - Wayfaring Stranger

"Really nice break -- now you just need to work out accompanying yourself while you sing it, and you're golden!"
Jul 8, 2011
Tres Seaver commented on ChickenboneJohn's video
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African HighLife style on the cigar box guitar

"Traditionally that sound goes with an oil can guitar -- fun to hear it on a CBG."
Jul 8, 2011
Tres Seaver commented on Kyle Reid's video
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Kyle Reid "Soon-To-Be-Ex-Girlfriend-Blues"

"Great groove, and a cool lyric -- thanks for sharing!"
Jul 8, 2011
Tres Seaver commented on ChickenboneJohn's video
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..so I walked into this bar....

"Awesome boogie, and a great take on the gearhead wannabe set."
May 30, 2011
Tres Seaver commented on Roosterman's video
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Bob Harrison Pickup in Belly-Gazing Guitar Shocker!

"Rooster, you need to quit bad-mouthing your playing -- your time is perfect, and the slide tone is really excellent!  Beautiful build, too -- I love the Las Cabrillas boxes."
May 23, 2011

Comment Wall (307 comments)

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At 7:19am on July 9, 2011, olds sleeper said…
thanks for listening...i appreciate it.
At 3:49pm on December 30, 2010, Mister Scott said…
Thanks! Your build looks sweet. I bought myself a bowl from a resale shop and some bloodwood to make a simplified sitar. I'm having trouble finding a "top" to the bowl though. Maybe a circular cutting board...?
At 5:43am on November 16, 2010, Keni Lee Burgess said…
Thank you Tres. I heard back from their website. Apparently the lyrics are on the new CD, The Wages. I ordered it the other day. So I should be good to go. Additionally, a studio version is usually easier to understand. Enjoy.
At 1:48am on March 28, 2010, Trenton F Bemish said…
Thank you very much.Ive got so many ideas from the site Iam sure people see their ideas in some of my builds.
At 2:51pm on March 24, 2010, Adam Buck said…
thanks dude i really like this site an i enjoy looking at others CBG my CBG might not be as good as others but i like mine is diffrent i might even be getting a job here soon building them it would be cool well got to go
later.
At 9:45pm on March 18, 2010, franky-j said…
hello Seaver's
having a bad English (I use google translator)
good job on your cbg and I like the crazy side of your music
thank you for your home
soon
At 7:48pm on February 27, 2010, JIM warren said…
Thanks Tres, I'm currently building 4 different CBG's and 2 Cajone's. I want to start up an all CBG Band up here in Alaska. I think it will be a real hoot up here in all of the coffee shops and fair venues we have up here. Later ............... Your Great Alaskan Sourdough CBG Band.................. ............
At 9:14pm on February 24, 2010, Robert Christopher Hill said…
Thanks for welcoming me into CBG Nation Tres. I'm starting on my first build already. Really happy to be a part of this.
At 11:25pm on February 20, 2010, George Franklin Lee Beckwith said…
Thanks for the welcome. I am involved in several instrument communities. I love instruments and building them. I have been a luthier for many years. I have worked with wood since I was in my teens. I have played an instrument since I was 5 years old. I don't know if I play any better now than I did then. I do play madolin and fiddle at church each Sunday. I had some folks over today and we ate chili, banana pudding and played music all day. Anyway thanks George
At 9:30am on February 19, 2010, Ellwood T. Bear said…
Thank you for the welcome. I am in the process of making my first CBG... Then I have to learn how to play it! Think at my age (70) I wil lbe able to master it.... before I am called to the other side.
Have a Great Day and Thanks Again!!
 
 
 

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