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September 2010 Blog Posts (15)

About time I did something

So I have been thinking for a while that I really should do something with my music again. I used to love being in a band when I was young. And I got pretty good at it as well. Years of wheelchair use have left me with numb fingers so a CBG with a slide is ideal. I have always liked listening to blues and also have a background in Punk. So something along the lines of Seasick Steve, Hollowbelly and even Son Of Dave would be something I would like to try. Maybe an Akai Headrush peddle and a… Continue

Added by Norm Fasey on September 30, 2010 at 7:30am — 6 Comments

New CBG Build: a 3-stringer with a 24" Scale Length & Diatonic Scale

Hi All,

I have built several cigar box instruments, but for the most part, they have been short neck with "through-the-body" attachment to the the cigar box. This simple method has a number of pluses, like not placing a lot of strain (from string tension) on the box and being pretty easy to implement. However, most of my cigar boxes are rather small, and I want to free up the space internally, so I'm trying to build CBGs with a bolt on (or screw on) neck. With this project, I am also… Continue

Added by Rand Moore on September 29, 2010 at 9:00pm — No Comments

University of Alabama Head&Neck Surgeon plays cigarbox guitar.

Which is a damn handy combination when considering stage diving!

Article from the University of Alabama:

Added by Shelley on September 24, 2010 at 6:46am — 1 Comment

Piezo Preamp Experiment

Today I assembled my first preamp based on a MFP-102 FET using a circuit design I got from the Internet (see URLs listed below) and components I bought from Radio Shack last summer. It buffers a pair of Radio Shack piezo pickups to drive a 15 Amp guitar amplifier I have. It worked first time, but the two piezo pickups are very sensitive in spite of wrapping them in foam. I will be experimenting on how to make the piezo pickups less sensitive and where to… Continue

Added by Rand Moore on September 21, 2010 at 3:00am — 15 Comments

Li'l Stogie Amps & Guitars

Just a little bit about me, several years ago I was diagnosed with dimentia,because of this I had to retire from my regular job Heavy Equipment Opperator. I also work as the Entertainment Director at a Casino's Showroom. Being a long time Musician myself I nedded to find something to do with myself since everything I had was taken from me because of this. As just another guitar slinger chaseing his sound I stumbled across Shane's site, and ever since then I have found my outlet and… Continue

Added by li'l Stogie Amps & Guitars on September 20, 2010 at 12:05pm — 1 Comment

What determines what scale length I should use

I am a newbie at this and I am doing all my research before I build my first CBG. I have been on Youtube as well as CBNation reading as much as I can. How many frets should a CBG have? Minimun and Max?
Also, what scale is best?
I'd need your expert advise CBNation!

Added by Dail Echevarria on September 19, 2010 at 11:24am — 6 Comments

The Budrows get Radio Airplay along with Shane Speal Instrumental, Saturday.....

The Budrows will have a song played on the Radio on SUN FM 91.3 in Sonoma, CA. on Saturday the 18th. There will also be an instrumental from fellow cigar box guitarist Shane Speal, both songs will be in the second half hour of the show. The show will also feature new releases from Robert Plant, The

Steeldrivers, and some of the winners at the Americana Music… Continue

Added by Jason Farthing on September 18, 2010 at 2:49am — 1 Comment

A welcome

Hiya to all on this great Nation of builders. I'm Rene Verberne (it sounds less disgusting in Dutch) and I recently built a CBG... in the past I did some small projects in making instruments out of scrapmaterial (olive oil cans, computercasing, first aid kits, etc), mainly ukuleles. This is to blame on my friendly neighbors who embrased me into The Ukebox. So swing round my website or the Ukebox (which is in… Continue

Added by Rene Verberne on September 16, 2010 at 9:30am — No Comments

My Arturo Fuente 6 string wiring diagram

I wanted to make something really special when I built my 6 string out of the Arturo Fuente King Bee box and overall I think I did. Below is a quick diagram of how I wired it up. Note that the humbuckers need to have the ability to be split. I show 4 wires but actuall there are 5. One is a shielding ground. The wires you need to be concerned with are North Start, North Finish, South Start, South Finish. The switches need to be single pole double throw on-off-on. Some are NOT on-off-on. Be aware… Continue

Added by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on September 13, 2010 at 1:30pm — 1 Comment

Cigar Box Guitar makes Local Headlines

Check out The Budrows in the Laguna Beach Local Newspaper.
http://www.coastlinepilot.com/entertainment/tn-cpt-0910-budrows-20100909,0,4318495.story

Added by Jason Farthing on September 13, 2010 at 12:52am — 5 Comments

from the streets to the symphony hall..

Get up 5:30am and satnav my way north toward Birmingham for the largest UK arts festival.I pray it doesn't rain cos my rusty car roof leaks and I dont want my gear getting wet! Arrive at Chickenbone Johns' 1960's bohemian split level gaff nice n early.After a quick coffee we convoy into the city centre and set up the cigar box nation stall.It's another example of just why…

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Added by HOLLOWBELLY on September 12, 2010 at 6:30am — 15 Comments

Our friend Robin Rogers needs our prayers...

This sad news was in my email this morning regarding the health of Blues great, Robin Rogers. Robin is always very nice to me and always willing to sign guitars or pose for pictures. I was fortunate enough to spend some time with her in Memphis this past May for the Blues Music Awards. She is very talented and kind hearted. Please keep her in your prayers.

This sad news comes from Steve Hecht at Piedmont Talent.…

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Added by Shane Hopkins on September 11, 2010 at 1:30pm — 3 Comments

An archtop piezo bridge method for u to try

This is how i been making my last three or four bridges..

it maybe useful for u if u got a bit of a neck angle and some height in there.. Ur all very welcome to use, improve etc on my ideas

my recent experiments indicate that a taller bridge gives me more volume, and spreading the feet further apart seems to as well..

1.. ok so here we have a typical neck for me,… Continue

Added by The Phrygian Kid on September 9, 2010 at 8:15pm — 3 Comments

Back to teaching CBGs

I am back to teaching CBG building at the CCC. Had the first class today. The 9 students watched songs inside the box.Then we discussed the history the the instrument. Next week they start building.
Larry

Added by Larry McPheeters on September 6, 2010 at 7:12pm — 1 Comment

Thanks

At last, some free time to say thanks to everyone in York Pa. I have been to a few fests in my life but this was by far the most energetic, original and all around blast I've ever attended. We spent the 16 hr drive home listening to ten new cd's, some three times and talking music figuring who we can drag along next year. We decided we need a van. Thanks again and see you next year. Mike and Tony from Il.

Added by Mike Kelly on September 2, 2010 at 11:14pm — 3 Comments