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All Blog Posts (2,112)

Are Musicians Snobs??? I don't know!

I have had a great deal of fun building instruments of different kinds but can't claim to be a musician. I had played the cello in high school forty five years ago and started with the harp in 1990. I quickly learned that the harp is a snooty instrument world. Its inhabited by long slender women with long slender fingers - quite a few men too. Mostly guys are harp builders and movers. I accepted my plight and muddled along. I tried a half dozen teachers over the years and learned that they all… Continue

Added by Bill Ludeman on March 19, 2010 at 9:57pm — 3 Comments

Duh - right side up? While its not that important there is a tradition.

I literally put my tuning machines or tuners on upside down AND backwards on my first build. I had no clue there was a right way. After a comment clued me in, I went to Guitar Center and observed that their was a pattern that was always followed. The objective is to have them installed such that the string tension pulls the shaft into the gear instead of away from it. I am using inexpensive Ping Economy tuners and if I put them on right they stay tight. Backwards works ok but there is a… Continue

Added by Bill Ludeman on March 19, 2010 at 11:56am — 5 Comments

Pop Rivet string sleeves tips and how-to

The best string sleeves I have found are simply pop rivets. I originally bought a small box of 25 from Ace Hardware and paid way to much. Next I found them at Lowes for about half the price Ace got but still cost me 4 or 5 bucks for a small box of a hundred. Then I found a box of five hundred at "Harbor Freight" for four bucks.

Here is the URL for these.… Continue

Added by Bill Ludeman on March 19, 2010 at 10:58am — 5 Comments

memory jogging notes on building and playing cbg's

My shop burned to the ground in June of 2009. Nobody knows for sure what caused it - the fire dept asked me if it was electrical and I said I don't see how, since everything was turned off - so they put it down to electrical..... No insurance.

I had forty years and two hundred thousand dollars invested in that building and contents. I had spent a huge amount of time in it building and designing stuff, including half a dozen harps and all my patterns and jigs for building my harp designs. I… Continue

Added by Bill Ludeman on March 18, 2010 at 7:18pm — 3 Comments

Amp

Hi all anyone out there got any ideas bout amp's that are controlled via the guitar ive been doing them switch to the speaker then to the battery and then the jack is there a better way ?

Added by crissy b on March 18, 2010 at 7:48am — No Comments

About me

hi my name is cory wheeler i live in saint petersburg florida originally from portland oregon i joined up here because i got it in my mind to make one of them CBG's.. i am the kind of person who is not happy unless i am building some kind of project. I have been a musician since 10 years old playing in bands that range from blues to surf and played thousands of gigs... during the day i do electronic repair for local music stores it doesnt get me rich but i enjoy what i do so i guess that i am… Continue

Added by cory wheeler on March 17, 2010 at 11:34am — No Comments

If you're lookin' for a fool... here I am

They say that a fool and his money are soon parted. Man, I would pay someone a lot of cash to explain that to me.....

Today started out ok. Very tired due to daylight savings and early work hours, but work went by pretty quickly and I was able to get a lot of shop time in.

Made a lot of great progress, too. Got everything drilled out, tuners aligned, and everything was perfect. Now, I'm not all that great, and usually I'll get it "good enough," but when I say…

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Added by Nathan King on March 16, 2010 at 5:18pm — 3 Comments

website

Hi folks i started a wedsite today not complete but on the way could you let me know what you think yor feedback means a lot thanks
www.bandanacigarboxguitars.com

Added by crissy b on March 14, 2010 at 9:18am — No Comments

earthing

Helo all I could use a bit of help if poss Ime wondering would i be able to earth volume on a strap button or sound hole if made of metal all help greatly accepted

Added by crissy b on March 10, 2010 at 11:48am — 1 Comment

Chord Chemistry 101 (Introduction) by Keni Lee Burgess (Page 1)

Chord Chemistry 101

Introduction

by Keni Lee Burgess

Note: These lectures are intended to clarify and suppliment my instructional videos CDs. Series 5 (4 string Cigar…

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Added by Keni Lee Burgess on March 7, 2010 at 5:30am — 4 Comments

dire srtaits on a three string

Just been wondering if anyone out there knows a way of playing dire straits on the three string ime not music note wise minded i just mess till i like the sound but it seems to me that this would be possible with great effect and would bring a great deal of admaration from peaple out side of the cigar box world.… Continue

Added by crissy b on March 6, 2010 at 4:02am — No Comments

Open letter to that Nation

DISCLAIMER: NONE of the comments below reflect those of Cigar Box Nation site or as a whole nor any of its members nor Shane Speal himself or anyone associated with him. These are my thoughts and opinions solely. I don't own the site nor am I admin of any kind. Please pardon the length whatever it becomes. Stop if you had enough. I warn you, its a manifesto. In fact, this might get me kicked off (I hope not tho). Rebut if you will. Its a free country. - WY

Wes,

the Nation… Continue

Added by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on March 4, 2010 at 8:30am — 4 Comments

Dreaming...

Had a dream about classes showing kids to building their own instruments (CBGs, flutes/recorders, stomp boxes (and other drums), kalimbas, etc.) and then teaching them how to play.

"Imagine..." - John Lennon

Added by Josh on March 3, 2010 at 1:11am — No Comments

Sometimes you do find gold!

Well, It is safe to say I have the CBG bug something bad! CBG's have been on the mind for many many years. Now that the first one is out of the way, I have many ideas for more to come! I was asked to make a simple one for a friends mother for her birthday. Who am I to say no to that!!!!!!!??????!!!!!!!

I also have a 17 1/2" Edge box that I have had for some time now that I am still unsure in what direction to go with it! 6 string? 4 string? Who knows at this time!

I do… Continue

Added by Christopher Call on March 1, 2010 at 6:30pm — 2 Comments

2 degree neck angle

Here is a quick google sketchup of a 2 degree neck angle.

-WY

Added by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on March 1, 2010 at 3:18am — 10 Comments

How To Get The Most Out Of My Instructional CD Lessons!

Ideas to unleash the potential of Open Tunings:

1) Watch the whole video through from beginning to end, like a TV show without your guitar. Doing this will help you see the "Big Picture" and you will have a clearer understanding of the approach to playing in open tunings. Mind over Matter. Get the directions first, then walk out the…

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Added by Keni Lee Burgess on February 27, 2010 at 10:30am — No Comments

2nd build done!

Found an excuse to do a second build! Giving this one as a gift to a friend. Decided to build it the same as the first since that one worked out so well so I wanted to make sure that the gift would work out well. The experiments and dodgy craftsmanship I keep for myself. This one is built just about exactly like the first except it's a bit sturdier. With the first one, remove one screw and the whole thing will literally fall apart. This one, the lid is glued to the neck and then secured to the… Continue

Added by KaptnKen on February 26, 2010 at 9:09am — No Comments