We always look at the top-trending photos on The Nation to choose our featured instrument and it seems like license plate guitars always rocket to the top.  This one is amazing and a true standout...

This Nebraska plate guitar comes from Blair, NE and was built by Maddog.  It features a 1960 Nebraska "The Beef State" license plate.  The body is made from old pine flooring salvaged from a farmhouse before it was burned down.

The other features are just as interesting. (Sponsor's note: Many of the parts are also available at C. B. Gitty.  We put links to them for you.)

• 24" scale, neck is mahogany
• blues worn walnut fretboard
• gold six string bridge 
• chrome covered humbucker pickup
• gold skull volume knob
• gold skull tuners
• gold strap buttons

How to Sell Your Cigar Box Guitars at Festivals for Fun and Profit

Cigar Box Nation founder, Shane Speal and C. B. Gitty have published two articles on selling cigar box guitars at festivals.  If you've ever thought of 'going in business' with your instruments, these lessons are worth reading.

How to Sell Your Cigar Box Guitars - Pt. 1

How to Sell Your Cigar Box Guitars - Pt. 2 (note: the second part is published within the latest C. B. Gitty newsletter.  Look for it in the link on the right column)

How to Increase Your Band Merch Profits - Including Cigar Box Guitars

Using the same expertise, Speal has also published two Guitar World articles on increasing band merch profits.  He specifically discusses cigar box guitar sales, too.

How to Increase Band Merch Sales pt. 1

How to Increase Band Merch Sales pt. 2

Three Historic Videos Added To Cigar Box Nation...

The world's largest banjo!

The greatest washboard/kazoo/uke duo you've ever seen...

And the mighty Whistler's Jug Band... featuring THREE jug players!

How to Create Screened F-Holes in Cigar Box Guitars

Here's a simple tutorial that shows how to take a simple scrap of window screen wire and upgrade the look on the soundholes of your cigar box guitar. 

You'll need:

• Metal screen wire
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks
• Metal sheers to cut the screen

The video also references C. B. Gitty's new Nine F-Hole Templates.

Shane Speal's Snake Oil Band returns to Speal's Tavern this Saturday night.

The King of the Cigar Box Guitar brings his insane jug band to the home of the Cigar Box Guitar Museum.

Shane Speal brings the Snake Oil Band back to Speal's this Saturday night at 9pm for a wild 3-hour concert.  The show starts at 9pm.  Come see the band perform in front of the Cigar Box Guitar Museum.  Get there early.  It's usually standing room only. 

Speal's Tavern is located in the outskirts of Pittsburgh PA. Here's all the info.

This week's discussions include...

Wiring a piezo pickup preamp system and a magnetic pickup with a 3 ...

Are Partagas boxes worth the effort?

And Uncle John ponders his first 10 years in the Cigar Box Guitar W...

 

Dateline:  April 23  [Rochester NH]

A bizarre invasion has taken place at the factory mill of C. B. Gitty today when strange, spun-aluminum cones entered the factory.  These dobro-eque creatures leaped from the delivery truck and demanded the worldwide production of cigar box guitars to evolve and sing superior tones.

Gitty spokesman, Ben Baker said he was floored when he caught sight of these creatures, known as "Lightning" Resonator Cone and the "Thunder" Resonator Cone.    "We had contacted inventor, Charles Atchison to make these for us," Baker said, "but we had no idea how revolutionary they were." 

Witnesses say the Lightning Resonator is 5.5 inches in diameter and is able to fit into the top of a standard cigar box.  The Thunder Resonator, however, is a hulking 7 inches in diameter and can inhabit larger boxes such as silverware and wine boxes. 

"We've never seen anything quite like them," said Baker.  "The 'Lightning' cones are only a half-inch deep and don't require all the extra routing as a regular dobro cone."  He added, "These make it easy for pretty much anyone to build a cigar box resonator!"

Baker claims these cones with superior tones can be purchased right now!  "And as you know," he added, "we ship our orders as fast as a spaceship flying on warp drive!"

5.5 inch Lightning Resonator Cone by Charles Atchison - $17.99

7 inch Thunder Resonator Cone by Charles Atchison - $25.99
This one is 7 inches in diameter and fits nicely into a 6.5-inch hole. The overall depth is about 0.75".