One day last summer I was driving down the hill to the local market town for bits and pieces. Saw a 'bike down in the middle of the road, so stopped and asked the chap in black leathers if he was OK. When he turned I could see he was my age-ish- late 50s, grey beard, that sort of thing. "Fine" he said, "only had this thing a couple of days", so I drove on. Got to town, parked, and burst out laughing. My wife, I thought, is luckier than she knows. There was a chap who may not have ridden a 'bike since he was in his early 20s, gone out and bought himself a 500cc monster- he may not have lasted the year. With some men it's bikes- live fast, die middle-aged. With others it's women half their age- good grief, like I still actually could, y'know? With me it's guitars. You know where I am, who I'm with, and what I'm doing. I'm not bankrupting us with a Harley or a gold-digger. Ok, so the floor is covered in sawdust and the downstairs loo always smells of linseed oil and varnish. You know every blues in G backwards and there are guitars everywhere. But I can see now do TWO things with my hands- cook kick-ass food AND make musical instruments that really work. Both skills for a post-oil age- and I think I may be happier than at any time in my adult life.

Truly, build what you play, play what you love, and love what you build.

Views: 382

Comment

You need to be a member of Cigar Box Nation to add comments!

Join Cigar Box Nation

Comment by Paul Craig on March 21, 2018 at 6:56am

We could get a 3 wheeled Morgan, T-Rex or a Slingshot.

Comment by Paul Craig on March 21, 2018 at 6:48am

I love Indian Motorcycles. I miss the triangular headlights.

Comment by Glenn Kaiser on March 21, 2018 at 6:42am

Yep... I've plenty to do but always have 4-6 build ideas of various cigarbox or bisquit tin or found object guitars in my mind with my office/shop calling to me from this bit of neck material, that cigar box, tin or license plate, etc.. Finding a small piece that would make a cool bridge or sound hole cover... and they all bring that side of my brain to life... hah... working off the last brain cell here but there you go. I totally love creative imagination re. these cool gits. Love playing 'em in shows and prisons and etc.. Great fun and still not illegal :)! I play at Sturgis and other bike rallies each year... LOVE those old Indian bikes... mercy... but my sweet wife can't do those re. arthritis and no way I can see spending the loot on one. I truly hear ya Wal! -Glenn

Comment by Paul Craig on March 16, 2018 at 7:38am

Well I just happen to have a Vintage Bike for sale. It needs restoring.

Comment by Uncle John on March 16, 2018 at 6:57am

Well stated.   Wal, that also suits me to a tee.  Except I do get tempted by certain vintage looking motorcycles. 

Comment by A.D.EKER on March 14, 2018 at 10:03pm

So Treu Wal ! every man shoud have a place to do his thing, but still its shifting the topics are still the same Bikes Women Guitars Blues music.Rock& Roll, when your younger you tend to do everything at ones in the same time, and as often as posseble , but getting older some things go to the background  and others flare up, but Music stays for live!

Comment by Ron Lutz on March 11, 2018 at 4:57am

I would love to sit on the front steps displaying and playing my guitars, we live in a tourist town with the main high-way in front of our house.  In summer a constant drone of LOUD bikes accelerating towards several blind intersections and sharp corners a couple hundred feet down the road.  I rode a lot in my younger years, always enjoyed it, hopefully more responsibly, well, maybe not always.  Now I'm always tempted to stop them, hand them a guitar and say " try this, you will enjoy it more and be a lot safer".  Then reason kicks in and I say to myself, give them time and sooner or later they may catch the cbg bug and see the light.

Comment by Kirk on March 8, 2018 at 3:39am

I couldn't agree more.  The only downside is how much time I spend at my "real job," thinking and pondering building and playing. 

My dream is to have a couch, fridge and coffee pot in my workshop, along with a small PA and maybe a few small amps.  So people can come by and visit, or jam or both throughout the day.

Comment by Grandpa on March 7, 2018 at 7:19am

Wal, I'm some past middle aged (68 last month), got a Harley Road King in the garage, and I have to blow the sawdust off the cover to think about Mrs. Grandpa and I taking a ride, which is increasingly rare. Too many crazies on the road, on the phone, busy with other than paying attention. Get Off My Lawn! I, too, prefer to take my chances with sharp rotating blades and hand tools. I got gits to build, gits to play, gits to share. I just love this gig. I leave the kick-ass cooking to Mrs. Grandpa, who nods approvingly when I roll out to the saws and wood, and knows it's keeping me "out of pool halls and off the street". I am usually pretty easy to find.

Comment by Paul Craig on March 6, 2018 at 12:45pm

I've done the Bike thing, I'm too broke for the sports car or a younger gal, so it's guitars as long as I can build them myself. LOL

The Essential Pages

New to Cigar Box Nation? How to Play Cigar Box GuitarsFree Plans & How to Build Cigar Box GuitarsCigar Box Guitar Building Basics

Site Sponsor

Recommended Links & Resources


Forum

Busking Songs...

Started by Nomad Jack in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by J. D. Woods on Wednesday. 7 Replies

crossover guitar.

Started by Timothy Hunter in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Apr 10. 14 Replies

Tune up songs

Started by Ghostbuttons in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 9. 5 Replies

Duel output jacks

Started by Justin Stanchfield in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 8. 6 Replies

How to Get Your Own Music on Spotify

Started by Cigar Box Nation in Feature Articles. Last reply by Southern Ray Feb 21. 2 Replies

Latest Activity

Moritz Voegeli and Matthias Bichsel are now friends
46 minutes ago
David L. replied to Rich Butters's discussion UK - Best Place to Buy Cigar Box's
"I have found these are…"
1 hour ago
J. D. Woods replied to J. D. Woods's discussion Are metal frets necessary?
1 hour ago
Doug Thorsvik posted a video

Don't Worry Be Happy: 3D Printed Cigar Box Guitar

Cigar Box Guitar Slingers - Spokane, 198th Zoom Mtg 04/15/24. Only 1-finger chords, free songbooks here: https://www.cbgslinger.com/download CBG Songbook.pdf...
1 hour ago
Southern Ray commented on Crazed Fandango's photo
Thumbnail

Frethound 4 String

" I was gonna say, "Sweeeeeeeeeet" as well, but that was taken. Very nice. I too love…"
8 hours ago
Southern Ray replied to J. D. Woods's discussion Are metal frets necessary?
" Any other questions, just ask. "
8 hours ago
Southern Ray replied to J. D. Woods's discussion Are metal frets necessary?
" Hello JD, welcome. I'm a fifty year failed six-string player that got into building and…"
8 hours ago
BrianQ. replied to J. D. Woods's discussion Are metal frets necessary?
11 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on Crazed Fandango's photo
Thumbnail

Frethound 4 String

"Burn baby burn! Top looks hot Crazed; sporty headstock too. Excellent build."
12 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on Ghostbuttons's photo
Thumbnail

Four projects

"You are a busy guy Warren! Outstanding builds and each one unique; well done."
12 hours ago
AGP # commented on Crazed Fandango's photo
Thumbnail

Frethound 4 String

""Sweeeeeeeeet", love the burning on the Body, have a Build on the Bench at the moment,…"
13 hours ago
AGP # liked Crazed Fandango's photo
13 hours ago

Music

© 2024   Created by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

\uastyle>\ud/** Scrollup **/\ud.scrollup {\ud background: url("https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/963882636?profile=original") no-repeat scroll 0 0 transparent;\ud bottom: 25px;\ud display: inline !important;\ud height: 40px;\ud opacity: 0.3 !important;\ud position: fixed;\ud right: 30px;\ud text-indent: -9999px;\ud width: 40px;\ud z-index: 999;\ud}\ud.scrollup:hover {\ud opacity:0.99!important;\ud}\ud \uascript type="text/javascript">\ud x$(document).ready(function(){\ud x$(window).scroll(function(){\ud if (x$(this).scrollTop() > 100) {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeIn();\ud } else {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeOut();\ud }\ud });\ud x$('.scrollup').click(function(){\ud x$("html, body").animate({ scrollTop: 0 }, 600);\ud return false;\ud });\ud });\ud \ua!-- End Scroll Up -->