So . . . ever since the advent of the CBG revolution - I have found that this is the demarcation line.

"Player" or "Builder"

The nation (God love it) has plenty of the latter, but notsomuch of the former.

The cigar box guitar is such a perfectly primitive instrument. It epitomizes "simplicity" and the raw joy of music. Music to the lowest common denominator. We all embrace the beauty of the instrument in that regard . . .

I suppose the nature of any "internet community" is that it can become SOooo specialized and sooo very deep in the particular interest . . . The trouble is: the case of CBG's, it makes for a bit of philosophical disconnect, doesnt it?

The nation is a GREAT collection point for ideas and a great gathering place where hobbyists can congregate. But when we delve, ad nauseum into the complete minutia of things like what-is-the-best-angle-for-a-scarf-joint and what-material-is-best-for-sound-hole-grommets - and analyze every aspect to the enth degree - do we lose a little bit of the raw "stick-in-the-box charm" of the cbg??

I've noticed that many of the early crowd of "players" have drifted away. Maybe what I feel is missing is not the role of "the nation", but I'd like to think there was *someplace* online that could focus on :the player: side . . . a place where the average curious Joe Citizen who doesn't want to launch into a "DIY hobby" could click and and simply find out where to go to experience the raw joy of people playing (I'll use Mr. Speal's word:) "Primal" music - locate cigar box guitar festivals, local bands playing this stuff etc. etc etc.

When we get THAT, the cbg movement becomes something akin to a musical genre,

am I alone in this thought?

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Took me a few seconds to get that one, Ron.   LOL!

Build it , play it , make changes , play some more then tweak it till it reaches it's full potential and play it till someone wants it.

I think that there is an evolution that takes place in many if not all of us on our CBG journey. My first build was a very simple stick through the box build. I was blown away that I was able to build something in about an hour that truly functioned as a musical instrument. As my builds progressed 3 strings turned to 4 and then 6 strings bolt bridges were replaced with bone and more complicated electronics were introduced. Now after about 25 build I find I'm returning to my roots of using whatever I have in my workshop to create something. But no one ever told me that what I was doing didn't belong here.

What I think is awesome about this site is the diversity of the builds and performances. We are not limited to cigar boxes or a set number of strings. Nor are we limited to playing a specific type of music. 

As a builder I love to display my projects in the photo section.

As a musician I love to post my videos.

And in the forums I can be a student sometimes and a teacher others.

I think this is the closest to a perfect on line community that I have ever seen. As Shane said from the very beginning there are no rules.

As far a drifting away goes I think that is a natural thing to do. Most of us had other hobbies before Cigar Box Nation and will find new obsessions in the future. For me my CBG obsession combined my love of making music and my love of woodworking. Who knows what the future holds , next year I might be building furniture and may drift away for a while. But I'm sure I would be welcomed back when I felt I had something to contribute.

Bottom line is this is a wonderfully supportive community for all musicians and craftsman.

Can we get an "Amen" on that??

Reverend!  (Blazing Saddles)

I randomly came across this site and was intantly drawn to this whole thing.  So I figured since I had a woodworking shop I would build a pair for the kids. They were impressed for a while and moved on, no biggie, but I was hooked, figured I can do this. Built this built that, made a simple amp. Well how could I tell if I was making crap, learn to play! Now playing a instrument is something that requires some tallent, I have none,nada zip, but I am still sticking with it.

So yes, I am a builder first but now spend 100 to 1 trying to play relative to building. My building has advanced and I have built a few electric guitars, playing has advanced much slower. The point here is the "Nation" was and is my source of inspiration to embark on a long road of trying to learn to play. I have drifted on as mentioned by others, but still plugging away at playing. So do not under estimate your influence here and how it had touched peoples lives in a postive way.

 It seems a common thread of the CBG, easy to build as a way to get a instrument to play or learn to play, seems like that was the roots of the CBG then and now. I thank you all....................Cheers Ron.

As a Post Script, I do wonder why builders post builds in the playing section, I did it yesterday but it was a miss click of the mouse, but I seem to remember the phrase I have read here many times, the rule is their are no rules, so smoke em if Ya got em.

                                          

I think something we really need is another Master's of The Cigarbox Guitar album. We all love the tributes/holiday/Blues compilations but I feel like those projects set certain limits to the music making, even when the only rule is mandatory use of a CBG. There was something about those 4 MOTCBG albums that really got to me. I remember getting them and listening to NOTHING else for months. I became a fan of the musicians on those albums only to find most of them were no longer active members of the nation. Thats not to say presently active members can't do the same because it goes without saying there are some amazing artists in the nation. But with those early MOTCBG albums there was an innocent honesty to the music. Its like a CBG was handed to these folks and they were told "do summpin wit it" and sure enough they did. I remember hearing Wally World World and thinking WTF is this?!?! This is so AWESOME!! We need something like that again. An album compiled by us just showing what we can make these little guitars do. No genres, no themes, no bullshit, just straight original material with our favorite boxes.

I'm willing to include any song from my first two albums. Who else is in?

I'm in with a couple down home originals.

I'm learning to sing and play at the same time. Don't know if that makes me a master. I'd love to toss in a song or two.

I think part of the problem too is that folks often seem to post building related threads into the playing forum and it muddies up the waters a bit as far as trying to find playing information goes.

Might not be worth $.02 so keep the change y'all.

I don't think that's intentional. When you are on the forum page and click 'add', it defaults the category to performances :)

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