#1 resource for Cigar Box Guitars, Free Plans, How-To, Parts & More!

Why do Music Shops dislike CBG's?

Hello all,

I have always been pretty good at crafting things since I was a little boy. I've always tore things apart just to see how they are put together. I’ve built a few CBG’s back in High School in the 80's and started building them again a few months back since it’s been a bit easier to pick up cheap cigar boxes.

When going to a few local music’s store in my area to try and pick up parts, (New Jersey) I seem to get the same reply from some of the store owners or employees when they ask me what I am using the parts for.

“Why do you want to build that for, they all sound like crap” or a get the old eye roll.

I firmly disagree with them and usually thank them for their time and walk out. It seems to me that CBG’s are look down on. I work at a school and even the music teacher here gives me a look when I mention it to him. I have bought one in and even he said the my craftsmanship is very nice and professional, he tells me I should just save my money and time and buy a nice guitar. Has anyone else run into this kind of behavior, or is it just a north-eastern thing.

I have many interest including playing the Bagpipes, Guitar, and Drums, but having a wife and 4 wee ones have been taking up a majority of my time.

2 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by TN Twang on August 25, 2014 at 5:29am

I completely agree with James Huey & Wayfinder (above), but I also believe you've got to look at the economic realities of running a music store. (Which ain't the most profitable business in the world.)

The store owner isn't rich enough to buy all of those instruments that are on display. The manufacturers extend credit to the retailers--and possibly offer generous return options on products that don't sell. The El Cheapo Guitar Co.. LTD may buy a lot of display space by being generous in its business terms--made possible by the fact that their products are overpriced crap. I haven't actually tried it, but my thought is to offer CBGs on consignment so the stores can have product to show without running up any debt or restocking fees. If a consignment item doesn't sell in 3 months, swap them a different instrument so their display stock stays fresh.

Demos, festivals, etc. that pull traffic into the store ought to be a real plus for the retailer if they're handled right. Beware of retailers who don't want anything to do with any of this. (I've known music retailers who were simply morons. I don't know why they got into the business, and they didn't last very long.)

One of the great things about Cigar Box Nation is that a lot of members are contributing training and demo materials. There are some good links on here, but we probably need an even better set of links to a variety of building, tuning, and playing styles. Get the music store guys to know where to go online to get demo vids. (I was recently pricing a high-end ukulele. No one in the store played one, but the sales guy knew how to find several "killer" uke players online for me to see what was possible if you practice hard enough.)

Create some point-of-sale materials to go with your product in the store. (Think about the posters and statues that clutter the aisles at Guitar Center.) Use desktop publishing to make a 2-sided black on yellow paper 8 1/2 by 11 printout about your folksy crafting and include a couple of gratuitous pull quotes from the director of the local Folk Art Center. Include a badly reproduced photo of a couple of your best and be sure to put an address so they can contact you directly in case the store guys have irritated them.

Put a "professional looking" descriptive hanging tag on each instrument. For example:

Four-string El Producto Cigar Box Guitar

Maple neck and Walnut finger board

Under-bridge piezo pickup with volume control

Hand crafted by Joe Smith in 2012.

24.9" Scale

D'Addario Medium-light Strings

Set up for fretted or slide playing

(Includes FREE pick, slide, and paracord strap)

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Will King on August 23, 2014 at 4:46am

We have our local CBG meeting 4 time a year at a music shop, The Strum Shop in Roseville, CA, in fact our next meeting is 1 pm on Sunday, September 28th, 2014. Everyone is welcome!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by James Huey on August 23, 2014 at 6:20am

I'm up for a car pool. Come get me. Just a short drive from CA to Wichita Falls, Tx., ain't it? I need to be home for supper though, as my Missus don't take excuses these days. :-)