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

When is Graduation Day?

This is like the question are we luthiers? Recently had new member come on-board referring to himself a newbie with 15 builds. My next will be a "teen". I like to build 3 or better at a time to make best use of equipment and time. I don't feel like a newbie and comfortable making CBG's,LPG's, and got a couple of '58 Corvette hubcaps on the way for my first hub cap builds.At the same time I would be challenged to build a baritone uke, like Mark or some of the absolutely unbelievable stuff I have seen here. I know I am leaving people out,no harm intended but that is a recent example. Is "newbie" connected with the number of builds, or diversity of builds? Built all acoustic,electric acoustic, pre-amped electric.

I do it for fun,but it is doing it for a living the point where it professional,advanced or is it a state of mind? Professional, to me seems me to mean that is your day job.Not a super serious question, just wonderin' here.

1 member likes this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on July 2, 2015 at 8:18am

Newbie has nothing to do with the number of builds. It has to do with how long one has been on, and contributed to, the site. I've only completed two, have purchased several from other builders, and play the snot out of em. And have been around since only about 2011.

So, not a noob, not a founder.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by darryl kernaghan on July 2, 2015 at 8:50am

I would think 'newbie'in the context of this site would not be someone who has made 15 or so guitars,but after 30 or 40 odd builds,i still learn stuff here weekly,if not daily,it's more a term of how you look at yourself,there are people who contribute very informative stuff here,and i read there posts and feel like i'm being educated,so in that respect i'm a sort of a 3 going on 4 year newbie

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by John Sawyer on July 2, 2015 at 6:15pm

42 CBGs, 2 CBUkes, 2 oil cans... and I'm still a newbie... and an amateur luthier...

These skills are ones you hone over a lifetime...

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Clock The Wolf on July 2, 2015 at 6:38pm

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Bama Hound on July 3, 2015 at 2:48am

Thanks for that Wolf. This will be a prized possession. Diploma is the only thing missing (;-D) Building CBG's is prolly like riding a motorcycle. When you think you can make it do anything at anytime you please, you are fixin' to get a case of road rash.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Road Rash Roy on July 11, 2015 at 3:58am

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Bama Hound on July 11, 2015 at 6:47am

Your avatar, handle and that git neck, pretty well sums up what your habits consist. I love it Says it all right there. Born to ride. (;-D)

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Bad Finger (Eric) on July 3, 2015 at 1:00am

Newbie:

(n1) Person new to a forum.

(n2) Someone still finding new and different ways of screwing up a CBG, regardless of experience.

(adj) Feigned modesty.

BTW, never graduate from THIS school.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by gary sheldon on July 6, 2015 at 10:26am

Yes, I noticed that too. I felt like a newbie for the first year. After 10 or so builds, I felt a little less intimidated starting a build. And then, building my own boxes was a giant leap.

My next build will be #22. Probably another uke, this time with a Gitty pre made neck.

Like a lot of us, I suppose, I sell to support my addiction. Also to make some space for more.

I still have tons to learn. Things like string gauges, tension and all that. I have no clue about bindings. Fretboard dots scare the hell out of me. Oh, also I need to take some time to learn how to PLAY these things.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Bama Hound on July 10, 2015 at 6:19am

That is part of the problem,I haven't sold one yet. I have traded one for one with my B-I-L that got me started on this habit and another to a good friend that had a 22 mag 5 shot derringer that can ride inconspicuous like.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Uncle John on July 16, 2015 at 1:57am

I will never graduate. Something new to try always comes along. We don't have to try everything, but I often want to try new stuff: diddleys, deuces, threes, fours, fives, sixes, LPGs, canjos, amunition boxes, equalizers, humbuckers, resos, dog bowls, paint lids, new playing styles and tricks. And the list goes on.

Plus to graduate, you have to be a master of the skills needed to make an all around great instrument- planning, color and decoration, construction, finish, playability, sound and volume. I am journeyman, not a master. The screw-ups on my current build testify to that.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Bluesheart on July 16, 2015 at 3:31am

I learn something new on every build I have done, often from mistakes! Part of the reason is I try to make each one unique. The other part is impatience or not thinking the whole thing through before cutting! I think it is like a lot of things in life, what first seemed confusing may become clearer with experience, but experience may lead you to try something even more challenging. So I guess I "graduate" to different or higher levels as experience grows.