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"Players" or "Builders"

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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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Patrick Curley on May 1, 2014 at 12:05pm

So the site is there and ready to go, problem is that it needs input from players to put their stuff on and 'm not sure how to make that happen. I certainly don't want to be contacting people individually and hassling them up.

Consider this. You've got a gig, great, you update your Facebok page, your web site, you contact all the gig guides, maybe you have a newsletter or a mailing list, you put up posters and now some clown is asking you to create yet another profile on yet another web site and add your gig there as well. What is going to make me do this, especially now when there's no immediate benefit?

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Permalink Reply by Sawbones on May 4, 2014 at 8:44pm

At the moment I'm more of a builder(not very good) working on my arsenal,when I get a few done I'll start recording.

I can play,but I'm trying to meld this Metal and CBG style together.

Most players I hear are blues or bluegrass based,I want to do it totally different.Which is the art and craft of this beautiful thing called music.

BNZ'

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Permalink Reply by robert jones on May 5, 2014 at 12:28am

I think you're being too hard on yourself.

How could you possibly be "not very good" at building, you did say it's "just a box and a stick" right? :D

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Permalink Reply by Sawbones on May 6, 2014 at 6:00am

True,but I'm just trying to get better,no more "tail bones",everything is neatly tucked inside and looks clean IMO.No screws or glues showing.I still screw the neck into a piece of wood glued on the inside bottom of the box,just cuz if theres ever a problem I can remove the neck in a couple minutes.

My first few were just the holes cut in the ends w/ the neck screwed to the top of the box.

Next lesson is going to be scarf joints so I can have cool headstocks.And working on my fretting.

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Permalink Reply by robert jones on May 6, 2014 at 9:55am

Download and read this if you haven't already: Advanced Cigar Box Guitar Construction by Josh Gayou

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Permalink Reply by Sawbones on May 8, 2014 at 12:17am

Thanks!

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Permalink Reply by Spence's Rye on September 7, 2015 at 9:21am

I am probably a mad man, but gonna re-ask a question that I posed over a year ago, and have never really received a viable/amiable response: Reply by Spence's Rye on May 1, 2014 at 8:14pmDelete

Forgive my ignorance... How would one go about adding a group?

What is up with no capability/or am I just not seeing the capability, to create new groups? What if some like-minded folks want to create a CBN group, so as not to disturb others with content pertinent to said group of like-minded individuals? Is such "micro-management" really necessary with regard to groups? I guess I am just not understanding the logic in preventing folks from associating with others without imposing all content on others who may not be interested in whatever "niche" topic... Best wishes to all of you fine folks!

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Permalink Reply by Jim Morris on September 7, 2015 at 2:08pm

I'm not sure how one would create a new group. I know it's possible because folks like Diane in Chicago started one focusing on CB Fiddles. I've had content imposed on me that I wasn't initially interested in and then, to my surprise, learned stuff. F'rinstance, I've never had any desire to make my own pick ups (and still don't) since I mostly play acoustic instruments. But after looking at and reading about some homemade ones I thought I'd try a few and found that I liked them. My horizons got expanded a little bit. Plus, it's easy enough to skip over things that don't interest you. So I say impose away and let folks decide if they want to skip over it or let their horizons expand.

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Permalink Reply by Preston J. Laisure on September 7, 2015 at 10:41am

I consider myself a builder. I learned: to sell one must demonstrate. Hence, I tried to play. That's when I also learned that ones hands should have been trained at an early age, not after arthritics has limited your use. So for me, cording is not possible. I have built cbg 4 strings with slightly spread out string placement, so I can play single note music (some call them "leads") utilizing primarily the first 4 frets, in which I can play a lot of songs and yes I play mostly by ear. I hope these thoughts work for some other person out there in CBN land. Everyone has their own ideas and ways of doin' & playin' & buildin'. So just have fun with it.

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Permalink Reply by jeffrey ross on September 7, 2015 at 1:05pm

I build, and desire to play better. With 30 cbgs under my belt I have learned and advanced beyond "put a stick through a box" but still maintain a traditional look and sound. I have found help on both sides of the coin on the Nation. People who have taken the time to demo my stuff ( thanks Jim!!) and do a video of it for the world to see and hear. Others have given me advice on how to better build my instruments. Lastly, there are countless lessons on how to play right on this site.

To conclude, I personally fell this site covers all the bases effectively. If you have to label what we do as its own genre, don't you take away from its simplistic nature purely by constricting it with a label?

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Permalink Reply by Jim Morris on September 7, 2015 at 1:57pm

Yup Jeff, I'm still playing the one you sent me. It's certainly more than a stick through a box and it was my pleasure to demo it. Still though, I would urge folks who build and don't think their playing is great to post vids of them playing their own builds. It makes you look at and listen to what you're doing and also gives you something to compare to a year later and see the progress you've made. I agree with Preston that if you can play a little to demo an instrument sales will certainly increase at craft shows or wherever. "with every mistake we must surely be learning"

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Permalink Reply by ron carlson on September 7, 2015 at 3:04pm

I'd like to say I'm equally both but seeing as how I haven't completed a guit in quite some time, I'm actually more player than builder. I hope that changes soon when I have more time this fall though. I do have a couple that I would like to complete.