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The Incredible Guitar Builders at a Refugee Camp in Malawi

There's been many discussions about the best tools to use when making cigar box guitars, but this video is guaranteed to humble any builder. Filmed in 2012, the video, Guitar Maker at Dzalaka Refugee Camp, Malawi shows refugees making great, playable guitars out of chunks of discarded wood and the most basic tools available.

Note how the builder makes a radiused fretboard with just a hand planer! The frets look like they're nothing but electric fence wire. And yet, they sound great, as evidenced by the soundtrack.

I don't know if the builders are still refugees, butthey do have a facebook page.

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Permalink Reply by Gary O'slide on February 15, 2016 at 4:00am

Wow excellent perfect.

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Permalink Reply by Jeff Sacree on February 15, 2016 at 9:38am

Inspiring, we bitch and moan to ourselves about not having the right gear but these guys do it on a real budget. Respect to them and be cool if we could help them out in some way?

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Permalink Reply by Donald Swan on February 20, 2016 at 3:36am

Yeah, I think this cured me of moaning about my working conditions. ;) Amazing really.

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Permalink Reply by Rooster Reaves on February 16, 2016 at 6:18am

That is so cool. All with just a hand saw, file and a Jack plane! Hope he can sell some.

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Permalink Reply by Mark C on February 16, 2016 at 6:30am

He talked about sponsors. How would one contribute? I find this completely humbling.

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Permalink Reply by Mad Mike's CBG's on February 18, 2016 at 9:13am

Yup I'm looking into that right now with Shane's help....

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Permalink Reply by Robert Stapleton on February 16, 2016 at 3:44pm

Amazing. All hand work. I'd buy a CBG from these guys.

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Permalink Reply by Mick Erglis on February 16, 2016 at 9:23pm

Total respect to these guys, they are better Luthiers than I. I would buy one too and pay double for what he asked for.

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Permalink Reply by Marko Natri on February 17, 2016 at 2:30am

Heres true git builder!!! Look those tools... huh. I raise my hat.

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Permalink Reply by Nikkomodo on February 17, 2016 at 6:48pm

That was amazing.

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Permalink Reply by Kalmario on February 18, 2016 at 12:41pm

shows that the flatness of the neck is irrelevant (i.e. close is good enough) especially as the frets are filed flat. beat these play nicer than most factory made un-setup guitars

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Permalink Reply by Robert Stapleton on February 20, 2016 at 5:04am

Does anyone know if they've shipped guitars before? We're so used to things coming from China without a problem because they ship in bulk containers made for voyages, but these guys probably don't have that option. So as far as buying products from them goes, the first question to answer would be is shipping even a possibility.

If the answer is yes and the concern is that CBGs can't make the trip because they are hollow whereas solid bodies are OK, then maybe a solution would be to have them make a three string version of their guitar with a solid body in a rectangular shape that looks like a CBG. That would be a simpler build as well.
I'm sure someone could arrange to get donations through, but it would be cool to have one of their amazing products and that would be incentive to spend.

As far as sending them things go, paint would be one thing that is restricted. Tools is a great idea. I don't know if there are restrictions on those with all the terrorism these days, but the last I heard was it's OK if in the cargo of the plane and not being carried on board. For ships, I have no idea.