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3 String Fretless Reso Cigar Box Guitar - New Song "Lay My Hat Down"

Lots of my music available here https://bemuzic.bandcamp.com/

I came in late on the last verse, but I only finished writing it a few hrs before filming it, so I wasn’t likely to get through it with no mistakes!

I’ve mainly put it on to show fellow Cambridge busker Banjo Nick, as I wrote it with the intention of us playing it together when we meet up busking, if he likes it.

GUITAR INFO

It’s also to show my newly finished 3 string Cigar box reso.
It’s the first guitar I’ve made that isn’t a through neck, so that was all a bit new. I was intending to fret it, but loved the wavy lines going up the neck (walnut) and didn’t want to cut across it, so decided to leave it fretless. I’m also really enjoying playing something fretless for a change…a lovely old time sound.
I was intending to put a flatpup on it as well as a rod piezo in the biscuit bridge, but decided to leave that off as I like the piezo sound as it captures the resoness (not a word??!)
The scale length is 23”
The strings are Zebra DR acoustic/electric. I bought them when I thought I was going to put a magnetic as well as piezo, as they work with either, and left them on as I liked them. I’ve used the D,G and B strings (24,32,42)
The nut and bridge are unbleached bone. The reso cone is a 5 1/2" one made by Charles Atchison. I bought two, so I may make a similar one, but fretted at some point. You can buy them here https://www.cbgitty.com/cigar-box-guitar-parts/resonator-parts/5-5-inch-lightning-spun-aluminum-cigar-box-resonator-cone-by-charles-atchison/ I also vaguely followed his building instructions http://www.charlesatchison.com/#!build-a-resonator-cigar-box-guitar/c1uyj
The tuners are these from Chickenbone John http://chickenbonejohn.myshopify.com/products/epiphone-deluxe-machineheads-2-1 I really like them, both for the nice retro look, and also they turn nice and smoothly. Much nicer than the cheapy eBay ones I’ve been using. The slide is also one from Chickenbone John - one of these http://chickenbonejohn.myshopify.com/products/daddario-chromed-brass-slide It's worth having a browse on Johns page as he has some good quality stuff! I got this slide for busking as I keep breaking glass ones : -/ Like it a lot but wouldn't use it for recording as when playing a guitar with a magnetic pickup I get a slight crackle. Can't notice it while busking though, with street noise etc.
I'm most often tuned A,E,A, but for this song I went down to G,D,G as I thought it’d be better for Nick in G?

Filmed with a GoPro Hero 4

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Comment by bemuzic on September 14, 2016 at 11:16am: thanks Mark, there's a few pics here on my Facebook page. I seem to spend more time on there these days...https://www.facebook.com/belinda.gent/media_set?set=a.1020835856897...

Comment by bemuzic on September 14, 2016 at 11:09am: and Janis, hope your looping's going ok?

Comment by bemuzic on September 14, 2016 at 11:08am: sorry only just seen those last comments. I don't always seem to get an email notification these days...

Thanks Dan, how are you getting on with your loop pedal. That's what I'm using these days

Comment by Mark on May 17, 2016 at 11:24pm: That's a great tone you get from that guitar. Nice song too. Hope you'll post a few photos of the guitar so we can get a closer look at it.

Good to see you're still doing the CBG thing. I've only just seen this because I'm not as active on here as I use to be - but hoping to change that.

Comment by Janis Wilson Hughes on April 19, 2016 at 5:38am: Thanks for the encouragement on the looper. I'm gonna put some more time into now.

Comment by Dan Sirman on April 18, 2016 at 7:11am: This the first time I've actually seen someone using a looper. Very impressed. I just ordered a EHX 22500. Can't wait to try it out.

Dan

Comment by bemuzic on April 17, 2016 at 10:46am: thanks Phill and Steve

Comment by Slowpaw Steve T on April 17, 2016 at 3:55am: I recently converted my old "Resolution" to a 5 string with a larger box, nicely done Be! :-)

Comment by Phill Hill Charlie on April 16, 2016 at 8:42pm: Always sweet songs shared!!! ... One great again!...°<[:-) [;;;]==={...

Comment by bemuzic on April 15, 2016 at 11:57am: thanks a lot Janis, yes us women seem to be as rare as hens teeth on here, not sure why?!

The looping can take a bit of getting used to. I compare it with learning to drive. At first there seem to be too many things to do at once, but if you keep at it after a while you just do it without thinking...