Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on February 10, 2017 at 5:51am

Yep. Happens on mandolin, banjo, ukelele and other stringed instrument sites all the time. It even happens here fairly often. But at least here, when it does, a chorus of voices, including mine, shouts "No Rulz!" Then we go on to yell at the poor soul about there being actual guidelines if they wanna get proper intonation. ;-)

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Permalink Reply by Gus K on February 10, 2017 at 10:26am

Nothing wrong with like minded folks having their own group.

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Permalink Reply by SlowFoot on February 20, 2017 at 2:09am

Exactly right Gus. Good to have both types of groups. If I wanted to learn how to make an authentic, traditional style instrument, thats the place I'd look. Nothing wrong with that at all. Trouble is, some or them come off as being exclusive and snooty when asked a question like this.

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Permalink Reply by Cause the Blue rat on February 10, 2017 at 11:23am

Oh ya. Not just on forums but face to face. I'm into steampunk. It's a fandom with so many conflicting rules there's no real set to go by. But someone will always let you know when your breaking one of their personal mantras.  These people are collectively known as "Prop Nazis". They exist in all fandoms. But steampunk seems to bring them to an annoying point. Take it way to seriously. 

It has to work.

It has to be made of real materials. Leather, metal and wood.

Be an exact replica of something from the mid 1800's.  bla bla bla bla.

I tell them,

" The day someone floats here in a cast iron, steam powered air ship is the day I'll stop using cardboard."

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Permalink Reply by Timothy Hunter on February 13, 2017 at 2:33am

but the Victorians were heavy into paper mache . i think i remember some lacquered PM boxes on antiques roadshow... and those guys didnt turn their noses up at it...lol

 

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Permalink Reply by Bobby Wallen on February 10, 2017 at 2:54pm

I have gotten some wierd looks from so called aficionados. I have gotten to the point of not carrying what they say or how they precieve what I do. And I love galax dulcimers they really show how ingenious dulcimer makers were to amp up the sound of their creations!

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Permalink Reply by Jim Morris on February 10, 2017 at 3:09pm

Yup Matt, for me it's usually "your cigar box fiddle sounds pretty good....you ought to try making a real one"

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Permalink Reply by Cigar Box Nation on February 10, 2017 at 3:59pm

Here's what I think of rules...

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Permalink Reply by Matthew Borczon on February 10, 2017 at 5:28pm

just exactly how I felt. I play by my own rules, I take no prisoners I do no harm I hum the national anthem at ballgames but will share my bathroom with anyone. I build the cigarbox guitar with peace love and understanding and I will accept any instrument in any way you want as long as you can shred it in a way I feel deep into my ball sac. Amen!

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Permalink Reply by Bobby Wallen on February 10, 2017 at 4:06pm

Cigar box nation home of musical anarachism :-)

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Permalink Reply by turtlehead on February 10, 2017 at 4:06pm

Yeah, I get the side eye and "you should build a regular guitar" sometimes, but whatever. One thing I've come to respect though are the folks who are very serious about keeping the traditional ways alive. I think there's room for both and we need them both.

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Permalink Reply by Cause the Blue rat on February 10, 2017 at 8:43pm

I've gotten the 'look down at' from other musicians. I tell them,

"Anyone can make six strings sound good. Try using three." 

And then there's the modern tuning purists. Hypocrites. They claim there is only one tuning for a guitar. Then detune their guitars to match The Rolling Stones, Neil Young, and so on and so on.... : )

Music has never been about the instrument. It's about self expression and art.  

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