A simple little box, a stick and a string. Something about it "resonates" with people. (No pun intended.) It''s a wonderful thing. And funny . . . when I first reveal to people I meet, that I build and play cigar box guitars, more and more I find myself almost immediately mentioning something about there being an "online community of thousands" like-minded people.
When I think about it, I suppose I do that to quickly try and assure folks that I'm not some kind of crazy unabomber type (ha ha). There is strength in numbers, after all. And with 5,000 members in sight, I was just reflecting on what an amazing thing we have here in the nation!
Thank You, Mr. Speal for staking out this little corner of the internet for us. You have done nothing less than spawn a worldwide culture! Not to overstate things, but I know that this has transformed people and changed lives. Anybody want to talk about what THE NATION means to them?
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The Nation has helped me lose 110 pounds over the past year. OK, I'm exercising and cutting down on the truckloads of food I was eating, but now I have a great new hobby/business that is really enjoyable and far more fun than sitting in my easy chair eating tortilla chips. I saw a Shane Speal video and thought I can build one and learn how to play. But, I'm a builder by nature (www.chuckthetruck.com), so I've been building way more than learning how to play. The playing I do is for my own enjoyment and I am slowly improving.
My hat is off to Shane for founding this great Nation of ours. And I'll remember to add a few bucks to the tip jar as a way of thanks. (DONE!)
Huntz
I was building CBGs before I happened upon The Nation...but since I joined so much has changed. I've organised 2 Cigar Box Guitar festivals, been on the radio, been in the local newspapers, got myself a website, gone out to guitars shows to sell my stuff, got loads of orders of making guitars...but best of all I've made a whole load of new friends.
I've been amazed and delighted that this website was the vehicle for people here in the UK to get together online, but better yet has been what has happened when we have actually got together in the real world and created some great music and good times. It looks set to continue and grow in the UK...it's been a life-affirming adventure, and I've been so pleased how much support and enthusiasm has been generated from this whole mash-up of ideas...whether it's been people building their first guitar or doing their first public performance. Party on dudes....
As member # 68 (more or less), I've been around almost from the beginning. The Nation (and the old Yahoo forum before it) was singularly important in getting me back into music as a builder and performer. I will never be as accomplished in either as many of our more illustrious members, but I am doing things I thought I would never get done....
Most importantly are the people. Although I've only met a handful of our members, I can say that I have friends across the US and around the world. Without the Nation, I would never have met such wonderful folk....
Thanks to Shane, who I count as one my best "never met" friends, for opening the world of CBGs to me....
the best,
Wichita Sam
I've been told since I was a teenager that I'd never be a guitar player. My fingers were too stubby to wrap around the neck for chords, too fat to accurately press for leads and solos. Some went even as far as to blame my Scandinavian heritage on it.
So when I found out there was a community of people making their own guitars, I was intrigued, but it wasn't until about 2 or 3 builds into the obsession that I realized I might be able to design a guitar that would accommodate the shape of my hand. I'm still working on it, but having this web site means I won't have to give up the idea of playing altogether.
A Nation of people who Dream Big Things by taking simple stuff---putting that stuff all together, stirring that stuff up...turning it around and around...shaking that stuff hard till it all blends together to form their own special music!
MickyC49
totally about inspiration. you just have to hear a cigarbox guitar to want one!
and they look like folk art - you produce a cbg and then actually play a few tunes on it, man, people are mesmerized.
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