My thoughts and opinions as I drink my second PBR with spicy hot V8 juice. PBR and spicy hot V8 juice. Cheap and good. Like CBGs.
I see a decline in the numbers of videos and photos posted on CBN. Is interest decreasing?
I have a shit-load of opinions on this, but right now, I want to hear what you think. What is the state of the CBG world and where is it going?
John
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I think the lack is in participation in this digital entity. i.e. plenty of interest in the physical, but not a big draw to post stuff. There are quite a bit of cbg builders/players around St. Louis. However only a fraction of them are even members here.
btw, Stag beer and grapefruit juice is pretty good too.
I don't get time to record as much as I would like and what I do often goes in the delete bin after I hear it. Especially this time of year with seasonal allergies and I can't hear my voice properly to be even in the same neighborhood of the correct tune.
My two young daughters in the house also make the quiet recording times rare. You see me recording more in Boston than at home.
I post more photos on my Bad Finger Cigar Box Guitars Facebook page just because it is simple and easy from my phone. Posting here from my phone, which is my primary camera is a pain with the web interface. I usually have to wait until I'm at a regular PC.
I still play my CBG every day and I always travel with one in the car. I'm still building guitars in different configurations to satisfy my curiosities. I'm thinking about a mandocello made from a Milwaukee Sawzall steel box as the next project. And I will be busking in Saratoga Springs on Broadway this summer.
Here's a couple pics for you:
Nice ones, Eric. I see a lot of CBN and former CBN folks doing the CBG thing on Facebook. I do some too, but I prefer the CBG crazy world here.
As many reasons for making 'em, playing, selling or not, teaching, simple art-expression, a wide, wide range of reasons people get into cigar box guitars as there is for some having a possible lack of interest. As for posting, etc., my personal view is that this lands in one or two large spheres: advert-make-a-buck (nothing automatically wrong with that) or the pleasure of art/craft/gift/music-making. For some it's both. But like any new trend it's the norm for excitement to fall off and a zillion other things to need our time and attention too. -Glenn
Yup.
Yup. Glenn you are not very active on CBN, but you are one of the best ambassadors we have on youtube and at fests, etc.
Thanks Unc. Well, love has EVERYTHING to do with it, really. OK, this is going to be long, you've been warned.
As many have said, when it's no longer fun.... but for me the fun is sort of laced through sharing ideas. I log on here about 8 times per day (no kidding) if nothing else to look at pics of cool ideas.
I always have about 3 waiting to be built, with an ailing wife who I'm the main caregiver to (just had her first hip replacement, the other one and both knees to go... serious arthritis) and a lot of friends who know me from years of shows, records and such, it made sense to dig deeper into my own home music which is blues. So how to challenge yersef? Move from 6 to 3, 2 or 1 string. I learned "real" guitar playing by finding 2 string chords in the E and A strings, then the same up on the A and D strings and so forth. Played slide as a kid over the top, went on to use the ring finger and lapsteel as well.
But the deal for me includes teaching and there is no simpler, better instrument. I've said it a hundred times, you may be intimidated by 6 strings but how about 3, or 2 or even 1?! And with a slide, NO CALLOUSES needed, so no pain in learning. All you gotta do is keep it perpendicular to the string(s) find the 4 and 5 position and with the open note or chord, you now have 3 chord songs. I teach Amazing Grace cuz I believe and because everyone knows it, a simple 3 chord song. The -only- issue is how much pressure to put on the string(s). Simplicity to the max. So for me, it's about teaching/learning/challenge/fun.
After years of touring, recording and live shows, it's still people that mean the most to me. Music is the link. The joy for me is seeing the OHHHH... GOT IT>>> I -CAN- DO THIS!!! moment in their eyes and I see it regularly. For that matter, builds on the super cheap if not free make the poorest person a king or queen with just a few parts.
Lastly, for me, deep blues IS not only lifestyle or life's pain (God knows there's plenty in this world) but in working back to older music, players, instrument and it's in great songs/songwriting both in music and lyrics, not merely in production. Obviously performance with heart and passion is core. Certainly it's in the heart, head and hands, not merely in big-bucks gear. If the song don't get it, the performance alone won't at least 98 percent of the time. So my personal challenge is nailing all this with the most earthy, close-to-original and homebrew instruments you can craft. OK, so Shane gave me a couple I cheat with too... guilty on that one.
I don't post often but lurk constantly. Too many other priorities to pop every pic or song up, but from time to time I'll try to do more.
Thanks, been a cool thread for sure!
-Glenn
I think a lot of people get confused between the real world and the haunted fishtank world of the interweb in terms of its importance and relevance. Strumming on a guitar in a bedroom, videoing it and on putting on here isn't the real world...and it doesn't reach many people. Trying to promote a guitar making business on CBN is preaching to the converted. I don't put much on here these days, just to keep my hand in occasionally...and because there's loads of other stuff to be done. The internet and this site is just an adjunct to the real world, it's not the entire thing..it's no substitute for reality...although for some people, I think it is pretty much the only world they inhabit, and therein lies the problem.
From what I can see, the interest in cigar box guitars is bigger than ever...but if you want to hear new music, meet interesting people and have a good time, you have to turn off the computer and step out of the front door...whether that's to walk down to your local bar with a cigar box guitar for an open mic, or loading-up the car for a 2000 mile road trip adventure.
All true and well said. But a lot of us are kind of on islands where we are the only ones doing what we do and the internet (and CBN for some) joins us with others with similar interests.
agreed UJ, I'm pretty sure I'm the only person building in mid-wales,getting people interested is v. difficult. they all got Fenders and Gibsons etc and don't get the CBG thing...
having said that we've been invited to have a (free) pitch at a local blues and rock festival next week, may get something happening..
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