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Hey guys, brand new CGN member here, and so excited about CBG!

I found out about CBG while browsing youtube looking for music lessons for the strumstick. I stumbled upon Some of Shane's content and Justin Johnson's stuff and I was hooked!

For years, I have been on again off again trying to play guitar. I kept getting frustrated because well it takes a lot of coordination to play a guitar and I didn't have the patients to go through hours of technique before I could actually play a song.

I watched Glenn Watts video on making a CBG and decided that it looked easy enough so I thought I would build my own.

I am a bit of a woodworker so I figured it would be easy to do. I built my own box, because I didn't have any cigar boxes. Basically I walked out to my shop and with just the things I had laying around left over from other projects, I was able to put one together in a couple hours!

I was so excited and I couldn't wait to play it! I went out to my tool box in the shop to find a 3/4" socket to use as a slide and as I was digging around in my tool box, I picked up a "socket" that looked the right size and low and behold I was holding an actual guitar slide in my hand that I had lost 20 years ago! I couldn't believe it! I must have dug around in that tool box looking for sockets a thousand times over the last 20 years and never came out with it. And now, just when I need a guitar slide, here it is!

I think there must be a CBG angel that is just waiting for opportunities to do some good!

Anyway, since then I made a Canjo because I had tuners left over, and that was awesome, then last week I bought 3 canjo kits on the CB Gitty sale, I put one together as is and the second one I made a 3 stringer out of. Then the other day I stopped in to the tobacco store and bought a couple Cigar Boxes. I waked out with 3 cigar boxes (my daughter said I looked like the happiest person to ever walk out of a tobacco store.) I mounted that 3 string Canjo to a Cigar Box and boy does it sound good! I'll post more about that build later.

Next I am going to put a pickup in it. I don't know which pickup to buy though. Any ideas?

This is that first CBG. Since this picture was taken, I have put real tuners on it and added fretts

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Permalink Reply by Grandpa on December 8, 2016 at 2:02pm

Labor Day weekend, 2014. Yeah, Wayfinder, I've been busy. Found something I love to do. Like Aaron said, a wife that's cool with it! But full disclosure: 3 have been diddley bows, one was a lap steel (thanks, Shane).

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Permalink Reply by Grandpa on December 8, 2016 at 6:32pm

Thankfully, we are none of us in a race. We'ed all be chasing Chickenbone and Crocker (and how many others?). Aaron, and any other new/newer members following along, this endeavor is a joy for us all, a job for some. Wayfinder, Dan Sleep, Rick Alexander, and others build pickups and gits, I build gits with store-bought or scavenged electronics, like most likely do. I have some power tools that speed up neck building, for example. At first I used hand tools and wood that was cut-to-size. I banter back and forth with some of the Nation members that I feel real comfortable and familiar with...and I have never met them! Wayfinder remarked on the low hourly wages one can expect for a good effort. Yup, for most of us we would starve if we relied on git building to eat. Some are making a good go at a living, too.So enjoy, make some sawdust, and enjoy the contacts herein who are ready to help. Advice free, parts a little more!