Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Greg Miller on September 2, 2009 at 5:03pm

Hello Alan, I am kind of new here myself. I havent had the honor of playing a smokehouse guitar yet. I checked out the ebay ad for this. The guitar looks pretty nice. It looks like smokehouse uses all high quality parts and has great feedback. I think the reseller didnt have buyers remorse. He stated he didnt want to deal with someone purchasing it from him if they have buyers remorse. But what kind of guitar do You have your heart set on?? $500 dollars is a lot to spend on a cigar box guitar. Can you find a higher quality guitar for that price? Maybe you could buy one from smokehouse direct and see what is gaurantee is? Anyway glad to have you in the nation. And good luck with your guitar search.

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Permalink Reply by Diydc on September 2, 2009 at 9:12pm

I can only reitterate what Ted is saying here, and would also like to see a link to the said article.
People wait months for one of mine, as I do not release them until they are completely satisfactory, although mine look nowhere near as good as the smokehouse guitars you are refering to, but I work on sound more than anything else.

maybe you should check out Mojo Guitars, as they have some very nice sounding and looking stuff as well, but it also comes at a - justified- price

I also know guitar players who simply do not get along with a CBG, as the feel is so different as to what they are used to, and they will almost certainly sound different, so maybe going for a cheap and nasty one would save you a whole heap of time and effort first off, as you can try it out a bit, make adjustments and generally mess about with it without a massive financial deficit if it does not work out for you....

Ted Crocker said:

Hi Alan, can you please post a link to the complaint you saw? I know Josh from Smokehouse and he creates a high quality instrument and I would like to see this complaint before you make a decision and drag his name through the mud here publicly. Josh makes an instrument to pro specs and uses great quality gear to back up his intricate builds.

Perhaps the buyer's remorse is that he couldn't wrap his mind around a guitar with a cigar box as a body. I'm sorry, but I have to call you out on this. There are a lot of eBay guitars that are a stick thru a box, but Smokehouse Guitars are instruments that reflect a quality that Josh takes pride in signing his name to. Josh is a long time well respected member here. And his creations are worth more than the price tag.

Alan, a cigar box guitar is completely different than what you are used to goofing around with in Guitar Center playing Poisen licks. Besides the look, it has a decidedly different feel and if crafted properly, a completely different sound. The differences may be small when dealing with a quality builder, but i dare you to pick up a cookie cutter Strat or Les Paul or any other flavor of the week machine made guitar and get the same vibe as a homemade cigar box guitar made to spec by a luthier who has made a name in this genre.

I appreciate that you question spending a good chunk of change after reading one review, and you didn't even say it was a bad review of the instrument, just that the guy had second thoughts on buying a cigar box guitar. I'd recommend Googling a little further. Josh has a reputation that ensures that you are happy with his instrument.

Please don't let what you saw turn you off to cigar box guitars. Search me, I create instruments on a level that Josh does. Mine are custom made and require months of waiting, just like many other builders here.

We are a great community and you can find whatever you want here. Sorry if I bit your nose off, but we don't cotten well to unsubstantiated criticism.

Again, sorry Alan, let's see why you are dissing Josh and his Smokehouse Guitars.

peace

Ted

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Permalink Reply by StarGeezers on September 3, 2009 at 1:33am

Did anybody ever list the parameters for what they consider a well made CBG... ? Seems like all the Charm and "MOJO" of a CBG is the somewhat "primitive " aspect... and the many unique interpretations created by all these fine builders... Sorta' Art despite itself !!!

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Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on September 3, 2009 at 1:56am

Dude, this is a good price for this box. No joke. I've seen others on ebay from other great builders for more. Jump on it if you have the cash.

I gotta say, I too have seen the work Josh has made and its quite impressive in the sense of the craftsmanship.

Here and here.

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Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on September 3, 2009 at 2:01am

I don't think there are any being exactly what you said -- the primitive aspects, but if someone were to spend the $$$ for a build guitar that one could but off the shelf, then craftsmanship and reliability are very important. I think that most of the builders who even have the guts enough to show their work have earned my complements. Ornate, primitive, doesn't matter to me.

I say, its the player, not necessarily the instrument. I like John McNairs (Red Dog Guitars) boxes but his playing is fantastic. When he plays his seemingly simple 3 string, it comes alive. One of his videos is what got me into this.

I think the reviewer (not Alan) was kinda smitten with the idea of the Cohiba and would have enjoyed it if it weren't for his "original dano pro which has been my dream guitar since day one" showed up. Eh, to each his own.I hope he isn't selling it for much more than it was bought. Such a shame to have to let that one go ( I have a soft spot for Cohibas ).


StarGeezers said:

Did anybody ever list the parameters for what they consider a well made CBG... ? Seems like all the Charm and "MOJO" of a CBG is the somewhat "primitive " aspect... and the many unique interpretations created by all these fine builders... Sorta' Art despite itself !!!

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Permalink Reply by spencer on September 3, 2009 at 1:49pm

they aint for everyone...

just like I hate any guitar named ibanez, yamaha, bc rich (barf) etc...there are tons of people that do like em. I hate some things based on look, feel, playability, sound, build quality etc all in different combinations and not everyone would agree because not everyone sees, feels or hears things the same way. Its music...its art...its subjective.

Here's a perfect example...lot of people hate Ovation, but there are still professionals that choose them.

besides, just because the guy that bought it was not happy...doesnt mean the guitar sucks. It may just mean that the guy's a true blue idiot with no taste or style or chops:) We've all met dummies that bad mouth something we think is awesome. Maybe he's a musical priss who will only play it if it says Gibson...you just never know.

hey, at least Alan asked...and you never know until you do, I think he was more than fair about it. He asked a fair question and got a fair answer. Now consider him educated and welcome...I would love a smokehouse guitar, but I simply never play electrics.

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Permalink Reply by spencer on September 3, 2009 at 4:55pm

that auction tells the whole story right there...

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Permalink Reply by Roosterman on September 3, 2009 at 10:06pm

Josh got more than a raw deal. Good job most of us can read....
I think this may be a case of 'due to immense excitment buyer failed to read the whole description'.
I hope by now he has seen sense, and bought the damn thing - why wouldnt you when you were about to buy one at full price???

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Permalink Reply by Joker on September 4, 2009 at 4:45am

Alan, in all due respect, I feel if you are looking for a "well made" CBG I hope you don't find it. The whole point of building a guitar out of a cigar box is to have an instrument that has that rough primal feel. Even the higher end cbg's are probably light years away from the action and playablility of a brand new les paul or strat. Most of the folks on here are building their own to play themselves. A few are builders building to sell, and if they are stripping away the primal aspect of CBG then it's just a novelty guitar. If you want a good 6 stringer, Guitar Center would love to have your business. If you want to experience music at it's primal roots, take a box, jam in a stick, stretch on some strings, put a slide on yer finger an go!

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Permalink Reply by 3 String Blues on September 4, 2009 at 7:56pm

yo J, guitar center is gonna have a sale this weekend labor day blow out ur nut sac with good deals...I am gonna be ther to buy parts!
hey I can't hate em every day of the year!

Joker said:

Alan, in all due respect, I feel if you are looking for a "well made" CBG I hope you don't find it. The whole point of building a guitar out of a cigar box is to have an instrument that has that rough primal feel. Even the higher end cbg's are probably light years away from the action and playablility of a brand new les paul or strat. Most of the folks on here are building their own to play themselves. A few are builders building to sell, and if they are stripping away the primal aspect of CBG then it's just a novelty guitar. If you want a good 6 stringer, Guitar Center would love to have your business. If you want to experience music at it's primal roots, take a box, jam in a stick, stretch on some strings, put a slide on yer finger an go!

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Permalink Reply by Joker on September 4, 2009 at 10:47pm

The one close to me has the worst selection of parts. I go to a small music shop a few miles from my house. They have a better selection, better stock and can beat GC on price. They also didn't turn their noses up when I told em the parts were for cbg's.

3 string guitar said:

yo J, guitar center is gonna have a sale this weekend labor day blow out ur nut sac with good deals...I am gonna be ther to buy parts!
hey I can't hate em every day of the year!

Joker said:

Alan, in all due respect, I feel if you are looking for a "well made" CBG I hope you don't find it. The whole point of building a guitar out of a cigar box is to have an instrument that has that rough primal feel. Even the higher end cbg's are probably light years away from the action and playablility of a brand new les paul or strat. Most of the folks on here are building their own to play themselves. A few are builders building to sell, and if they are stripping away the primal aspect of CBG then it's just a novelty guitar. If you want a good 6 stringer, Guitar Center would love to have your business. If you want to experience music at it's primal roots, take a box, jam in a stick, stretch on some strings, put a slide on yer finger an go!

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Sprague (Knotlenny) on September 5, 2009 at 1:58am

Hi Alan - and welcome! . . .
As you've no doubt concluded: you hit on a topic that folks here are pretty passionate about. I think the main point is that we view these instruments as something pretty special. There's an indescribable mojo that you can't really understand until you hold one in your hands and play it. Bottom line - "a well made 6 string guitar made of a cigar box"makes it sort of sound like you're looking for a "designer" strat that happens to have a 'cigar box" theme. That's really not what cbg's are all about.

While that kind of consumer demand is probably great for builders here that are trying to eek out a few bucks selling these things (nobody is getting rich - trust me) but the fact that you took the time to investigate the group means something . . . so here's some advice: Fact is- if you REALLY want to experience something new and refreshing - start out with a battered fretless three-string cigar box guitar, let the virus works it's way into your bloodstream for awile . . . . and you can work your way up to one of those top shelf 6-stringers. Along the way you'll discover something very magical! I guarantee it.
Sincerely,
K

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