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Tribute to Shane Speals "old Mac"

OK, so a while back I tried and failed to sell off my Macanudo Porto Fino Cafe boxes. So, I took it as a sign and decided to build a tribute to Shanes famous "Old Mac"...., not an exact copy, but honoring classic CBG building techiques and some of Shane's design cues.

You can see from the long view a Porto Fino Cafe box, the simple paddle headstock with leather thong strap, and an extended tail piece. You can also see quickly that this CBG has been "Wichita Sam-ized"

with 4 strings (not three), brass rod string tree, corian nut (not threaded bolt)

Although the bridge is threaded stock (brass bolt, not steel eye bolt), this CBG wails with a humbucker (not a piezo), volume control and the output jack mounted in a repurposed drawer pull plate. It does have an extended tail piece, but uses a brass hinge for the string tie. I know, no sound hole, but since I'm an amped up kinda guy, just didn't see the need.

This was a fun build, a tip of the hat to Shane for giving us this happy home. I am already using it to prep for the Blind Willie Johnson CD project.

the best,

Wichita Sam

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Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on February 3, 2011 at 2:14pm

Nice!!!

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Permalink Reply by Cigar Box Nation on February 3, 2011 at 3:35pm

That's it... Sam, we gotta schedule our jam session!!!

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Permalink Reply by Wichita Sam on February 3, 2011 at 5:04pm

Shane,

Maybe I can come out a week early for the LaborDay Fest....

Sam

Shane Speal said:

That's it... Sam, we gotta schedule our jam session!!!

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Permalink Reply by Brian Hunt on February 4, 2011 at 5:38am

Great looking guitar. I love four strings.

Brian Hunt.

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Permalink Reply by c# merle on February 5, 2011 at 2:38am

nicely done sam - thought shane had a visit from pimp my cbg there...

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Permalink Reply by Wichita Sam on February 5, 2011 at 3:35am

yea, merle,

I'd pimp anything for Shane, any time. Besides being quality thru and thru. I don't go to deep about it too often, but God put CBGs into my life when I was sorta at a dead end. I had given up music because of focusing on my wife's illness (thanks, she's OK now, but it was bad for a while). Because of Shane promoting CBGs, I found the spark that got me first building then playing, then finally writing and performing. Shane's given me the avenue to creativity and fun. Thus, the appreciation for Shane and all that he has done for me and for so many others....

the best,

Wichita Sam

c# merle said:

nicely done sam - thought shane had a visit from pimp my cbg there...

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Permalink Reply by MichaelS Country Boy Guitars on March 24, 2011 at 8:33am

OK, Sam here is my tribute to Shanes Old Mac. It features a double piezo bridge with aluminum top and a mini eye bolt in honor of Shane. The neck is solid black walnut with a stainless machine screw nut scavanged from a 1950's Johnson 3hp outboard. Tailpiece and F holes just like all my CBG's. This one plays and sounds great, I can see (hear) why Shane likes the Portofino box.

This one is for sale if anyone is interested. http://www.etsy.com/listing/70715394

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Permalink Reply by Wichita Sam on March 24, 2011 at 8:43am

Nice one Michael,

Now you see why I'm always birddogging Portofino Cafe boxes... they shouldn't sound that good, but they do... something magical.... And, if I get one of those rare ones (I've had 8 of these and on a single pasteboard top) with that dreaded pasty top, I'll just build on the bottom...... and probably do some "King of the Cigar Box Guitar" folkart to dress it up.....

the best,

Wichita Sam

MichaelS Country Boy Guitars said:

OK, Sam here is my tribute to Shanes Old Mac. It features a double piezo bridge with aluminum top and a mini eye bolt in honor of Shane. The neck is solid black walnut with a stainless machine screw nut scavanged from a 1950's Johnson 3hp outboard. Tailpiece and F holes just like all my CBG's. This one plays and sounds great, I can see (hear) why Shane likes the Portofino box.

This one is for sale if anyone is interested. http://www.etsy.com/listing/70715394