#1 resource for Cigar Box Guitars, Free Plans, How-To, Parts & More!

VIDEO: Blues legend, Mac Arnold scorches the blues on his gas can guitar

In the world of the Cigar Box Guitar movement, blues legend and gas can guitarist, Mac Arnold is tragically under represented. He was born and raised on a sharecropper's farm in South Carolina. He's been a part of Muddy Water's band, played with James Brown, B.B. King, The Temptations and Otis Spann. Perhaps his most famous recording is his distinctive bass line in the theme song for Sanford & Son!

Mac Arnold has since moved back to his native South Carolina and now runs Dr. Mac Arnold's Blues Music Venue. He has also picked up the 4-string gas can guitar as a weapon of choice, fronting his band, Plate Full O' Blues

His blues venue/restaurant will be home to the Greenville Cigar Box Guitar Fest on Saturday, June 17, 2017. Mac Arnold will co-headline along with cigar box ace, Steve Arvey.

Here's a great video of Mac scorching his 4-string gas can guitar:

5 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Dano Schultz on June 10, 2017 at 3:07pm

Hey, Shane... I'm only seein' three strings in the video here and in the picture above as well. Is your copy wrong or are my old eyes playin' with me? Either way, it doesn't diminish Mr. Mac Arnold... Damn, that's great playing! Thanks for the tip.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by PhilUSAFRet on June 13, 2017 at 4:49am

I think the strap clip is blocking the view a little.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by MadGomer on June 19, 2017 at 12:36pm

Yep, looks like 3 to me. At about the 3:50 point in the vid as he's coming back through the crowd you get a good look at the back of the headstock. 3 or 4, no matter, that's something special!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on June 15, 2017 at 3:50am

Wow. No words to describe this level of fantastic. Does anyone know if the festival will be videoed or streamed on YouTube? I'd give my right arm to go to this but it's a long ol' way from Manchester, England! Lol

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Robbie on June 15, 2017 at 11:18pm

I wonder what tuning he's using. I just finished a 4 string CBG and tuned it to open G using the 4 middle strings in a 6 pack.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Dave - BelmontBluesMan on June 20, 2017 at 3:33am

Here is a better picture of it. I've seen it in person and it is a 3 String.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on June 20, 2017 at 9:56am

Great video. Love the sound I get from my gas can guitar, I leave the cap off to get that acoustic resonator tone.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Dano Schultz on June 21, 2017 at 8:17am

Thanks, Dave - BelmontBluesMan for the pic and MadGomer for the extra look. Whether you see 3 or 4, we can all agree that Mac Arnold is an amazing talent! Now I'm gonna' play the video again and _just_ listen...