But from limitations, comes creativity!  --Debbie Allen
'Tis a gift to be simple, 'tis a gift to be free!  --Simple Gifts

Joined the Nation back in Fall of 2016.   1st build was Spring 2016--a stick-on-top 3 stringer.  But later had some kinda wierd epiphany, dropped the 3rd string & built a 2-stringer back in Sept.  Dowel-necked, fretted, simple home-made tuners, and open tuned to E-B on a 24 inch scale using bronze-wound classical guitar 6th & 4th strings.  Nut is just two slotted pan-head screws, and the bridge is a plastic bottle cap.  Oh, and for picks, I've settled on hair combs that I had laying around.  Frets are cut-up chromed key-rings.  And finally, just for fun, an old antique copper doorknob on the top end of the dowel neck.

Pretty strange yeah, but straight forward, & not at all fancy or slick.  But I really really love my li'l ol' deuce.    All acoustic, but has suprisingly good volume--and tone!  Full and round, with suprising sustain and reverb, and not very twangy or metallic at all.  I'm kinda shocked actually, and so are lots of other folks who've heard it.  

Got me a hankerin to sing some blues and other folk stuff a little while back, so my li'l deuce helps me out some as a simple but kinda kool & sweet-sounding accompaniment instrument.   So together, the singing and playing kinda compensate for each other's shortcomings.  Thru some experimentation and e-z online research, I found that I can easily create (and ornament!) major, minor, augmented, and "diminished" harmonies, and of course the absolute easiest arpeggios ever.  And I am learning to build on those simple arpeggios to create spontaneous 3-note and even 4-note picking patterns!  

Well and anyway, discovered I can learn to play a whole lotta suprisingly good stuff on just two strings and no amp--with a little creative "outside of the box" thinking. Use my thumb on the low string with my remaining four fingers on the high string to create harmonic and melodic patterns.  Works great for me with the broomstick neck. No slide though, but just use my bare fingers instead just fine.  Hair-comb pick helps a lot with volume, prevents finger cramps on the pick hand, and--well--looks and feels kinda cool also.  At least to me--but I'm kinda freaky that way.

Anyway, I'm hoping to post a few videos for constructive feedback--but don't know how.  Don't know nuthin bout no 'lectric stuff--how to mike, what kind of mike, how to git it on a PC, & etc.  Maybe some of you folks with more savvy can help me out--simple suggestions and what-not?  Like maybe a simple mike?  Not too bright here tho, so kindly KISS!   Would definitely appreciate it!  Deuces are Wild!