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

Red Rider ~ a builder's story

This is an older build and one of the first that I turned into a relic. It had a string buzz when I first made it. I wrongly diagnosed it as not enough downward angle at the neck. I cut a spoon for a string retainer. That can work, but do not use stainless steel - too hard to cut and also, remove all sharp edges. Turned out that was not the problem.

The problem was not enough down pressure on the saddle. The hinge tail piece was up too high above the box. That height in comparison to the saddle can be too high or too low. Got it pretty good. Bye bye buzz.

I was recently thinking about painting this one barn red~ a farm boy special. Then I saw a beauty of a red relic from Darren Brown. Made up my mind. Like it. That is a buffalo nickel in the corner. Significance uncertain.

This git was in photos and vids before it became red. Always good, but not great as a player. Well, good is good enough.

Tuned DGB. Good intonation, Fair sound and not really loud. Piezo. Decent plugged, but these DGB gits I mostly use acoustic.

A video with it used on an old blues will be out this first week of April.

Okay, I gave DB credit. I usually have a few builders whom I admire. It changes. Some have not been active lately. Of late, I have liked DB's and Maddog's among others. For creativity, Maddog and JP Swenson are among my faves.

Cheers.

2 members like this

View Full Size

Tags:

Comment

You need to be a member of Cigar Box Nation to add comments!

Join Cigar Box Nation

Comment by Uncle John on April 21, 2013 at 12:01am: Thanks, guys. Purty good player git.

Comment by BUGGY (C) on April 20, 2013 at 10:54pm: Beautiful...

Comment by the anonymous pick on April 2, 2013 at 1:53am: lookin sweet UJ . rustic yum yums .

Comment by Uncle John on April 2, 2013 at 1:47am: Should mention Shane Wagstaff as long as I am touting fave builders. And John Maw. who seems occupied with other things right now. And Delvero. And on the basic end of things, Shane S.

Comment by Uncle John on April 1, 2013 at 10:42am: Don't know, Larry. Seemed fitting. Thanks!

Comment by Larry Chapman on April 1, 2013 at 10:10am: I put a Indian head nickel on several of my builds that I made from catawba wood. My thinking was it paid homage to the history of the $5 cent cigar, the cigar store Indian, and that catawba is also known as Indian cigar wood. Plus, it just looked neat. Like your build.

Comment by Maddog on March 31, 2013 at 3:46pm: I like it John, looking forward to the vid. And I am very flattered to be mentioned with fine builders like Darren and JP, Thank You!

Comment by Uncle John on March 31, 2013 at 1:42pm: Naw, Clock. I will quit when I need glasses.

Comment by Clock The Wolf on March 31, 2013 at 1:38pm: You'll shoot your eye out!

You'll shoot your eye out!

You'll shoot your eye out!