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Hi there all,
my name is Yellowbelly Flatt and I have begun to build cigar box instruments despite the fact that I have no woodworking knowledge or experience.
My interest is in ukuleles as I regularly play with a ukulele orchestra and I find these instruments fascinating.
I also play slide guitar and have a small collection of resonator instruments.
I have been playing guitar and bass since 1971 and although my playing is average, I have played in several bands playing mainly blues.
Cigar box instruments also include several 4 stringers and a stand up bass
I have, over the past year become very interested in the fiddle. To this end I have built a cigar box fiddle and I am learning how to play the thing.
In 2011 I have played a several small local music festivals.
Posted on April 29, 2013 at 1:58am 2 Comments 3 Likes
Well, after playing several open mic events and a couple of local festivals, I was asked to perform on the acoustic stage at a record companies launch night.
A few weeks later the owner of the company Robert Harrison of Long Haired Music in Spilsby, Lincolnshire saw me in Lincoln and asked if he could record my playing. This would be…
ContinuePosted on February 6, 2011 at 11:20am 2 Comments 0 Likes
So, following my break/holiday it was back to work for a fortnight of difficult (and long) shifts.
However, I did manage to fit in a couple of open mic sessions. One was the monthly 'jam night' at the Plough where, having arrived late after a long shift, I played my cigar box fiddle performing (for those that know or care) "Lincolnshire Lads", "Fanny power"…
ContinuePosted on January 24, 2011 at 10:58am 0 Comments 0 Likes
Well everybody, I've just spent a week or so away at my parents and I suddenly realised how tired and fatigued I was. Dad got himself a cymera (or something like that) which is a trapezium shaped stringed instrument with each string tuned in a diatonic progression. It sounds really tuneful and would be great with a pick up and a bit of distortion.
…
ContinuePosted on January 8, 2011 at 6:26am 0 Comments 0 Likes
Well there we are, another Christmas gone. There seems to have been so many.
I got an invite to play at a local pub (bar) on new years eve as part of their festivities. I played a selection of 1960/1970s English pop classics with a 4 string baritone tuned guitar. One of mine.
Songs included 'Honkey tonk angels', Honkey Tonk Women', 'The Ballad of Lucy Jordan', 'Memphis', Brown eyed handsome man' and 'Promised Land'. Things went well and the Landlord and family…
ContinuePosted on December 20, 2010 at 11:11pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
Well, although the weather has been awful, it's been a good week.
The fiddle has been finished with a new bridge and several minor adjustments. I'm slowly getting used to the instrument as it is a bit different from a 'traditional' acoustic violin and it balances a bit strangely when compared to my factory built electric fiddle.
I have also been delighted to see that my cigar box Christmas tune 'Silent Night' was included in the Christmas download for 2010 and I received…
Continue
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Could you advertise some parts on here for me struggling with mobile to work the site.
Full set of gold Gotoh open back m/heads £25 + p&p
3 metal gold knobs with pearloid tops £10
2 Cream P90's style 5 string mandolin pickups £50 +p&p
I can email photos if u can let me have email address
Many thanks my friend
Ani xxx
Deep South of Louth enjoying the sunshine. I am at the Funny as Folk festival this weekend in Caboune Parva. I'll be taking my biscuit tin and UKE so sure I will doing something. I have a spot at the Mablethorpe busking day in August. Hopefully I will be in Lincoln on the busking day will have to pop by and take a gander.
hi dudes
Hi There
I finished the 3 string and have strung it up, decent enough volume considering it's only acoustic. Having a bit of difficulty tuning it to open G as i'm not too sure about the # and b thing and the G's being an "octave" apart. I seem to be taking the bottom G to almost breaking point. I also think my strings may be too high off the fretboard? I think I'm going to take a break now as I'm getting a bit frustrated to say the least.
Oh by the way I got hold of a glass slide that fits me okay but all I've managed to get out of it is a kind of scraping whine, not good.
Cheers
Midge
Not thought about handlebars at all, wouldn't have a clue where I could get any to cut up either??
Nearly finished the first one Steve, just got the tailpiece screwed down and some sound holes cut into the box. Nothing fancy as this one is just a trial really, I made a mistake right at the start of the build but managed to recover it and I won't make the same mistake again that's for sure.
I just need to get her strung up now, but I'm going to wait until tomorrow to do that as I need to practice on my shop bought guitar. I'll let you know if I get any sound out of her when it's done. Still trying to find something to use as a slide, I have such small hands its proving to be a problem getting something to sit on my little finger comfortably.
Midge
Thanks for the good luck. I'll let you know once I get it finished. Very few tools and absolutely NO woodworking skills,
what could possibly go wrong?
Hi Steve
I have all I need to build the first, this will be a trial run so I'm just going to use a pretty scruffy cigar box and a piece of timber from B&Q for the neck, The neck is the piece that worries me most to be honest, I then have the black Cohiba box I showed you and, I've just bought a plain wine presentation box which I want to use and decorate myself. I have some pieces of antler which I hope to use for the nut and/or bridge. I won't risk ruining either of my 2 decent boxes until I've got over my nerves with the first build. Hope to get started this weekend as I spent the last one stripping wallpaper.
Thanks for asking mate.
Best Wishes
Midge
Damn!!!!!!!!!! Looks like CBG's grow on trees in your neck of the woods.
Thanks for the advice, I have every intention of keeping it simple, my limited skills will
not allow anything ambitious.
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