Can't Be The Blues

I have sat down and really, really tried to write some old-timey blues lyrics and I find it difficult.  After this weekend, it won't be possible for a long time, I'm afraid.

 

On Saturday night, I made the committment that my new hobby would be self-funding and not-for-profit.  At least, I don't want it to be the sink hole that my other pastimes have been.  Namely R/C cars, offroad wheeling in my Jeep and restoring a 1947 Willys CJ-2A.  I sold the Wrangler so that sorted itself out, but I built a barn for the Willys, so that has a deep hole to climb out of.

 

The turning point for CBGs was when I finished my first Diddly Bow on Saturday evening.  I'm still crap at playing this thing, but it was a ton of fun to conceive, plan and build.  So I'm going to give it a shot at selling a couple to fund building my own guitars, and whatever whiz-bangs and whirly-gigs I want to add to the collection.

 

I stopped at the local tobacconist and showed him the Diddly Bow.  He was very happy to see it and even though he is a guitar player, he wouldn't do much with it.  Makes me sound like a pro.  Anyway, I stacked up 6 new boxes on the counter and he rang me out for $11.  I skipped though the pouring rain all the way out to my car.

 

So I'm stoked up crazy high as a kite.  Where do the blues come from when you're this happy?  Hahaha.


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Comments

  • Excellent deal Chris! That Punch box will sound great. I have built 2 guitars with them.
  • 305727068?profile=originalI visited a local shop today and struck up some conversation with the woman who owns the shop with her husband. I told her I was looking for boxes to make guitars with. She was happy to let me pick from her box cupboard. Gonna have some builds coming soon!
  • That is a wonderful slide...  Glad you liked bucking song.
  • I got the blues this weekend.  My slide got dropped on the tile floor.  It used to look like this.

     

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    Uncle John, I guess I'll stop building CBGs when I run out of wall space.  Although my daughter did ask me to take a week off after spending bits and pieces of the last 10 days building my Diddley Bows!  I did find the lyrics to the Buckin' Song and have started to work on my own version.  I showed my sister your video and she said "this is what I aspire to be."  I have to agree.

     

    Chris, I'm lucky to have that shop close to me.  He must do a good business because there are always a good selection of empty boxes on a cart outside the store.  I always try to strike up some common ground with a shop owner to get the good buddy discount.  It is sheer luck that this guy is a guitar player.

     

    Mark, I'll have to try your method.  I like it!

     

  • E D,

       Nice boxes.   I recently bought a cardboard box with 7-8 old boxes 5 of which are great for cbg relics.  $15.00.  Good logic might say I should quit building cbgs, but it is so much fun and the way I do it, pretty cheap.  i use oak, maple and other 'good' woods but my favorite player was made from a used 2x4.

       The more you write, the easier it gets.  Look at the songwriting 101 group and one of my song there.  Nothing special, but the formula is easy.  One line, repeat it, and a concluding 3rd line.  Don't try to get highly original on the tune.  Use a classic blues as it is or change the melody a bit.  Keep it simple.  It's a song, not a novel.    

       I like Mark Bliss's story!

  • Very cool! I've recently built a few lap plank guitars and diddley bows but I want to build one using a cigar box. I need to visit the couple local cigar stores and see if they are willing to sell some boxes $11 bucks is a steal!
  • Try "Aint got the blues no more"?

     

    Ok, heres mine......

    The "life is good, bills are paid, garden is in, landscaping is done, got a brand new H/D Road King for our anniversary and it hasnt stopped raining all month blues!"

  • The '47 Willys how I acquired it for $200

     

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    And about how it sits now.  I've done a little more work on it, but not a lot.

     

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    I haven't touched it for almost a year.  I started building a 24' x 32' barn to house this and my other shop tools so I can actually park in the garage.

     

     

     

  • nice haul of boxes E D ! never know what you find unless you ask (-;

    would love to see your 1947 Willys CJ-2A. !!

  • E D    Those some fine boxes ,, Yes U "happy danced" all way to car ,, yes u did !!   hoefully u'l post pics as u build em out     .. 
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