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Comment by CanJoe*John on February 28, 2011 at 4:03am

Here's a link to good newspaper story for those who may be interested in the history of the canjoe instrument: http://ning.it/ij3lUx

Comment by CanJoe*John on February 9, 2010 at 8:20am

For anyone interested, there are some recently posted photos of custom designed and built CanJoe Company canjo instruments on my profile page. Take a look at them if you get a chance and see what kind of work is produced in the form of "sticks, strings, and cans".

Comment by Travis "SlackJack" Woodall on December 8, 2009 at 3:42pm

Hey, I'm lucky...I get to play music with the can-man every Thursday. He inspired me to build my first instrument and even though I've never built a canjoe, I often consult him on the things I do build....and, if you do buy a canjoe, I highly recommend a Guinness can. The sound is amazing and well worth the extra money. Still pickin' on mine John!!

Comment by CanJoe*John on December 8, 2009 at 11:32am

Yes, Wichita Sam, I fully agree with every point you've made. I've had past requests by some consumers that I lower my standards and the quality of my instruments, my art, so that they could purchase cheaply. I have refused every time, even when making a dollar was very much needed at those times. My hand signed signature is always on my finished instruments with a lifetime warranty on the quality of my work and a guarantee to those who own them that they are authentic. I always build my instruments to be way above and beyond the expectations of those receiving them and have actually received extra compensation by a few who after they have received their instruments and deciding I had not charged enough, sent me extra, more than I charged. I have spent many years trying to take the canjoe instrument out of the stigma of being considered a child's toy or a cub scout craft project item. A few of my instruments have sold for as much as $600 for one instrument which is an indicator of the level of quality and craftsmanship I intentionally produce. My custom instruments commonly fetch $250 plus, with the buyers happily, unhesitatingly paying these prices for my art and telling me I don't charge enough. Many of my finished works of art, my own versions of the canjoe instruments, a "stick, string, and can", are kept in glass cases by collectors and a few are currently displayed in prestigious museums. None of this I state is brag or fluff or intended to impress but rather to reveal that I take great care and effort to produce way above the Herschel Brown concept canjoe. Anyway, I do agree, there will be many who try to replicate what I do thinking they can command equal but I'm not competing with them. I will continue to do as I do and my standards will not be lowered or compromised in any attempt to out sell or compete with those who are trying to sell quantity instead of quality. I appreciate your comments and invite more...CJ*J

Comment by Wichita Sam on December 8, 2009 at 6:46am

John,

In marketing terms, you might be a good example of being a "victim of your own success." As the market for any item broadens, originators can always maintain the high ground, so long as they keep their product to the highest of quality. I've had this conversation with "high end" early marketers of CBGs who were displeased with "bottom feeders", but I would tell you that your competition is not and will never be craft fair marketers who are selling "canjoes" at a fraction of what your quality instruments demand.

As a builder of CBGs and yes, even a single-string-can-on-a-stick instruments, I will never ever command the prices of a Johnny Lowebow or a Canjoe*John. What I'm about is spreading the idea that people are capable of building playable musical instruments. If I cover costs, I'm happy. I give away about 1/2 of what I build and sell product on the lower end of the price scale.

I do believe that a growing market helps everyone in the market place. If someone is trying to rip of the public with a low-quality over-priced items, they will suffer (3-5 years ago, CBGs that are realitively easy to make were commanding prices over $ 250... not now) And they will complain. But, as a market expands and "entry level" items will go down in price, those who have built a reputation for quality and leadership will continue to have superior market (and pricing) advantages.

I hope that you continue to receive the rewards that all that hard work deserve. And I hope that I am right that "a rising tide lifts all ships". Let us know when you will be performing in the midwest. I would love to catch your act in person....

the best,

Wichita Sam

Comment by CanJoe*John on December 7, 2009 at 5:58pm

Thanks, Wichita Sam, for your kind support and respect for my many years of perseverance in designing, building, promoting, marketing, performing on, selling, giving away, and believing in my products, the cool original one-stringed canjoes. I call them MY products because they actually have become largely known about, now world-wide, because of my personal intense and persistent promotions which started soon after these instruments were actually first created. Again, no intent to steal anyone's thunder by making any unwarranted or grandiose claims but when Herschel Brown first created the original canjoe design and made his first few, he had no intentions to make them on a commercial or large scale basis. He was a very busy building contractor and he only made his canjoes for his own enjoyment to give to friends and family. Yes, I saw great possibilities in making these instruments marketable and Herschel gave me, from their very beginning, his full blessings and his personal assistance in helping me start the first truly commercial marketing of them. When I first began, I had no problems in convincing folks to buy them if I personally demonstrated them but the cost of major advertisement ads were prohibitive and trying to convince the public through the use of printed marketing that "sticks and cans" made into musical instruments were of any value was nearly impossible. So I set out on a long, hard, very costly personal journey of getting in front of as many people in as many ways I could conceive. I first learned to master the instrument, playing mine incessantly for as many hours a day, every day (for years) as I was awake. Anyone can view the photos I posted on my profile of the original canjoe instrument that Herschel first gave to me and easily see how worn out and beat up it became; but also can see the signatures (with dates) on it of the music legends I DID get in front of and then often beside of on major stages as well. I dedicated my life to making these instruments known, spending many days of my life constantly on the road, booking festivals as a vendor, paying vendor fees, travel expenses, frequently sleeping on the ground in a small tent or in my vehicle, working these 2, 3, and 4 day events for 14 to 16+ hours per day with few breaks, little food, no guarantees of selling anything, rarely breaking even and personally hawking them like a carny side show salesman at a circus. It was at these events that I learned my "can-lese", my own can language, and also where the promoters saw my talent and often put me on their stages to play their "supper breaks" for free. I found that I could sell even more after a stage performance so after many years, I began to learn how to book the shows as a performer. I worked my way literally from the bottom, being referred to by some, especially in the beginning, as the "Can-Joke" John and they laughed at the idea that a guy with a stick and a can could make a living either selling them or as a performer. I also started the canjoe web site in 1995, being one of the early internet marketers and getting international recognition early on. Now, after nearly 20 years of hard driven dedication and perseverance in making these instruments recognized as worthy to be marketable, desirable items, they have become open fodder for anyone and everyone to freely copy, to make and sell as "hobby crafts" or cute flea market merchandise with some who even claim ownership of their origin. "We made these as kids, with oil cans", as one Gatlinburg,TN "can-jo" maker/vendor recently told one of my friends at a mall in that town. These instruments that Herschel created were NOT made by anyone anywhere on Earth prior to his. No grandfathers, no kids with oil cans, no hillbillies from way back, no body made or sold them anywhere.(period). Back to my story, after my performance on the Grand Ole Opry, I realized that as the first and ONLY canjoe picker in the world to have reached that pinnacle, where do I take this cool little instrument next? I decided to fully pursue the plans I first started years ago, to use them for their best and highest by GIVING them away to kids who really needed them the most, kids in children's hospitals. Herschel Brown not only knew of my plans but fully endorsed and supported them. He lived long enough to see me succeed with HIS creation too and was delighted. His persistent idea to make them available to everyone is the same reason that either he nor myself ever have bothered about the trademark rights. Yes, I'm sometimes bothered by people who unethically benefit from my hard work and who intentionally mislead the public by marketing their own versions of the canjoe instruments while using a brand name that they have no right to, regardless of the way they spell it. But I have no time to worry about the ethics of others. The public does not remain fooled for long. Many who buy other "canjos' frequently discover the truth and often are disappointed and even angry about being taken advantage of. I have sold many of mine to those who had previously bought or saw others elsewhere after they learned the difference. So, as is stated in the book of Proverbs , "a man of integrity will be known by his ways but a deceitful man will soon be discovered". I will continue on in the same fashion I began and will make canjoes till I can't physically continue and my goals and needs will always be met. If anyone would like to comment, this blog is open for discussion...CanJoe*John

Comment by Wichita Sam on November 24, 2009 at 5:55pm

For anyone who doesn't know it, CanJoe John is the canjoe king with excellent marketing of highly crafted instruments that fetch premium prices. He is also a canjoe and strumstick virtuoso. (He gets respect from many for not whining about trademark/copyright issues over the term "canjoe" that surround McNally's "Strumstick".) Anyway, if you have a chance to get Canjoe John in the flesh, you will be rewarded for your effort.

Hey John, where are you playing in december?

the best,

Wichita Sam
(not a member of the family, never met him, but admire him)