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3 String Fretless Reso Cigar Box Guitar - New Song "Lay My Hat Down"

Lots of my music available here https://bemuzic.bandcamp.com/

I came in late on the last verse, but I only finished writing it a few hrs before filming it, so I wasn’t likely to get through it with no mistakes!

I’ve mainly put it on to show fellow Cambridge busker Banjo Nick, as I wrote it with the intention of us playing it together when we meet up busking, if he likes it.

GUITAR INFO

It’s also to show my newly finished 3 string Cigar box reso.
It’s the first guitar I’ve made that isn’t a through neck, so that was all a bit new. I was intending to fret it, but loved the wavy lines going up the neck (walnut) and didn’t want to cut across it, so decided to leave it fretless. I’m also really enjoying playing something fretless for a change…a lovely old time sound.
I was intending to put a flatpup on it as well as a rod piezo in the biscuit bridge, but decided to leave that off as I like the piezo sound as it captures the resoness (not a word??!)
The scale length is 23”
The strings are Zebra DR acoustic/electric. I bought them when I thought I was going to put a magnetic as well as piezo, as they work with either, and left them on as I liked them. I’ve used the D,G and B strings (24,32,42)
The nut and bridge are unbleached bone. The reso cone is a 5 1/2" one made by Charles Atchison. I bought two, so I may make a similar one, but fretted at some point. You can buy them here https://www.cbgitty.com/cigar-box-guitar-parts/resonator-parts/5-5-inch-lightning-spun-aluminum-cigar-box-resonator-cone-by-charles-atchison/ I also vaguely followed his building instructions http://www.charlesatchison.com/#!build-a-resonator-cigar-box-guitar/c1uyj
The tuners are these from Chickenbone John http://chickenbonejohn.myshopify.com/products/epiphone-deluxe-machineheads-2-1 I really like them, both for the nice retro look, and also they turn nice and smoothly. Much nicer than the cheapy eBay ones I’ve been using. The slide is also one from Chickenbone John - one of these http://chickenbonejohn.myshopify.com/products/daddario-chromed-brass-slide It's worth having a browse on Johns page as he has some good quality stuff! I got this slide for busking as I keep breaking glass ones : -/ Like it a lot but wouldn't use it for recording as when playing a guitar with a magnetic pickup I get a slight crackle. Can't notice it while busking though, with street noise etc.
I'm most often tuned A,E,A, but for this song I went down to G,D,G as I thought it’d be better for Nick in G?

Filmed with a GoPro Hero 4

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Comment by Vinylhed on April 8, 2016 at 10:50am: Smart! I've really got to practice using my looper pedal, as at the moment all I do is record 4 or 8 bars and solo over it. You've inspired me. Cheers, B xXx

Comment by AGP # on April 8, 2016 at 9:45am: "Grrrrrrrrr8" Song, Vocals, Resonator CBG and Playing, there's nothing not to like about this Vid !!!!

Comment by bemuzic on April 8, 2016 at 8:58am: thanks everyone : -)

Comment by bemuzic on April 8, 2016 at 8:52am: Jim, no I can't think of any others I don't think...ah yes at least I don't have to split the money with my loop pedal ; -)

Comment by Miku on April 8, 2016 at 8:04am: awesome!

Comment by Uncle John on April 8, 2016 at 7:44am: Ha ha at the sip of coffee, tea or? Good song and great sound. I like the tapping. Channeling a bit of Muddy Waters, Seasick Steve, folkyness and pure Belinda. Excellent.

Comment by Denny on April 8, 2016 at 7:17am: Good one!

Comment by Chipfat Fingerburn Jones on April 8, 2016 at 6:58am: Love this B. More!

Comment by Diglydog on April 8, 2016 at 6:25am: Great song, Be, and a superb sound from that piezo. You're right, it doesn't need a mag pup - the resonator really shines through as it is. I hope that you have great fun busking with it in the Summer sunshine in Cambridge. If not, I hope that you can find a doorway to shelter from the Summer rain :-)

Comment by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on April 8, 2016 at 5:28am: Oh I'm loving this! I can hear a little 'Lay down Sally' riff in the background? One of my favourite riffs anyway and loved hearing it here. It's got some happy country vibes in there too with the twang of that resonator. Wonderfully, wonderful, and that's an understatement. Thanks for sharing and for emailing me along with other folks to draw my attention to this. Keep them coming!