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The Cigar Box Guitar Manifesto

As posted on www.CigarBoxGuitar.com...

We are makers of music. We build cigar box guitars and other unique hand-made instruments.

We are the members of the cigar box guitar revolution. We build playable musical instruments out of things that were never meant to make music. We build cigar box guitars, cigar box ukuleles, canjos, cookie tin banjos, stick dulcimers and much more.

The instruments we build are real. We find joy in building them, and we are proud of what we make.

The cigar box guitar holds a primary place in our craft, but it is just one of many instruments we create. Our creations range from the simplest one-string diddleybows to the most complex and convoluted contraptions imaginable. We respect and draw upon centuries of musical instrument traditions, but we are not limited by them. We are not afraid of making it up as we go. We know that sometimes not knowing how things are supposed to be done allows you to things that have never been done before.

We come from all walks of life, and from all over the world.

Our backgrounds, cultures and countries are wide and varied, but we are united in the joy of building musical instruments and making music. We are a part of the larger Maker community, and we share many of the same goals - but we are a distinct movement unto ourselves.

We build our instruments for many different reasons and in many different ways.

We believe music comes up from the roots, not down from an ivory tower. We know you don’t need years of training before you can make a fun, playable musical instrument. You don’t need a fully-equipped workshop, or the best tools. We never forget that the first ancestor of the guitar was a vine stretched over a hollow log.

We are a blend of builders and musicians, artisans and artists.

Some of us only play cigar box guitars and instruments built by others; some of us only build instruments for others to play; some of us both build and play. Whether or not we play them ourselves, we are proud of the instruments we create and the music made with them.

We believe that anyone can build their own cigar box guitar or other hand-made instrument.

Anyone who wants to can do what we do. We welcome all who come with an open mind, a willingness to learn and experiment. We value each new perspective and creative viewpoint. Together as a community and as a movement, we are bringing the making of music and musical instruments back to the people, and back to their roots.

We are part of the cigar box guitar revolution, and we are here to stay.

We are the alternative to the shiny, soulless factory-made guitar. We are the answer for the musician looking for a new sound, a new look, a way to get back to the basics, back to the roots of music. We are the new pastime for the creative woman or man looking for a meaningful and rewarding way to put their skills to use. We are diverse, we are creative, we are proud, and we are here to stay.

Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker

June, 2014

www.cbgitty.com

23 members like this

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Cause the Blue rat on June 15, 2014 at 4:11pm

Proud to be a member of the Nation! Hoping to inspire more!!! Great writing Ben!

Why the exorcism cross on Clapten's head? I personally think he's contributed a great deal to the guitar world. Especially his earlier works in Cream and The Yardbirds. Probably not the best place to post something like that.

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Permalink Reply by Uncle John on June 18, 2014 at 8:27am

I ain't signing no manifesto.

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Permalink Reply by Cause the Blue rat on June 18, 2014 at 11:24am

Now there's a challenge! Best 'manifesto' song wins!!!

On your boxes! Get set, GO!

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Permalink Reply by RTZGUITARS on June 18, 2014 at 3:06pm

Your Manifesto seems to have really good intentions Ben and as we build better instruments more mainstream attention will show.

Sadly in some manifesto people have to die.

Why Eric? This is not the first time I have heard this either. I once had this stance as no guitar player is god, but if I think of just the music the contribution and the years of work I can appreciate what he has done. And I have never met the Bluesman.

Nothing starts a discussion like cutting down a giant. Or playing a 3 string and making people go WoW.

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Permalink Reply by Matthew Borczon on June 20, 2014 at 1:36am

I remember when Shane first put this up o so long ago. It really was not to attack Eric C. but the culture of the blues at that time. He was just the unfortunate symbol. Though I would rather jam with Shane than Eric any day but that is just me. For those of you who do not actually know Shane in person he is a fierce and independent thinker. He believes in this movement with every piece of his soul. He has fought and bled for the kind of blues he plays and he has the scars to prove it. You try to raise a family without giving up your dream. That said, he is also a kind and caring person who finds the best in everybody. He did not try to sell the world the cigar box guitar but wanted to share the cigar box guitar with anyone who had not seen how to build one. As a player he will share the stage with everyone and is as excited to hear you play as he is to play himself. He works hard to improve his playing and then gives away all he has learned to the rest of the cbg players. I am positive that there is no mean intent from Shane toward Eric Clapton or anything he has accomplished. The watered down world of bland white boy blues however better look out because the Snake oil band is loose and they take no prisoners!!!

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Permalink Reply by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker on June 20, 2014 at 2:11am

For me, the route to discovering the blues was Rock -> Classic Rock -> Clapton (and Zeppelin to a degree) -> Blues. If nothing else, he's a good gateway drug!

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Permalink Reply by RTZGUITARS on June 21, 2014 at 7:07am

As usual on this site a positive response. Do you know when The Snake Oil Bands' Record will be out?

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Permalink Reply by ledbelly on July 27, 2014 at 12:32pm

I DO HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGE AND ADHERE TO THIS DOCUMENT

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Permalink Reply by Bluesheart on August 8, 2014 at 6:48am

Great job Ben, hurray!

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Permalink Reply by Alfonz Keisha on October 17, 2014 at 12:54am

Actually i like this written formula. i believe this could be the banner at prime of the front page on this web site.

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Permalink Reply by Tommy Phillips on October 20, 2014 at 6:47am

I will never forget the look on my wife's face when she listened to a video of Reverend Peyton playing a CBG, and she realized that these are legitimate and serious musical instruments.

You may draw the obvious conclusion about the way I play my recently-completed first CBG. c|:-)

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Permalink Reply by Bill Baker on October 20, 2014 at 7:31am

Well intended. Well written. Pretty well sums it up no matter who you might place in high regard as a blues performer or who you may not like. I doubt there are many of us enjoying this pastime that have ever experienced the actual "Blues" for that matter. (I'm sure that will bring some comments) But that does not mean we can't appreciate the genre and enjoy it. I have my likes and preferences but if you want to build an instrument out of a gourd, oil can or floorboards out of a 1931 Ford, I am all for you. I waited way to late in life to try to play anything very well but am having a ball, building and knoodling around with a CBG.