CONTEST OVERVIEW:
What instrument can you build that starts with a 2x4 plank? We're looking for the most spectacular, innovative, interesting and artistic creations. Note: This contest will also include all instruments, whether stringed, wind, percussion or keyboard.
We're challenging you to create new and exciting instruments starting with common 2x4 planks! You should build to impress!
SUBMISSION RULES - NO EXCEPTIONS:
*Common 2x4 dimensional lumber, aka framing stud. The 2x4 can be construction grade or top choice quality.
YOU WILL BE JUDGED BY THE STAFF OF CIGAR BOX NATION
PRIZES:
First place: $100 gift certificate from C. B. Gitty Crafter Supply
Second place: $50 gift certificate from C. B. Gitty Crafter Supply
Third place: $25 Gift Certificate from C. B. Gitty Crafter Supply
THIS PAGE IS FOR CONTEST SUBMISSIONS ONLY.
Tags:
Replies are closed for this discussion.
2x4, 4 string acoustic guitar.
Built for the challenge in a little over a week. I spent way too much time when I should have been mowing grass and keeping up with the "honey do's". Anyway, all the wood is from one construction grade 8 ft. stud. It was laying outside on the ground for a while, maybe a year. The other materials are: a "1/2 square steel tubing neck re-enforcement rod salvaged from a plant hanger, copper plate tail piece held on with a lag screw and spacer to double as a strap hanger, domino nut, deer antler capped 2x4 wood bridge, tuners salvaged from a pink plastic thrift store ukulele, fret wire, glue, extra light gauge 80/20 guitar strings. Branded on fret markers (screw head). I really struggled trying to decide between the 2x4 fret board and using a piece of walnut, but in the end I went with the all 2x4 theme. Named it "The Tennessee Stud" and carved a little horseshoe from around a knothole and glued it on. The face of the peg-head has the weathered wood with just the splinters sanded off. "25 1/2 scale. I think it sounds pretty good.
Build Album: https://goo.gl/photos/T1a8qmetmP5zUC8v8
Sound Test: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfVzYJwhwR0
Thanks!
The first time I ever heard of a "Diddley Bow" was five years ago in a live Seasick Steve video at Pinkpop. Seasick Steve plays this old beaat up 2x4 one string contraption through all sorts of distortion/fuzz and I knew right then I wanted one. After researching further I found a video with Shane Speal playing a one string Diddley Bow with bottle caps and a P90 pickup, plus I think a little rubber Zombie? Either way I was determined that one day I would have a mix of the two. I ended up buying one I found on C.B. Gitty It was the "C.B. Gitty Can Gitty" an amazing little Canjo guitar that plugged in but didn't the loudness I was looking for. One day I was walking home and I see in my neighbors trash two scrap 2x4 boards. I quickly grabbed them and began to work one my one string 2x4 guitar. It took almost two days to build, one day to cut out and assemble everything and another to sand and stain. The finished project is a one string wall of sound, I call it the "Baked Bean Express". I originally had a C.B. Gitty soap bar P90 but eventually switched that out for the Gold Toaster Bucker both sound amazing. Here are two pictures wish I could upload more I also have video of me playing it as WetWilly OMB check it out it sounds great!
Mini Taser 2X4 Teddley Bow
A single string 'Teddley Bow' made from 2 pieces of a 2X4. Based on my Taser 6 string build. Custom Crocker Stonehenge humbucker pickup, vintage Fender butterscotch stain, gold tuner with root beer knob, gold hardware, cherry dowel neck.
Check my photos page for more detailed pics. (Rules said upload 2 pics)
As this year is the 50th Anniversary to S.E. Hinton's "The Outsiders" book, I knew immediately what my 2x4 lap steel would be inspired by. I have always been a huge SE Hinton fan and especially The Outsiders. Picking only two pictures to choose from was difficult task here though. I used CB Gitty's acrylic lap steel fretboard and gold tuners, a gold humbucker, and Shane Speal's signature strings. I found the shiniest gold paper fro beneath the fretboard and laid "Stay Gold Ponybony" in chrome lettering. I painted a base of metallic gold and sprayed glitter gold on top, then a few coats of shiny clear finish. I typically put an indian nickel in all of builds, but this build I used the St. Christopher medallion that Dallas Winston (Matt Dillon) wore throughout the film. It is tuned to open D : DADF#AD.
OK this is Freckle Face, a 4 string mandolin. She's my last 2x4 instrument for this challenge. Pretty much copied Ben Baker's design with a few modifications. I'll post a "how I done it" video and sound sample soon. The name came from a surprise bird's eye pattern I found inside the 2x4 when I cut a piece for the top.
Here's my 2nd entry...a 2x4 2-string lap steel with a 23" scale. The strings are acoustic 36 and 30 gauge, tuned A/D, but can be pulled up to A/E. The A/D tuning allows for playing the low string as the melody and the high string as a drone, similar to the way a Tennessee music box works. I have a piezo inside the altoids tin...allows for a nice acoustic sound. I'll upload a sound sample when I finish the amp.
The finish is the Japanese shou-sugi-ban method with boiled linseed oil added after the burning/brushing steps. You can see some of the crackle better in the second image. Fret markings were done with a gold paint pen. Still need to sign and date it. This was a fun and quick build which provided some insight as I have a Tennessee music box (box dulcimer) in the works.
"Missouri Hudu Voodoo Stick" 2 x 4 lap steel.Scrap oak 2x from 90 year old house,C.B. Gitty duel humbucker,Atlas Prager bottle opener for a string retainer,frets wood burner in ,with the fret markers being symbols hobo's used to mark fence posts,barn sides informing other travelers if farm was safe,bad dog,police,etc.Backwards strat input,bird skull and Skeleton Key on head stock for essential Hillbilly Mojo. This was an older Skeleton Key Guitars build that I pulled from the back of the guitar pile and haven't put it down since.
My 2x4 entry – tried to cut out the elements of a guitar from a 2x4 leaving the board mostly intact. Instead of a neck thru the box, it is flipped into a box thru the neck. Completed it twice, the first version had a brace below the neck but it turned out to not be enough space to play very well so I had to cut it off. Started with a box store 2x4, found a fairly thin box to fit. The finish is torched a little bit, stained a couple colors, topped with tru oil. Lightly slotted fret lines filled with white putty. Bottle opener string retainer, floating bridge, screw for a nut. Old piece of rope for a strap. 3 string, tuned GDG. It has a deep acoustic sound, maybe because the bridge is the only thing touching the top of the box. Fun build and great contest!
My entry to the 2x4 challenge, an old jarrah wall stud from a shed demolition, one end had been buried in dirt for over 50 years, so i used that extra thick for the neck and added a thick fretboard from the core of the other end, which also supplied the top, bottom and frame of the box, tin tail-piece plus an induction type pup with an old mint tin cover. Timber treatment was fly spray to kill the termites, and a light coat of olive oil on the fretboard.One thing i have discovered is the extra thick neck and fretboard has meant i have to improve my slide technique, as i'm back to banging frets again for the first 5 or so frets, oh, 630 mm scale, cheapo tuners, dearest single item for whole build was the bone bridge, but i ate the steak it came wrapped in.
Started by J. D. Woods in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by Southern Ray on Friday. 8 Replies 1 Like
Started by Southern Ray in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Southern Ray on Friday. 6 Replies 0 Likes
Started by J. D. Woods in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by BrianQ. on Thursday. 4 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Rich Butters in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Crazed Fandango Apr 22. 4 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Nomad Jack in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by J. D. Woods Apr 17. 7 Replies 2 Likes
Started by Moritz Voegeli in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Apr 14. 6 Replies 2 Likes
Started by Timothy Hunter in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Apr 10. 14 Replies 3 Likes
Started by Tom T in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Apr 9. 9 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Southern Ray in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Apr 4. 7 Replies 1 Like
Started by Timothy Hunter in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Mar 27. 1 Reply 2 Likes
Started by Taffy Evans in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Mar 10. 1 Reply 3 Likes
Started by Cigar Box Nation in Feature Articles. Last reply by BrianQ. Mar 9. 4 Replies 3 Likes
Started by Ghostbuttons in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 9. 5 Replies 1 Like
Started by Justin Stanchfield in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 8. 6 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Ken I in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Brian partington Mar 8. 8 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Southern Ray in Cool gear discussion - that's not cigar box related. Last reply by Southern Ray Mar 6. 5 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Taffy Evans in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 5. 4 Replies 2 Likes
Started by Justin Stanchfield in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Carl Floyd Mar 1. 15 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Joe in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by Carl Floyd Feb 29. 13 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Chance in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Feb 22. 12 Replies 1 Like
Posted by Vlad on March 31, 2024 at 11:48pm 0 Comments 1 Like
Posted by Vlad on March 6, 2024 at 2:32am 5 Comments 2 Likes
Posted by billy jones bluez on February 28, 2024 at 2:09pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
Posted by billy jones bluez on February 17, 2024 at 11:00pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
Posted by Vlad on February 11, 2024 at 1:06am 1 Comment 1 Like
May 11, 2024 from 11am to 8pm – Speakeasy Grill
0 Comments 0 LikesMay 30, 2024 from 6:30pm to 10pm – The Casual Pint of Huntsville
0 Comments 0 Likes© 2024 Created by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker. Powered by
Cigar Box Nation is presented by C. B. Gitty Crafter Supply, your one-stop-shop for Cigar Box Guitar parts and accessories!