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Hey Y'all

Hey y'all, I'm Rod, and I'm in East Texas. My story getting into CBG;s is probably different from most. I've been doing bone and antler carving off and on since 1995, and making jewelry off and on since 2003, and was even working on gettin a small business vending at Renfaires going, and then the bomb hit my life in 2012. My youngest daughter at 14 weeks pregnant, after 6 weeks in hiding was murdered, a victim of domestic violence. 5 months later, after my sinking into a deep depression, my wife of 10 years tells me 2 days before Christmas, that she is leaving (to be with the guy she has been screwing around with). For the last 4 years I haven't been able to bring myself to make much of anything. Mostly if i wasn't at work, I was sitting in front of the tube just watching Netflix and stagnating. One day about a month and a half ago, I saw this video on YouTube. It was Justin Johnson playing the blues on a cbg. Then I watched another, and another, Then I saw one of Shane's videos on how to play one. Next up was a video on how to build one, and then another. I'm sure you get the picture of where this is going. I thought..... "I can do that..." I was totally hooked. Netflix hasn't been on but twice for a couple of hours since, but YouTube has... A LOT.

My first build was a fretless 2 string acoustic/electric through the body style, with a prewired piezo pickup(from CB Gitty), out of a small Monte Cristo box, with a poplar neck. I saw every flaw, and thought I could do better, but wanted to build a diddley bow. So my second build was a diddley bow made from a double bit ax handle and an Altoids tin(to house the wiring harness that I soldered myself.) I used antler for the nut, a cedar saddle for the deer antler bridge, a P-90 pickup, and brass tacks for the fret markers. And I've got 2 more in the works. I'm creating again, and the blues on a cbg got it all started. Go figure. So, that is the Reader's Digest version of me, and howIi got started.

So y'all have a great day, and I bid you peace, and the brightest of blessings...

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Rod Lindsey on September 20, 2016 at 11:53am

Thanks bud. I'm finding these things to be addictive.

Permalink Reply by Thomas "Duck" Petry on September 20, 2016 at 11:37am

Welcome to the Nation Rod. These things are great fun to build, the main problem is once you get started you will keep getting ideas for "the next one". You can quit any time you want to, but you're not going to want to. Have fun with them, that's what it's all about.

Permalink Reply by Rod Lindsey on September 20, 2016 at 12:00pm

Thanks Duck. Yeah, I'm finding these things to be addictive. I have 2 more in the works, with plans in my head for several more after that. I have decided to keep the first few fairly simple, for me anyway, but I am already starting to want to make these things my own, ie with carving and decorated nicely as well. I love the fur trade era, and renfaires, so I see both styles playing a part in the near future, especially the fur trade era with brass tacks, deer antler, and maybe a skull plate as a bridge cover.... Yeah, I know I'm getting ahead of myself, but hey, if you're gonna do something, go all in, or go home, right?

Permalink Reply by Thomas "Duck" Petry on September 20, 2016 at 12:27pm

To me the fun comes from the fact that every build has it's own voice. I've built 24 so far and every one is special in it's own way. I don't have a "plan" that I build to, I just sort of let the box tell me what it wants to become. Some are similar and others just get a life of their own.

Permalink Reply by Rod Lindsey on September 20, 2016 at 12:46pm

Yeah, I'm very familiar with that style of making. My carvings and jewelry tend to be by the same approach. Ideas for a couple more is probably a better word than plans, I guess. i want to do a 3 string fretted cbg, again using some of my antler for the nut and bridge, but i want to use the skull cap that the antler pieces cam off of, for a cover for the tail piece. Using brass tacks for the fret markers again. I'm absolutely positive it will start "talking to me during the build, though. Most everything i make does. They all take on a life of their own. That is something that appeals to me about making CBG's, they also have a voice all their own, as well.

Permalink Reply by Blues Frog on September 20, 2016 at 11:25pm

Peace and many happy builds to you!

Permalink Reply by Rod Lindsey on September 21, 2016 at 11:20am

Thanks bud. I'm having a helluva lot of fun so far, so I'm sure there will be many more...

Permalink Reply by Metal hic on September 21, 2016 at 6:58am

Welcome! I guess you'll bring something more in the design of our addiction

Permalink Reply by Rod Lindsey on September 21, 2016 at 11:19am

I certainly hope so. I have an idea for one after I get a little more skilled, leaning towards a mountain man/buckskinner theme, including using the skull plate that some of my antlers were attached to, for a tail piece cover. The picture in my head is AWSOME. If I can make that work, it will be a kickass screaming beast of a guitar. My ideas are rarely mainstream, and always full throttle. I just gotta get my skills with this new medium up to full throttle, instead of driving in the slow lane... lol

Permalink Reply by Thomas "Duck" Petry on September 21, 2016 at 11:48am

OK, Rod, you may as well give up. You're hooked. I might add that you have some neat ideas going on there too. It's nice to see the enthusiasm going so strong.

Permalink Reply by Rod Lindsey on September 21, 2016 at 12:02pm

Thanks Duck. It started cuz I wanted something to accompany my singing with. It kinda blossomed from there. I have always really dug "primitive/primal" and let me tell ya I even managed to find it for my musical instruments. Yeah, I'm hooked. I even passed up on going fishing for a couple of hours this evening to work on these 2 I have in the works. That's saying something, cuz i haven't been fishing in about a month... lol

Permalink Reply by Thomas "Duck" Petry on September 21, 2016 at 6:16pm

My idea of fishing is sitting on the side of a pretty stream drowning bait. If I'm lucky, the fish don't disturb the tranquility.