Feature Articles - Cigar Box Nation2024-03-28T15:26:26Zhttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/forum/categories/feature-articles/listForCategory?categoryId=2592684%3ACategory%3A2399345&feed=yes&xn_auth=noThe Cigar Box SITAR Experiment - by Shane Spealtag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2022-06-14:2592684:Topic:37146452022-06-14T14:23:50.334ZCigar Box Nationhttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/MotherLeeds
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10568403698?profile=original" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img class="align-full" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10568403698?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="750"></img></a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I've always been fascinated with the sitar. The buzzing, droning and string bending sounds are unlike anything out there. If the Beatles used sitar, I wanna use sitar! </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Recently, I replaced the bridge on a cigar box guitar with a real sitar bridge and was blown away. We'll…</span></p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10568403698?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10568403698?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I've always been fascinated with the sitar. The buzzing, droning and string bending sounds are unlike anything out there. If the Beatles used sitar, I wanna use sitar! </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Recently, I replaced the bridge on a cigar box guitar with a real sitar bridge and was blown away. We'll get to that, but first, a quick look at my sitar obsession and attempts to get the tones on a cigar box guitar.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">In the past, I've used the flat side of bone slides to get the buzz. A bleached dog bone from the pet store was used as a slide in my song, "Bone to Pick" from my album, Jug Fusion.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XD4fDj-M3QA?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
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<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I've also used simple 1/5" buttons from StubbySlide.com to provide the buzz, as shown in this video. (If you want to get a sitar sound today, just get a button and rip off some world music leads like this):</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ORFxoZDbG6U?controls=0&wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
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<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Sitars get their buzzing sound from a flat bridge made out of bone, called a 'jawari.' There are two jawari bridges on sitars, the 'tar jawari' which is higher and is used for the strings that are fretted, and the 'tarab jawari' bridge which lifts and buzzes the sympathetic strings.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">It was the lower bridge that I purchased for this new experiment. It's sold as "Banjira Sitar Sympathetic Bridge" on Amazon. (<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014S1NH7O" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Link</a>) </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014S1NH7O" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10568411293?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The bridge is just under 1/2" high and has two little wooden legs on the bottom. I found it to be the best choice for replacing a cigar box guitar bridge, as seen on this instrument built by Casey Baron. In the video, you will see me tweaking the angle of the bridge to get the best buzz. This is common with sitars and there are master instrument makers in India known for their expertise in getting the maximum buzz.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Watch the video and then scroll down for more info.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vig5t41ud8o?controls=0&wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
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<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Some thoughts on the tone of this cigar box sitar:</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Because of the guitar strings used on this instrument, the sitar bridge sounds more like a 1960's Coral Electric Sitar than a real Indian sitar. I plan on making a dedicated cigar box sitar that uses thinner strings. This chart for a pack of La Bella Sitar Metal Loop End Strings shows just how light the gauges are:</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10568448067?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10568448067?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Using this chart, I can simply purchase bulk guitar strings at CBGitty.com to approximate the traditional sitar. I also plan on using jumbo/high fretwire for easy bends.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do you have any ideas or thoughts on building a cigar box sitar? Post them below. (Remember to hit the HTML tab in the text box before posting your response. This old website is cranky and has a few wonky ticks to it.)</span></p> Download These One-String Fiddle Plans from 1907tag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2022-01-21:2592684:Topic:36914382022-01-21T16:07:00.871ZCigar Box Nationhttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/MotherLeeds
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<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Since the beginning of Cigar Box Nation, we have provided free musical instrument plans to inspire your next build. These plans for building a One-String Japanese Fiddle came from the book, <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Violins and Other Stringed Instruments - How to Make Them</span> by Paul N. Hasluck,…</span></p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10031749258?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10031744485?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Since the beginning of Cigar Box Nation, we have provided free musical instrument plans to inspire your next build. These plans for building a One-String Japanese Fiddle came from the book, <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Violins and Other Stringed Instruments - How to Make Them</span> by Paul N. Hasluck, originally published in 1907. This publication is now in the public domain.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The instrument is very similar to one-string cigar box fiddles that were used in Vaudeville for comedic effect. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Download these plans and then post your photos, discussions and questions below!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10031749258?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DOWNLOAD: Japanese One String Fiddle Plans from 1907</a></strong></span></p> 120 Year Old Cigar Box Guitar - "The Horse's Bridle"tag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2021-11-17:2592684:Topic:36777212021-11-17T21:38:33.840ZCigar Box Nationhttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/MotherLeeds
<p><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9817870684?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="750"></img></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><em>The following article is excerpted from the book, <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Making Poor Man's Guitars</span> by Shane Speal. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Measuring in at 30" (76cm) long, 5" (12 3/4cm) wide and 3" (7 1/2 cm) deep, this two-string cigar box guitar sports a body and neck that were crafted from one hunk of wood using hand tools.…</span></p>
<p><img class="align-center" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9817872056?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="400"></img></p>
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<p><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9817870684?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="750"/></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><em>The following article is excerpted from the book, <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Making Poor Man's Guitars</span> by Shane Speal. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Measuring in at 30" (76cm) long, 5" (12 3/4cm) wide and 3" (7 1/2 cm) deep, this two-string cigar box guitar sports a body and neck that were crafted from one hunk of wood using hand tools.</span></p>
<p><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9817872056?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="400" class="align-center"/></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The body cavity was completely carved. A soundboard made of 3/16" (1/2 cm) thin wood from the same stock was attached with nails. A house-shaped sound hole is carved near the floating bridge. It is strung with two gauges of fishing line.</span></p>
<p><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9817872484?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="400" class="align-center"/></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The angled headstock has two hand-carved tuning pegs which still work great. The frets are small pieces of nickel and copper (coins?) that have been hammered over the sides and positioned at an approximated <em>do re mi</em> scale, similar to a diatonic fretboard.</span></p>
<p><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9817873487?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="750"/></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">To get a better idea on the frets, I called up Derick Kemper, the harmonica player in my band who is also a professional blacksmith. He said, "the frets are definitely hand hammered of some kind, but the tailpiece that holds the strings is an actual horse's bridle. I know because I just got back from shoeing horses!"</span></p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9817873856?profile=RESIZE_710x" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9817873856?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Take note at the wear marks on the face of the guitar. The instrument has been played...and played <em>hard</em>. Whoever built this definitely made the instrument they were searching for. The neck contains sweat marks and wear.</span></p>
<p><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9817874091?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="750"/></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The guitar was discovered somewhere in New England. Amazingly, it is still very much playable.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">To see this guitar in person, visit the <a href="http://spealstavern.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cigar Box Guitar Museum at Speal's Tavern in New Alexandria PA</a>. </span></p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9222255865?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9222255865?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.cbgitty.com/instrument-parts-hardware/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9222256291?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p> 2021 Throwback Holiday Build-Off Contest!tag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2021-11-12:2592684:Topic:36761412021-11-12T14:34:37.511ZCigar Box Nationhttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/MotherLeeds
<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XV4ptlSL2uQ?wmode=opaque" width="560"></iframe>
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<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><em><strong>SCROLL DOWN FOR THE RULES, BUT FIRST, READ THIS VERY IMPORTANT REMINDER:…</strong></em></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1080177158?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1080177158?profile=original" width="622"></img></a></span></p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XV4ptlSL2uQ?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
</p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><em><strong>SCROLL DOWN FOR THE RULES, BUT FIRST, READ THIS VERY IMPORTANT REMINDER:</strong></em></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1080177158?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1080177158?profile=original" width="622" class="align-full"/></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">and then do this...</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9795954057?profile=RESIZE_710x" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9795954057?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="600" class="align-full"/></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">THE 2021 THROWBACK HOLIDAY BUILD-OFF!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://www.cbgitty.com/kits-guitar-kits-amp-kits-more/country-roads-banjo-kit-authentic-mountain-banjo-sound/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9795883066?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">We want you to use your imagination & creativity to build a stringed instrument that could have been given as a gift 100 years ago. Here's a few ideas (they are not required...only suggestions):</span></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Use an antique cigar box to make the instrument look authentic</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Build a historic instrument from our <a href="https://cigarboxnation.com/page/free-plans" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Free Plans Page</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Use 100 year old stories from your area to influence your instrument</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Be inspired by the instruments of the Cigar Box Guitar Museum (<a href="https://www.cigarboxguitars.com/the-shane-speal-collection" target="_blank" rel="noopener">photos here</a>)</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Prizes:</span></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Top three entries will win $125 gift certificates to CBGitty.com</span></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Five runners-up will receive $25 gift certificates to CBGitty.com</span></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Judges: Ben "Gitty" Baker & Shane Speal</span></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Here's the rules:</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">1. Build your own stringed musical instrument inspired by the past. If you lived 100 years ago and were short on money, what stringed instrument would you build as a Christmas/holiday gift?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size="4">2. Post three (3) photos below. Optional: You can add one (1) demo video, too. </font><strong><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size="4">Don't forget the instructions for posting pics. </font></strong><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size="4">This is an old website and it can be a little temperamental!</font></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">3. Add a one (1) paragraph description with your photo entry. This is where you can influence the judges on why you think your entry is a Throwback Holiday type of instrument.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">3. Shake, stir, repeat. (Yes, you can submit more than one entry!)</span></p>
<p><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">4. Submissions that won previous Cigar Box Nation contests are</span> <span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">ineligible</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">. </span></font></p>
<p><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">5. Contest runs Nov 12 - Dec 31, 2021. Winners announced Jan 7, 2022 on the Gitty Gang Show broadcast.</span></font></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;" class="font-size-6"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1080177968?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1080177968?profile=original" width="640" class="align-full"/></a></span></p>
<p><a href="https://www.cbgitty.com/cigar-box-guitar-kits-and-more/one-string-canjo-kit-by-the-american-canjo-company-a-fun-one-string-instrument-you-build-yourself/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> </a></p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5JlMyXLLflg?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
</p> VIDEO: What's the Deal With Speal: The Brutal Baritone Cigar Box Guitar!tag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2021-08-11:2592684:Topic:36549212021-08-11T14:43:00.561ZCigar Box Nationhttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/MotherLeeds
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<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="style-scope yt-formatted-string" dir="auto">Get all the details on Shane's brutal 3-string baritone guitar. Scroll down past the video to see more photos!</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="style-scope yt-formatted-string" dir="auto">Thanks to all who sent in intro videos!…</span></span></p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9408926871?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9408926871?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span dir="auto" class="style-scope yt-formatted-string">Get all the details on Shane's brutal 3-string baritone guitar. Scroll down past the video to see more photos!</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span dir="auto" class="style-scope yt-formatted-string">Thanks to all who sent in intro videos! Today's episode features Pete Chandler, Kenneth Hope and Vadim D!</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span dir="auto" class="style-scope yt-formatted-string"><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9408935701?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9408935701?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span dir="auto" class="style-scope yt-formatted-string">Here's the video:</span></span></p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MmnAuaAb5Vc?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
</p>
<p><a href="http://cbgitty.com/lowrock" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9408936285?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">More photos:</span></p>
<p><a href="http://shanespeal.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9408940470?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p><a href="http://shanespeal.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9408945881?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p><a href="http://shanespeal.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9408947269?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p> VIDEO: Glenn Kaiser's Found Object Guitar Building + Cigar Box Guitar Basicstag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2021-07-08:2592684:Topic:36471202021-07-08T19:23:39.884ZCigar Box Nationhttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/MotherLeeds
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9222503064?profile=original" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img class="align-full" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9222503064?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="750"></img></a> <span style="font-size: 14pt;">Cigar Box Nation member, <a href="https://cigarboxnation.com/profile/GlennKaiser" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Glenn Kaiser</a> has been making music history for decades, first by practically inventing the Christian hard rock genre with the revolutionary The Resurrection Band (a.k.a. Rez Band) and later with his deep blues…</span></p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9222503064?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9222503064?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="750" class="align-full"/></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Cigar Box Nation member, <a href="https://cigarboxnation.com/profile/GlennKaiser" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Glenn Kaiser</a> has been making music history for decades, first by practically inventing the Christian hard rock genre with the revolutionary The Resurrection Band (a.k.a. Rez Band) and later with his deep blues solo career. Now Kaiser is keeping even older music </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">history alive through homemade instruments.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">In his latest video for Grrr Records, Kaiser <span>shows us several of the 'found object' guitars that he has built for himself and talks about the various objects and methods he used to put them together. Then he goes on to build one with step-by-step instructions.</span></span></p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3g9CuRKWhjE?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
</p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://gkaiser.wordpress.com/2021/06/14/found-object-primitive-guitar-build-video/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Read Glenn's accompanying blog post here</a> that is mentioned in the video, including his "fine art" sketch of the one-string guitar.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><font size="4">BONUS: Glenn Kaiser's Cigar Box Guitar Basics.</font></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><font size="4">Follow along as Glenn gives some great playing advice for cigar box guitar.</font></span></p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/M6IeehLHTfA?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
</p>
<p><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9222255865?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-full"/></p>
<p><a href="https://www.cbgitty.com/guitar-instrument-parts/cigar-box-guitar-parts/gen2-gittybucker-flat-mount-cigar-box-guitar-humbucker-made-in-the-usa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9222493480?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p> How to Make a Tin Can African Kora Harp + Cigar Box Koratag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2021-07-08:2592684:Topic:36471932021-07-08T17:56:25.790ZCigar Box Nationhttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/MotherLeeds
<p><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9222129080?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="750"></img></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Discover a wild instrument from Africa and make your own using a tin can! Then keep scrolling to discover other Cigar Box Nation members who have created cigar box versions, too.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqzB9Ks5H939XLuSuVLuPVw" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Nicolas Bras</a> is a Youtube star who makes instruments out of junk. In this tutorial, he re-creates a traditional African…</span></p>
<p><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9222129080?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="750"/></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Discover a wild instrument from Africa and make your own using a tin can! Then keep scrolling to discover other Cigar Box Nation members who have created cigar box versions, too.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqzB9Ks5H939XLuSuVLuPVw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nicolas Bras</a> is a Youtube star who makes instruments out of junk. In this tutorial, he re-creates a traditional African kora harp from a big tin can, a wooden stick, classical guitar tuners and strings. He then creates a fantastic song with it and other homemade instruments.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">First, some background on the instrument: The kora and it's close relative, the kamele n'goni are African harp instruments that have two rows of vertical strings that are played with your thumbs. The body is typically a large calabash gourd with a goat hide body and neck that passes through the body like a cigar box guitar.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/KalachevArtsAndCraft?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=976670511" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9222237067?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Pictured: A traditional Kora made by <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/KalachevArtsAndCraft?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=976670511" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kalachev Arts and Craft</a>.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Here's a video featuring musician, Watcha playing "Djina Bantan" on his traditional kamele n'goni</span></p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/W0O_6kmUMws?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
</p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">HOW-TO BUILD TUTORIAL: Follow along as Nicolas Bras' goes through the steps to build the Tin Can Kora:</span></p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KX_Mg715JIQ?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
</p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://www.patreon.com/posts/45256949" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Get his full blueprints for the instrument here</a>. Note: His measurements are in millimeters.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">EXTRA: Cigar Box Nation members create cigar box koras!</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://cigarboxnation.com/photo/cbk-cigar-box-kora-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/153653014?width=737&profile=RESIZE_710x" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Steve Dahm, a.k.a. <a href="https://cigarboxnation.com/profiles/profile/show?id=SteveBoneheadDahm&" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Low Budget Luthier</a> created this 16 string cigar box kora back in 2013. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://cigarboxnation.com/photo/cbk-cigar-box-kora-2/next?context=user" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/153652920?width=737&profile=RESIZE_710x" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">His bridge sat very high in order to contain two rows of eight strings. Look at it bending!</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://cigarboxnation.com/photo/cbk-cigar-box-kora-1/next?context=user" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/153652673?height=600&profile=RESIZE_710x" width="600" class="align-full"/></a></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Another view of Low Budget Luthier's kora. His tuners are zither tuning pins.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/240391426?profile=RESIZE_710x&width=336" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/240391426?width=336&profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-full"/></a></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">This cigar box kora was built by <a href="https://cigarboxnation.com/profiles/profile/show?id=EugenioJaimez&" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gene Jaimez of Laredo, TX</a>. He says, "<span>This instrument is a hybrid of the African Kora. It has 15 strings instead of the 21 strings usually found on the African Kora. This instrument is tuned to various pentatonic tunings. The strings are steel or bronze guitar strings instead of nylon. The box is made from poplar wood as is the neck. The tuners are econo guitar tuners with a piezo transducer affixed to the bridge. I fashioned the 15 hole tail piece from angled aluminum."</span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><em><strong>Have you made your own version of an African instrument? Post photos and descriptions below!</strong></em> </span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9222255865?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9222255865?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.cbgitty.com/instrument-parts-hardware/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9222256291?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
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<p></p> Six Guitars That Break All the Rules: Bart Hopkin's "Guitar-Like Things"tag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2021-06-28:2592684:Topic:36450982021-06-28T16:09:57.717ZCigar Box Nationhttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/MotherLeeds
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9153980891?profile=original" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img class="align-full" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9153980891?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="750"></img></a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://barthopkin.com" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Bart Hopkin</a> is one of the greatest modern minds of musical instrument design. His writings & recordings, especially his seminal <em>Experimental Musical Instruments Magazine</em> have influenced everyone from Tom Waits to our own Shane Speal, who…</span></p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9153980891?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9153980891?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://barthopkin.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bart Hopkin</a> is one of the greatest modern minds of musical instrument design. His writings & recordings, especially his seminal <em>Experimental Musical Instruments Magazine</em> have influenced everyone from Tom Waits to our own Shane Speal, who says "there may not have ever been a cigar box guitar movement had I not discovered Bart Hopkins back in the late 1990's." </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://barthopkin.com/instrumentarium/string-lattice-giutar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="http://barthopkin.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/06-13m-stringlattice.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><em>Pictured above: <a href="http://barthopkin.com/instrumentarium/string-lattice-giutar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The String Lattice Guitar</a> by Bart Hopkin.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Recently, Hopkin has been uploading video demos of his massive trove of instruments to <a href="http://https://www.youtube.com/user/bhpkn/videos" target="_blank" rel="noopener">his Youtube channel</a>, giving short descriptions. This latest video features his "Guitar-Like Things," stringed instruments that resemble guitars, but have otherworldly features. We describe these as "breaking the rules" because Hopkin uses some radical designs in each, including guitar strings that branch out into a Y, guitar bodies made from wobbly steel and bridges that excite strings quite differently than conventional ones.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://barthopkin.com/instrumentarium/wobble-steel-guitar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9154253682?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-full"/></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><em>Pictured above: <a href="http://barthopkin.com/instrumentarium/wobble-steel-guitar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Wobble Steel Guitar</a></em> by Bart Hopkin.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Most of these instruments were created with a one-piece neck/body that was simply fretted. We've listed each instrument after the video and linked to more information on his website.</span></p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VK28MyyHGMg?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
</p>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://barthopkin.wpengine.com/instrumentarium/y-string-guitar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Y-String Guitar</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://barthopkin.com/instrumentarium/deep-guitar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Deep Guitar</a> - feat. a magnetic pickup that behaves like a contact pickup. The pickup acts as a floating bridge</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://barthopkin.wpengine.com/instrumentarium/wobble-steel-guitar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wobble Steel Guitar</a> - feat. a bendable steel body</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://barthopkin.com/elastic-guitar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Elastic String Guitar</a> - similar to Ashbory Bass or Kala U-Bass guitars</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://barthopkin.wpengine.com/instrumentarium/floating-bridge-guitar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Floating Bridge Guitar</a> - feat. a bridge that does not make contact with the body. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Tin Foil Rattling Bass (no extra link)</span></li>
</ol>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Let it be known that these six instruments are some of the "safest" Bart Hopkin creations. He has created everything from woodwinds, percussion, Blue Man Group type creations and even <a href="https://cigarboxnation.com/forum/topics/irritating" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The World's Most Irritating Instrument</a>. You've been warned...</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://cigarboxnation.com/forum/topics/irritating" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1080155978?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="450" class="align-center"/></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Dig deeper into Bart Hopkin's instruments on the <a href="http://barthopkin.com/instrumentarium/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instrumentarium Page of his website</a>.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9154245688?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9154245688?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-full"/></a></span></p>
<p><a href="https://www.cbgitty.com/instrument-parts-hardware/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9154239285?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p></p> New Cigar Box Guitar Tuning: Arkansas EADGtag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2021-03-12:2592684:Topic:36157182021-03-12T14:22:21.208ZCigar Box Nationhttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/MotherLeeds
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8659507458?profile=RESIZE_710x" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img class="align-full" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8659507458?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="750"></img></a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The Arkansas Tuning was originally created by cigar box guitarist, AJ Gaither and references his home state. Shane Speal says, "t</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span>his tuning is pretty simple, but man, does it open some old passageways for me! " </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span>The…</span></span></p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8659507458?profile=RESIZE_710x" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8659507458?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The Arkansas Tuning was originally created by cigar box guitarist, AJ Gaither and references his home state. Shane Speal says, "t</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span>his tuning is pretty simple, but man, does it open some old passageways for me! " </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span>The EADG tuning is identical to the four lowest strings of a conventional guitar and is tuned like one, too. This means you can use your four string cigar box guitar to play all the songs you first learned on "normal" guitars. Listen how cool it sounds:</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/p4E7QSlV0aA?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
</span></span></p>
<p><font size="4">This video was developed through the Reso-Electro Project, a cigar box guitar how-to collaboration between C. B. Gitty and Shane Speal. It includes a four-part blog on building, hacking and setting up this sweet instrument:</font></p>
<p><a href="https://www.cbgitty.com/news/reso-pt1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><font size="4"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8659527256?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="750" class="align-full"/></font></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span>How to Build This Guitar - THE RESO-ELECTRO PROJECT: <a href="https://cbgitty.com/news/reso-pt1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://cbgitty.com/news/reso-pt1</a></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span>Get Shane Speal Signature Arkansas Strings at CBGitty.com</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span><a href="https://www.cbgitty.com/guitar-instrument-parts/shane-speal-signature/shane-speal-signature-arkansas-tuning-electric-strings-eadg/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-jpvnhi/images/stencil/608x608/products/2951/15259/shane-arkansas__64262.1615233974.png?c=2&profile=RESIZE_710x" width="400" class="align-full"/></a></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span>See all of the Shane Speal Signature line of cigar box guitar stuff: <a href="https://www.cbgitty.com/shane-speal-signature/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.cbgitty.com/shane-speal-signature/</a></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><em>Shane's music is at <a href="http://shanespeal.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://shanespeal.com</a></em></span></p> WEIRD INSTRUMENT ALERT! MIKU'S Hurdy Gurdy Kalimba Mechanical Sequencertag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2021-03-08:2592684:Topic:36123162021-03-08T16:34:53.414ZCigar Box Nation Officialhttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/NationNews
<p><span class="style-scope yt-formatted-string" dir="auto"><br></br> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lv_nQ3TNxzw?wmode=opaque" width="560"></iframe>
</span></p>
<p><span class="style-scope yt-formatted-string" dir="auto" style="font-size: 14pt;">This wild instrument was created by Cigar Box Nation member, <a href="http://cigarboxnation.com/profile/Miku" target="_self">Miku</a> and was submitted in the…</span></p>
<p><span dir="auto" class="style-scope yt-formatted-string"><br/> <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lv_nQ3TNxzw?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
</span></p>
<p><span dir="auto" class="style-scope yt-formatted-string" style="font-size: 14pt;">This wild instrument was created by Cigar Box Nation member, <a href="http://cigarboxnation.com/profile/Miku" target="_self">Miku</a> and was submitted in the <a href="https://www.cbgitty.com/news/mutants" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Musical Mutant Build-Off Contest</a>. He describes it as a "Human powered, 24 tone polyphony, 16th notes electric kalimba mechanical sequencer plus electric hurdy gurdy drone string." There are two separate outputs, 5 single coil pickups and a "hand of doom as an auto conductor."</span></p>
<p><span dir="auto" class="style-scope yt-formatted-string" style="font-size: 14pt;">What do you think? Post your comments below!</span></p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8616164071?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8616164071?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-full"/></a><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8616164466?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8616164466?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-full"/></a><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8616164886?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8616164886?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-full"/></a>Mutant</p>