Hey folks, Ben/CBGitty here - welcome to our second Cigar Box Nation newsletter, which we'll be sending out twice a month featuring some of the biggest things happening in the CBG and handmade/homemade music world. These newsletters will be mostly news and features without too much advertising. If you're a gear/tools/parts fan, make sure to sign up for the C. B. Gitty Newsletter. We hope you enjoy!
 One of the top pics of the week is this sweet Moonshine 3-string cigar box guitar by Smoothead (aka Ivan Petricic) of Rijeka, Croatia.
Featuring a hand-wound, hand-carved pickup by Bob Harrison of Harrison Pickups, fretted neck and classic tombstone tuners.
Cigar Box Nation member, "Sasquatch" shows how to build your own "Thicknesser" sander/planer using plywood and a belt sander.
 *Note: Cigar Box Nation and C. B. Gitty has not personally tested the following plans and includes them only as featured content. Please use caution when modifying any electric power tool and consult the manufacturer first.
Nation member, Sasquatch wanted to make his own fretboards from reclaimed lumber, but didn't have a proper planer to reduce the width of the wood and get a good flat surface. He writes, "I started looking on line at what other solutions there may be and stumbled across people having made their own. Whilst there were some great builds, I wanted to use what I had lying around in my workshop. "After much pondering I decided to mount my handheld belt sander in a frame so timber could be fed through underneath on an adjustable bed. "The timber will be pushed through, under the sander, against the rotation of the belt, which is held in by the frame (although I will probably strap it down using webbing). "The bed is adjusted by turning a bolt which is mounted underneath, giving me zero to about 2 inches to play with, which is plenty for neck blanks. As the build is based upon a 4 inch sander it will only be good for necks and fretboard although I will also try it for small planks to use in box construction." Read the whole story, see all the pictures and join in the discussion.
Fifth Annual Pennsylvania Cigar Box Guitar Festival seeks performers, vendors and sponsors.
The Fifth Annual Pennsylvania Cigar Box Guitar Festival is definitely happening! After some medical setbacks with organizer and host, Jim Lewin, they are now back on schedule to hold one of the biggest CBG festivals around.
The PA Cigar Box Guitar Fest will be held on Saturday, August 23 from 10am-6pm at grounds of the York Emporium Bookstore in York, PA. They are currently seeking top notch cigar box guitar acts along with vendors (instruments, art, handcrafted items, cool stuff) and sponsors. Contact Jim Lewin at the York Emporium:
The York Emporium 717-846-2866
 info@theyorkemporium.comThis event is the longest-running CBG festival in the world. This festival celebrates the Cigar Box Guitar folk culture. It is two days filled with an assortment of music, engaging demonstrations and workshops. Throughout the Lowe Mill grounds there will be an array of cigar box guitars, folk art, folk skills and food vendors. Performing at the festival will be: Microwave Dave, Justin Johnson, Patrick and John Nickel, Matt Crunk, Justin Johnson, April Mae and the June Bugs, Johnny Lowebow, Earl Williams, Hymn for Her, and Ben Prestage!
 Cigar Box Ukulele Contest!Cigar Box Nation is looking for the most artistic, wildest, most radical or most visionary cigar box ukulele. Do you think your creations are the best? Show them to us. The rules are simple:
1. The instrument must be made from a real cigar box.
2. It must fit within the classification of a ukulele (Uke soprano, concert, tenor or baritone scale + 4 nylon strings).
3. Instruments made from cigar box ukulele kits or from dismantled old ukes are acceptable as well as instruments fully made in your own workshop.
4. Instrument must be built by you.
Two prizes will be awarded from C. B. Gitty Crafter Supply.
Grand prize: $50 C. B. Gitty prize pack + $50 C. B. Gitty gift certificate
Runner up: $25 C. B. Gitty prize pack + $25 C. B. Gitty gift certificate
How to submit your entry:
- Build the greatest cigar box ukulele you can
- Take THREE pictures of your entry. Three pictures only (no photoshops of several angles in one pic).
- Post your three pictures in the official submission thread at Cigar Box Nation.
Contest runs from May 9, 2014 - June 30, 2014. Enter as many instruments as you wish.
In any case of changes to these rules will be posted on the home page of Cigar Box Nation and also in the official submission thread.
Cigar Box Nation member, Jason Farthing was featured by the OC Register (Orange County, CA) newspaper in a great photo-heavy article. The feature story (Iink) contains nine photos and a short interview. Jason is a member of The Budrows, an incredible 3-piece cigar box guitar band from California. They recently released a self-titled album on download, vinyl (yes, vinyl!) and cd. The Budrows album is a swamp rock buffet of primal cigar box guitars, washboards and more. Highly recommended.
The Budrows self titled album
Shane Speal, The King of the Cigar Box Guitar shows his unusual EBF# tuning used on the song, Pocketful of Tickets from his instrumental album, Empty Wooden Box. This song uses tuning in 5ths, allowing for cool, lush chords and jazzy funk fills.
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