To start off, I would just like to say these things don't bother me.
As a performer, you pretty much have to be thick skinned (as I'm sure many of you can attest to).
Usually, when people hear about cigar box guitars, they kinda write 'em off. Then they see 'em, and become intrigued. And when they hear 'em, they're hooked.
However, I just thought I'd share these stories of cigar box guitar discrimination for your enjoyment, and maybe you can share some stories of your own for our collective amusement.
That said, I've three stories to share.
1) Just last Friday, I was playing a gig in a local bar. I brought my 3 string electric CBG, my Lowebow Purgatory Hill Harp, my 1964 Stella acoustic which I put a humbucker in, and my Aria LP. I typically start off my shows by introducing myself, and state "I'm gonna play some tunes for ya." Well, I began by playing the 3 string CBG, and one smart ass in the crowd yelled out "you shoulda brought a guitar with ya!"
I actually thought this one was kinda funny.
2) A few weeks ago, I was visiting Grand Junction, Colorado, where I went to college and used to live 5-6 years ago. I had my Lowebow and went to the blues jam, but got there too late to sign up to play. I was showing off the Hill Harp, and most people were pretty enthusiastic about it. However, one guy wasn't. One of his buddies remarked to him, "I bet you don't have one of these, eh Bob?!" And Bob replied, "no, and I never will."
Part of me was kinda irked about that statement, especially since I didn't get to play... I'm pretty damned sure he would be singing a different tune had he heard the Lowebow in action. But to automatically dismiss something based on it's looks? I guess maybe I had more faith in musicians being open minded.
The other part of me was kinda glad I didn't get to play this blues jam, as it was full of... well, typical blues jam guitarists (the type who evidently think the blues started with Eric Clapton). I really doubt any of 'em -- especially the drummers -- would have known what to do with some low down hill country blues.
3) Then, in telling this story to my friend Eric, he mentioned he was telling one of his friends (let's call him John) about me and my cigar box guitars. John said something along of lines of: "now, when it comes to blues, [cigar box guitars is] where I draw the line."
This statement comes across to me as sheer ignorance. Or maybe just a totally different style of blues. Cuz, to me, cigar box guitars are about as bluesy as you can get. They lend themselves to blues so well, and to automatically rule them out? Stupid. In my opinion, at least.
(all the names mentioned above have been changed to protect the innocent and the ignorant).
Now, how bout you, Nation?
Got any stories of prejudice or discrimination when it comes to CBGs?
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these people also tend to miss or lack the idea that there is a value in doing somthing your self. like one guy told a buddy of mine, "they perfected building guitars a long time ago." i lent my bud one of the can's. the guy liked it, was impressed by the sound i got, but admitted he still didn't understand why i'd want to do it. i guess it like Jesse James (the bike builder) said "If you have to ask, you just don't get it man."
As far as discrimination, I haven't really seen much. There's a lady at work who wants one, for a wall decoration. She also wants it to be a four-string, because "you can't play anything on three strings." Huh? You just said you were going to hang it on the wall. I showed her a video of a three-string guitar, and was told that "he's not really playing a song; he's just making chords." Uh, yeah, and when you put them in a certain order, like he's doing, that's called a song. I had the same problem when I mentioned one-string instruments. It wasn't until I played her "Amazing Grace" on the canjo that it clicked in her head that you could actually play music on something with less than four strings. And yet she still wants one for decoration. So she's still waiting.
I went into the local shooting range this past weekend to see if they would give/sell me some bullet casings that I use on my builds. At first, they refused because they thought I was using them to "reload", whatever that means. I explained that I use them for my cigar box guitars and they agreed to let me take a few handfuls. They thought the guitars were like a ukelele or some sort of kids toy so I went and got one from the car (for just such an emergency) and brought it in.
When I walked in with it, the lady of the husband/wife team said, "Oh, how cute." The husband looked it up and down with curiosity and obviously thought it was more of a craft show item than an instrument. He plucked the strings a few times and perked up a little. I asked him if he wanted to hear it plugged up. "It's electric?" he said. I went to get my micro cube and when I came back in, he and his wife were both taking pictures of it with their iPhones as a customer looked on.
I plugged it up and played (badly) for about 30 seconds and he asked if it was for sale. I sold it to him right there. They also told me I could come in and get bullet shells any time I needed them.
I guess my experience is: I don't think a whole lot of people really understand these CBGs...until they hear them and realize these are bona fide instruments (in the hands of someone other than myself). They think they're toy guitars or something, at least in my experiences anyway. My best friend bought one from me after seeing pictures of it and said he thought it would be neat to hang it on his wall. I played it for him (again, badly) and he was amazed. Now he's told a friend of his about them who plays in a band and wants me to bring one to his show so he can check it out. I haven't run across any true snobbery yet, but I'm sure it's out there as so many of you have attested to and I hope i don't. So far, in my short time doing this, it's been a lack of understanding.
I just finished my CBG#2 and took it around to a cigar shop and a couple of music shops that I have visited while in the building process. The response has been generally positive. In fact the things seems to attract a small crowd of people every time I take it somewhere which is funny, cause I can't play worth a damn. I mean, how entertaining can the first few bars of "wild thing" really be. This I why I always play a few seconds and then hand it off to whoever I am showing it too.
I also stopped into a music shop this afternoon and showed it to one of the guys who worked there. This kid can't be more than 16 years old, but when I handed it to him, he made it come alive with some awesome blues licks. He loved it and took it around the store and showed several other people. They all seemed impressed.
Thanks to threads like this, I will be ready when I run up against a guitar snob. They only mock what they don't understand.
I get great feedback when I'm showing off my CBG's. They reflect the frugal yankee mentality that's pretty pervasive up here in New Hampshire.
Play free or die!
@Wes - it could be "maturity" as well. One day you're just old enough to care more about the music and not the gear.
And now for something totally different (on a bit more positive note):
I have regular communication with an Open-G community, almost everybody there uses a 12-string guitar. It's 4 times more strings, but nobody laughts at me/my experiments. Anything goes - as long it brings you further. With only 3 strings you have to rethink a sh*tload of things about your playing and understanding of music. Actually (I hope it stays this way) my CBG experiment already improved a bit my bass playing (although I have to switch constantly between GDG, EADG, DGDGBD and ADGCEA tunings). I still suck, but a bit less... No strange look or "smart" remark can spoil me the fun.
I went to a jam and had brought some three string pickups with me. They kind of looked at them and said, gee that's nice. And then someone said, why don't you wind a Strat or Tele pickup?
However, I haven't infiltrated this jam yet with one of my CBG's, so I wouldn't expect them to really know what I'm talking about or why I'm doing what I'm doing, until I bring one out and crank it up.
They don't really "get" North Mississippi style blues either. The one time I brought a one chord song out they pretty much killed it with boredom.
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As far as the guy who was drawing the line on CBG's for blues - that's just hilarious and shows how ignorant he is. I just got done reading this month's Blues Revue obit section. Out of like 8 obits, it mentioned that one guy started on a "one string" and the other guy started on four strings nailed to his porch and played with a bottle. Nuff said.
I have had a LOT of great reception to the concept of CBGs. I sell more than play/busk and when I am at a fair or so, I have never hear any discouraging words -- even from talented musicians. Mind you, they do give great criticism on setup and build but nothing that would cause my bristles to be raised. All the Hippies and rednecks in and around the Carolinas think these things are the shi... well. you get it.
When I play Purgatory Hill or Moreland & Arbuckle on the iPad, they really are impressed. I visit (pardon me) Guitar Center for strings etc, and the counter guys always want me to bring mine in.
Must be some sort of regional thing. I dunno. Dan's right: 'I think having less than 6 strings also throws them for a loop.' It does... until they get hold of one. I get a lot of questions on tuning and why 3/4 strings but to any serious musician, most all musical instruments have their own merit.
-WY
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