I have seen so many different guitar styles since joining this site. I dunno if its been asked before, but my question is this;
Other than a requested design, what makes you build that particular build? Do you ask for design ideas?
Do you build around box? Do you design and build your own box? Do you build the same ones over and over or do you build something different each time?
Here's my take. So far I built my first one with the idea of using an old doublehumbucker I had "laying" around. Having already purchased a random collection of ten boxes, I looked at each box and saw an idea.
Some became guitars, some amps.
I personally build around an idea that pops into my head. Once there, I have to create it.
The most recent is called Frog's Leg's (Blues Frog that is..)
I had a build idea, which I decided to double and call the twins.
The resulting long winded story, ends in me me coming up with what I call "Frog's Legs"
When I get seriously into something, it doesn't shut off when I go to sleep. I have solved many an"issue" in my sleep. With this set of guitars, the design also came while I slept. Can't say its the best idea, but "Frogs Legs" became the design.
So this is what the idea became. I've finished the first one, and will finish the second one soon. It's a twin to the first, but each will have their own sound.
So, what makes you build what you build. Share the idea behind one of your designs, and how it came to be.
Replies
Thanks Rat.
I didn"t think to try another player, but it has worked for me in the past.
I didn't do anything different on this video, from my others, so not sure what would cause his issues.
I should probably update my software.......
Problem is I have more designs than time to build. Was searching for jazz on youtube and a song tittle screamed at me. 'Mojo Bounce'. Now i NEED a CBG with that on it. Inspiration comes from everywhere.
It doesn't shut off does it? That's what makes me finish a current build, I want to start on the next idea thats taking over my thoughts.
Hey Blues Frog, There is no reply option for me to respond to your newest comments, but thanks for watching the video and the compliments on build #2! It's great to get some feedback from someone that has been building them for a while. I'll be finished with #3 by early next week. I love the sounds I can get out of that microcube. #3 is going to have a magnetic pickup, so I am pretty exited to hear how that is going to sound.
Haha, cat gut strings! You may very well get everyone going on cats again. My dogs want to kill them every time they see one. I'm trying to think of one now, but the cat has got my tongue.
Also, I was thinking about the frog guitar the past couple days. Thinking about how bullfrogs are deep and throaty, I am thinking a 2 or 3 string fretless bullfrog bass. You can use a slide on those things and it sounds great.
The BullFrog. I like it.
I am finding in my forties that creativity doesn't shut off as easy as it did when I was in my twenties. I was a sculpture major and I seemed to always be struggling for a good idea. Now later in life I am finding the ideas and creativity comes to me a lot easier. Not only with cbgs, but also with writing. I used to struggle to get a few paragraphs out, now I can sit down and write blog entries with ease, even if we were out in the middle of nowhere for the week. I believe part of this is that I have built a strong foundation all those years I struggled in art, music, and writing. The other part is, I just don't care about impressing anyone, or competing with anyone anymore. I do things for enjoyment, and I can just relax and enjoy myself. No more pressure.
Bluesfrog, great handle and great guitar. I am early in building but have 3,4,and 5 going already with more planned out. I pretty much first think of what sound I want, and how to get it. Since I like a rustic look, and don't want to keep the label I start sanding and let the box speak to me. I get a lot of ideas that way. I started sanding a black box and loved the finish. It had sort of that burn wood look with some of the black paint. I decided to stop sanding because it looked perfect like that. Looking at it it was telling me f holes. The f holes then led me to pick out a certain style pick up. Then I figured a hinge would look good, along with an all walnut neck. To me this type of decision making is what personalizes the guitar.
Thanks Pavlov. This one started out completely different in my head. I was toying with trying to build a dulcimer type instrument. The body started out as a rectangle box, then it changed to an eight sided box. Then I decided to round the edges.
Next I started thinking finish and couldn't decide what I wanted to do, until the current design idea of a Frog's Leg came to me in my sleep. From there the color scheme and soundholes all came as I was building, right down to the nut and bridge. They were both custom created just for these builds.
You inspired me to do a frog one in the future, but only for one reason and it will look a lot different. I have a rubber frog that I use when fishing in areas with a lot of weeds and lily pads. I first tried it out in South Carolina at a pond in this wildlife refuge. I didn't see anyone else fishing that pond because of all the weeds. I had a rubber frog that I started bouncing on the lily pads. I caught a huge frog on that thing. Hooked him in the tongue and had several others jumping on him with fury. I had a cottonmouth on, caught 3 bass, and had gators coming after that frog. It was wild. I had ever reptile and amphibian in that pond poking eyes out of the water watching that thing. It would be darker with spots and some yellow.
I would like to build a gourd banjo one day. I'll be visiting Michigan in the fall, and there is an Orchard that I helped out that gives me these giant blue gourds. I'll dry one out this fall and go for it hopefully by the end of the year.
Oooh, a gourd banjo with a clear top and the frog inside it.
I like the fact that I've inspired you. I look forward to you posting photos of whatever it is that you build with your frog idea.
Enjoy!
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