Howdy Folks... my first post here.
Bout a month ago, I stumbled on a thread about Seasick Steve on arfcom. A friend (lighting designer) stopped by and saw the video and we decided to make ourselves some Diddley Bows. As I was looking around at various sites, I saw the Robert Johnson tribute diddley bow by RamblinAround and liked the stove burner resonator.
I checked a few more of Jeff's videos and he has made other tribute CBGs, so I figured that turnabout was fair play. If I ever go through Illinois, I will drop it off for him. Link to his bow:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxweos_Io6k&feature=related
Pics of the project:
I used an eyebolt as a tuner and 2 Radio Shack piezos for pickups. A piece of 2X4 that I burnt with an acetylene torch, wire brushed and urethaned. It's sportin' an 046 E string and growls pretty good. I use a slide turned down from some bushing material that I use for motorcycle fabrication.
I use a thin triangle pick because it gives good attack, it is easy to hang onto and if you strum near the bridge and strum across the hardware too, you get some rhythm sounds to help fill in.
The amp is a 3/8" scrap plywood box With the circuit board from a Danelectro HoneyTone $20. I added a Nady 4 channel mixer. I had the mixer for video work it was also around $20. I also installed the parts from a Danelectro Fab Echo footpedal.
Of course I burnt out the mixer and echo because the Honeytone sends +9V to the pots and I made the first face plate out of aluminum. The mixer was easy to fix, just an op amp, but the echo has many components all surface mount tech, I bought another one of those -- $15, delivered. Then I made a Lexan faceplate.
I had the 4" car speakers from years ago. They make that HoneyTone sound great!
Yes, that is a telephone mic with velcro. It works great and you can sing through/past the harmonica if the mood hits you.
Oh yeah, the arfcom link with Seasick Steve:
http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_1_5/1223843_.html&page=1&anc=29836622#i29836622
Replies
Great Dbo!
rc
That really is awesome! It's a truly inspired design and I feel honored to be associated with it. The eyelets and the leather is a great touch and something I wouldn't have thought of. Of course, I like the telephone mic as well. Nicely done!