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Comment by Madurobob on April 22, 2013 at 7:41am

Man, Shakori festival was fantastic!  Sold a lot of stuff, met lots of cool people, and got to play UtterMike's fantastic double tub bass.  Y'all should check it out if you get a chance.

Comment by Madurobob on April 15, 2013 at 9:42am

Hey Mike - I'll be there!  Stop by my booth and say howdy!

Comment by Uttermike on April 15, 2013 at 9:05am

Anybody else going to Shakori this weekend? (4/18-21/2013)

Comment by Uttermike on April 15, 2013 at 8:44am

Howdy y'all, 

I'm from Franklin County (piedmont) but presently mostly reside in Ashe County (mtns) on the New River near the VA border. 

I design and build one string instruments out of all sorts of stuff (not only cigar boxes) but my passion is the double washtub bass shown in my profile pic.  The design came to me in a vision one night and I got up at 2 am and built my first one.  I take it to festivals all over NC and VA and play into the wee hours of the morning around campfire jams.  I am passionate about seeking out places to play but I'm content sitting alone at home playing along with the recorded music of professionals.

My "utterbass" is constructed out of a wooden bedpost fretboard, two plastic washtub resonators, nuts, bolts and wire stripped from green vinyl clothes line.  The tension is low and easy on the finger.  I can play all night whereas gut bucket washtub players have blisters in an hour and are not very melodic unless in the hands of an expert.  Almost anyone who can hum a tune can play my utterbass.  The tone is remarkably low, rich, and loud.  People are thunderstruck when they walk up expecting to see a "real" bass only to find I'm making music with one string and two plastic tubs. I can get a couple of octaves from my one string.

I hope to soon post an audio/video to prove I'm no joke and hopefully get some ideas for more attractive resonators here on CBG.  The plastic tubs sound great, don't rust, and last forever but don't have the natural organic asthetic of the bluegrass, ole time, folk, and blues music I play.  Looking forward to the interaction with so many like-minded folks in one place.   I'd love to find a group of folks to jam with on a regular basis.  Give me a holler if you wouldn't mind me over in the corner.     Uttermike :{)

Comment by Dave Haas on March 6, 2013 at 8:40am

ShopDave here , I've been a member a couple or so yrs. Just have'nt posted anything or been on here in awhile. So hello to all. Anybody playing or a builder, Around Concord or Kannapolis N.C. Their right by Charlotte ( the Speedway ) If so give a howler  Thanks

Comment by Mountain Voodoo (G B Miller) on February 11, 2013 at 3:43am

Looking for folks in the Wilmington, Hamsptead, Surf City, Holly Ridge, Sneads Ferry or Jacksonville area to jam with! 

Comment by NightOwl on January 25, 2013 at 11:10am

That's awesome Bob! I would offer to play a couple of tunes for you but February is my month to work Saturdays. 

Comment by Madurobob on January 25, 2013 at 9:57am

Highpoint Museum just filed their press release for the CBG workshop. Their marketing mgr says she's getting me on the local TV morning show in a week or two, plus a handful of telephone interviews with local media outlets. I may have to start drinking now...

http://highpointmuseum.org/high-point-museum-to-host-cigar-box-banj...

Comment by Madurobob on December 22, 2012 at 6:19am

Hi folks - anyone out there?

I'm giving a CBG building workshop in Highpoint one Saturday this February.  The Highpoint Museum has a CBG from 1907 in its collection.  They'll also have displays throughout the museum of modern CBGs and a rather large collection of antique and modern banjos provided by a local collector.  I was going to have Justin Johnson there play a few songs as well and hsow of what a CBG can do, but he's already booked every Saturday in February.  Anyone out there interested in playing for a small group of folks at the Highpoint Museum?  I can arrange for you to be paid a little, I think.

The basic concept is that there are parts of the building process that are dull and repetitive.  I'll show the first few reps, then do the rest while you play a song or two - something to keep the folks entertained.

Whaddya think?

Comment by Madurobob on June 4, 2012 at 9:04am

I expect the contest will be for just a single overall winner.  But, I have no doubt you could be that winner (just saw your uke).  The two main criteria will be 1) unique and interesting design and 2) large enough and finished in a way to allow for many prominent signatures.  As the festival grows there needs to be room for all the bands to sign.  Getting 31 band signatures on my little donated guitar this year was a challenge and the festival organizers are worried about size.  I'm thinking about maybe joining multiple boxes together somehow.

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