This will probably turn in to a rant, actually, no it will be a rant.
Being a relative newby I spend a decent amount of time here soaking up information, tips, ideas like a sponge. I also spend time pouring over the posted photos for those hidden ideas such as using a fork for a tail-piece, an area of a CBG I tend to struggle with for some bizarre reason. Along with placing those sorts of ideas in the ideas tray section of my brain I also latch on to those hidden gems such as the violin case Dan Bau/Diddly Bow. I've never heard of a Dan Bau before but after some research I can see they are easy to make so the idea of a traditional looking one now also resides in brain ideas tray.
What's brought this post on though was going through the photos a few moments ago. I came across Keith's scrap wood, dented tin and what looks like a dog chain ratchet piece and it blew me away, too me the true essence of building a CBG - SCRAPS. I also saw many immaculately presented instruments that look phenomenal, some needing to be hung on a wall and not touched apart from with a duster and some built for their wit and whimsy and obviously others that retain that original ethos, just nicely built - I'm confused, hence the title of this piece "Are CBG's Losing Their Way, Is It Natural Progression, Or Ego?"
I could name many a builder here who just amaze me every time they create that simple something, I could also name a few who go above and beyond and create the duster instrument. Now I'm not saying these dusters don't belong, what I'm saying is "Is this the natural progression?" The point where the humble CBG becomes more mainstream or is it "Ego?"
I personally lack many skills when it comes to woodworking, it was a subject in school I despised but as I have aged I look back on that time and tell myself I should have paid more attention.
With that said, I still couldn't build a duster piece, what I've built so far yes are themed apart from the very first one but even though themed I would struggle mentally to create a duster piece - don't forget, I have the machinery here (CNC's - Lasers etc) to build boxes and necks millimetre perfect but I choose not to use them except for embellishments. I get more enjoyment going at a piece of wood with a spoke shave or a block plane than I do watching a machine do the same thing in a fraction of the time.
Where am I going with this? I'm not overly sure, it's certainly not a raving jealousy piece - I'm well chuffed with what I build and if you don't like them then it sure as don't stress me none. If anything I am asking that question - "Are CBG's Losing Their Way, Is It Natural Progression, Or Ego?"
Comments
I been doing builds for a year now, I have never built any without frets, or finish, or some touch that tries to "upscale" my build. there is a reason for that though. I came to the hobby looking to build a standard Telecaster style solid electric. I found this site and began practicing the principles of traditional luthiery on very non-traditional instruments. I have been building these trying to improve my skills with each build. I also loved the using different materials for the bodies, license plates, lunch boxes, dog dishes, whatever but my goal has always been to build as finely crafted instrument as I can using exotic woods, fancy grain figures, and nice finishes to make them as lovely as I can. that said I like the stick in a box builds as well for playing and just the pleasure of seeing the true primitive nature of these instruments, building those simply holds no interest for me. Ego? possibly... but I like working the wood with my hands and seeing peoples surprise when I hand them a "primitive" instrument that they handle like a traditional guitar.
I have discovered CBG's in middle age, i build them because i love making stuff, i had never considered myself as musical but my son learnt guitar from an early age & is now very good, we got given some boxes & made two Cbg's about 2 years ago, i havent stopped making them since. I build them because i enjoy it, i also play them, my favorite one sits by my chair & i pick it up & have a practice at random sometimes ten times a day, i have one at work & play that as well.
I spent most of my working life as a boatbuilder, now i work in a school as a D&T technician & normally have a guitar in build there as well, I like to challenge myself when making them but dont see the point in buying expensive rare woods, for me the whole point is to use found or recycled stuff as much as possible, theres plenty of nice wood to be recycled! The kids at school are interested & think the guitars are "sick" but have been bought up in an age where you go to the shop & buy a shiny thing made in a sweatshop in the far east, the concept of actually building one themselves is pretty alien. This goes for many adults as well they have no concept of need, no concept of having to make stuff cos its not in a shop or for sale on a website.
The other day my wife & i were walking across a main road & in the gutter lay an exhaust muffler box, looked in reasonable condition so i picked it up & bought it home, its been chopped open, baffles knocked out & awaits a new life as a guitar, And so another one begins!
I'm going to go with Diglydog's thought of it being a logical progression for the builder types. My first build was as simple as you can make it and sounded great. I didn't have to build any others because I still play that first one half the time. However, the builder in me wanted to try a scarf joint, and then the addition of a fretboard and frets, and then inlay markers, and then making my own box, and then building different bridges and tail pieces, and then...
Every build I seem to attempt one more thing or learn from the mistakes of the last build and try to get it right on the next one. After a while of adding on one more thing, the CBG does become quite a complex build and does stray from the basic stick in box.
I get what you're saying though. I was browsing through a luthier supply page at all the different fretboard woods I could try but very hesitant of the prices of many of them. Then I thought, "Why do I want to use ebony on a freaking cigar box?" Why? Because it's there and I haven't used it yet. And it looks pretty.
Saying all that, my builds aren't perfect by any means. They're still hand shaped and assembled built in my garage with the tools I have at my disposal. I just know that I would go bored of building CBGs if all I did was the very basics. I'm not saying that to take away from those that do because they have as much value as any other instrument posted on this site. It really comes down to personal taste and what one wants to get out of the building/playing experience.
Ha, yeah, I guess there is no telling what could happen if you don't change the settings. :) Prefer wood to metal as well.
CNC's and Lasers are handy tools Don, I make clocks, plaques, the usual timber stuff (hate metal working) I am yet to make a full CBG with one though - for embellishments or making awkward sound holes they're great providing you're not like me and forget to alter settings ;-).
Oh what I wouldn't give for CNC's and Lasers! (Not for CBGs necessarily.)
I've made a few 'pretty' gits to my level of skill,most i've given away or they sit unplayed for long periods,my 'go to' accoustic sits in the patio,in full sun late afternoons,up to 42 deg C,and i swear it sounds better daily,box top is drying harshly,but the sheoak neck doesn't budge,if it's been a cold night tuning may be out almost a full step,but it is a gem,there's a lot to be said for simple i'd say
I think that going right back, the original CBGs were born from poverty. The people who built them wanted to make music and had no money so the result was necessarily basic, but sometimes ingenious.
To me, CBN seems to be split into 2 camps. There’s ‘players’ who enjoy making music. A lot of them use basic instruments to make great music and often aren’t too bothered about building. Their hobby is playing the CBG.
Then there’s the ‘builders’ who get pleasure from .......you guessed; building CBGs. Now, some builders make CBGs from junk in ingenious ways. Others start off basic and then, with the vast array of low-cost components now available, branch out into more complex things. It’s a logical progression from making a nice straightforward CBG neck to wondering if you could add binding to it. It doesn’t need binding but it gives the builder satisfaction and looks nice.
I suppose that the third aspect may be CBG sales. If you can make a pretty CBG and someone with disposable cash is prepared to pay lots for it, why not make high-quality, high cost instruments ?
To answer your original question, I don’t think that CBGs are losing their way or being affected by ego. There is a progression but the grinding poverty that created the original instruments is no longer present in many countries. Give it a couple of decades and it may come back.
The point it to lay down yer money, and take yer chance. Every time. Over and over. It's kinda like investing ("long term casino"): you put your money (time, talent, sawdust, woodworking skill, musicality or lack of same, etc.) on the line, hoping for a big return. Sometimes, you get it. Sometimes, you fail. But you can't win if you don't play.
So what the hell do these analogies have to do with CBG's, egos, and losing one's way. If there are No Rules (except there are) and therefore, No Path (except there is), then you can easily say to yourself " I wonder what's down there? How will that sound? Oooo, look - squirrel!"
As long as there are newbies and old timers like Shane, there will always be that one thing that keeps CBGs from getting stale: Curiosity. If you don't have that, then maybe there's no "progression," maybe you've lost your way, maybe you're just bored. Most humans bore easily, and therefore seek novelty. Why? Yer brain is wired to provide you with a jolt of dopamine when you do something new or pleasurable. Sure, your first ten builds might do that, but unless you keep experimenting, yer gonna hafta snort coke to get that first-timer buzz.
Be The Child.
Good point on your first paragraph T-Belly, a damn good point in fact - it could well be the end customer, something I hadn't considered as I don't sell - perhaps if I did I'd look at them differently.
And Jim, all of mine (apart from pups, tuners etc) are as close to scrap builds as I can get, I am yet to build a fretted one but that'll come sooner or later I suppose.
My question wasn't aimed in particular at here, more in general. I've noticed for example eBay and small local music mags there are quite a few that actually look like they needed to pass the same quality control as a Fender or Gibson or Rickenbacker, such was their finish e.g. resin sealed prior to paint to remove all indications of timber failings. To me that's not sticking with the ethos of the CBG, more a professional luthier either losing their way, feeling it a natural progression or just full of ego either that or a hidden factory just churning them out to cash in on them for a major profit.
On here is a red burst one (first that came to mind), can't remember the builder but if you look at it you can see the 'I am hand made by someone with a passion. Feel free to look, but don't look too hard as I may have rough edges.' I think it's brilliant myself as are the 1,000's of others that grace the gallery.
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