About a month ago our computer was playing up, so I called Andy our 'Computer Whizz' and asked him to come round and take a look. Remembering that Andy plays guitar, I invited him to have a go on my CBGs. Well he was mightily impressed. ( Humility dictates that I confess, 'none of them were built by me!')
This morning our computer was 'having issues' again (old age!) So I made the call and Andy arrived a short time later with his bag of technical tricks AND his very own CBG.
He picked it up off Ebay for a very good price and it rocks... His excitement was tangible and he plans to use it on a few tracks of his (can't remember the name of the band - old age!) new album.
He's a great bloke and great player and I hope to get some video footage of him playing sometime soon.
Just wanted to share this and encourage you to spread the Joy by spreading the CBG word...
I have a policy now that states 'No one who enters my house shall leave without playing at least one CBG!'
Nuff said...
Comments
Hi Stephen, interesting story my friend. It's amazing how building a CBG/canjo can take you to a different place. For my part I've never been much of a DIY man, but since finding this cigar box scene I've made a few and get better with each new build. (So far!) I live with constant lower back pain, some days are worse than others, but having a build on the go, even if I can only manage a few minutes here and there is a great source of relief. Learning to play has also been a joy. Building/playing CBG's (& soon a MeriCan Canjo) has added positively to my day to day life in a way that is hard to describe adequately.
Thanks for sharing your story stephen. (& all of you)
and don't forget the 'girls' Oily!!! I'm with you all the way brother...
And here I was, 17-year-old me inside a 52-year-old body, still thinkin' I was doing this for the fame, the girls, the plush ride, and the girls...
thanks Paul, great Zen Dog quote, i'll paste it on my homepage, cheers for your support! (-:
Hey Slowpaw, thanks for sharing this my friend. It's great to get a little insight into what CBGs mean to others.
Follow your dream, cus no one else can do it for you.
A Zen Dog quote for you...
'He knows not where he's going
for the ocean will decide -
it's not the destination...
it's the glory of the RIDE.'
Up the revolution brother!!!
ps Your music and enthusiasm is a source of inspiration to me. (& many others I'm sure)
Me and CBG Evangelism...the story so far! (-;
Thank God for CBG's...without the 'Nation i would be on my own - my first efforts at building and playing CBG's was initially greeted with polite interest by my work colleagues as a bit of a novelty hobby but of course was never taken really seriously. After a year has passed this seems to have turned to (at worst) mild mocking and derision, at best polite disinterest - no one would really be silly enough to book me to play at their party with that disgusting old cigar box stuck onto a bit of wood playing "own original" songs, even for free...no, not without a "proper" guitar or "proper" cover songs...wouldn't dream of it...they'd rather pay £500 for an hour with some road weary old git with an out of tune Strat and his out of tune wife....
My family showed barely any interest at all anyway, maybe i was too pushy for them just to listen to just one short CD, they think i am a bit of a harmless eccentric anyway wasting my life, money and time on stupid projects, no ambition, two failed marriages, no kids to carry on the family name...i've no plans to take over the world, if the Live thing doesn't work out i will retire gracefully...i'm really happiest spending my hours building guitars or putting together and recording songs with no clinging wife around to nag me, only mum asking when's dinner...there's nothing else to do really....heaven! Only work commitments intervene an otherwise productive scene, bills must be paid, though i've never phoned in sick to carry on with a project, and never will, though i'm seriously considering moving out of this area eventually, a musical wasteland where the local "glitterati" consists of tribute bands and Simon Cowell's rejects...when i retire i hope to find some other eccentrics to make music and waste time with, preferably somewhere near the sea and where they have "proper" Pubs!
thanks for letting me get that off my chest...onward and upward! (-;
Hi Tony, Shane, Mr Clock. Thanks Guys.
Tony I've built a few to date and my last 3 string CBG is looking and sounding half decent. There is something magical about this whole home grown music movement, that's hard to ignore.
Shane, small world indeed. Andy is so pleased with the CBG you built, if you could have seen us yesterday we were like a couple of kids in a sweet shop. I'm no expert, but the feel, sound and playability of your guitar is great. Hope to meet you sometime.
Mr Clock, as ever you nailed it with your photo response. Thank you.