The Cigar Box Nation newsletter: All the cool stuff happening in the Cigar Box Guitar Revolution. 

Want more news?  Read the C. B. Gitty Newsletter and find out about new tools, building tips and more.  

Cigar Box Nation member, Shane Wagstaff of Mansfield Notts, UK built this stunning bookmatched walnut top and back.  Note the binding, the subtle string heel at the butt, inlay at the 15th fret area and understated Strat jackplate at the bottom.  Wagstaff made a three string version as well and posted a video showing its features and sound on Cigar Box Nation. 

NEW GROUP WITH VIDEOS: The Weesay Fan Club!  Maybe you've seen the viral video of Liberian blind street musician, Wesseh Freeman (aka Weesay) playing his homemade 3 string gas can guitar.   Now you can get the full story, watch videos, post other videos and keep in touch with other Weesay fans.

Using an old oil can, a piece of wood and a number of wires, Weesay designed himself a guitar and learnt how to play it, first on Monrovia streets and now to millions of online audiences.  His music is like his guitar; rough on the edges but sounds great.

His rise to fame came when a popular brand of chips asked him to sing a jingle using his tin guitar.  A video of the performance was uploaded online and it has so far, gained more than nine million views and a number of well-wishers offered to buy him a guitar.  He now has several guitars but still loves to play the one he made himself.

• Wade started the discussion on Sticky Adhesive Remover and discovered the power of simple olive oil.  Others have been joining in and sharing their own secrets.
• Bad Wolf posed the question "How long does it take you to build a cigar box ... The thread blew up with all sorts of observations on build time, ideas and more. 

In addition to these conversations, C. B. Gitty just announced several new tools designed to make better cigar box guitars at a faster rate:

The Neck Notching Template is a perfect example.  Instead of measuring and drawing center lines on cigar boxes, this simple ruler helps you find the center of a box and draw a perfect notch for a 1x2 neck. Shane Speal has been using something similar for years, and swears by it - he was good enough to share his design, and now you can have one too!

Gitty's new Soundhole Templates will give your cigar box guitars a touch of class.  Since many builders use the neck-through-box design, using these soundholes allows proper sound response without exposing the neck inside the box like a center soundhole.

This is a set of 9 stencils/templates of 4 different F-hole patterns (pictured above), based on designs that have been used on stringed musical instruments (lutes, violins and more) throughout history. These are laser-cut from 0.080" clear acrylic, with centering lines included, so that you can easily place the templates on your cigar box guitar or other build. Once placed, just use a sharp pencil, pen or marker to mark the shape onto your instrument, then use a scroll saw & file or dremel tool to carve it out. 

Build Your Own 2x4 Lap Steel Guitar

Cigar Box Nation founder, Shane Speal continues his DIY Musician column for Guitar World Magazine with a set of plans to make a six-string lap steel guitar with a simple 2x4 plank.  The instrument is cheap and simple, perfect for any level of builder.

Speal has also just published a Part II article featuring cool mods you can add + a hot rod humbucker pickup: 

Part I: The original 2x4 Lap Steel Guitar plans

Part II: Cool Mods for the 2x4 Lap Steel

See Shane Speal in concert this weekend and catch his cigar box guitar seminar:

SNAKE OIL BAND CONCERT:  Shane Speal's Snake Oil Band performs tonight, Friday 13th at the Tourist Inn, Hellam PA. 9pm.  This will be the full-throttle theatrical show.  Loud, screaming cigar box guitars, toilet paper cannons and more!  Here's the info.

FREE SEMINAR:  Tomorrow morning, Shane will give a free seminar on cigar box guitars and being a 'sound searcher'.  10:30am at the York County (PA) Heritage Trust.  Read more.

SHANE SPEAL SOLO SHOW AT CIGARS INTERNATIONAL- HAMBURG PA:  Shane Speal performs at Cigars International Superstore in Hamburg PA this Saturday night at 9pm!  This is his first time at CI Hamburg.  The bar will be open and fine cigars on hand.  Don't miss this show.  More info.

The Cigar Box Nation soundhole cover for your cigar box guitar! Jus....

Cigar Box Nation t-shirt. Just $15.99

Nation member Shawn started a discussion on playing 4-string cigar box guitar in Open A....  This led to many different ideas for tunings.