Having trouble reading this email?  Click here to read this newsletter at Cigar Box Nation.

The big news this week is that Cigar Box Nation is getting a new look and feel!

You can check out this forum post to read more of the details. This is the first major update to the site in a few years, and we hired a professional designer for the project, to make sure it will be the best it can be.

We are hoping to install the new design overnight TONIGHT (Thursday, June 18) so get ready! Here is a teaser of part of the new top banner layout for the site...

This week's featured instrument is an oldie but a goody - a beautiful gambling-themed 3-string cigar box guitar built by Adam Kovarik of Australia. He first posted pics of this guitar on Cigar Box Nation back in December 2013, and we thought it deserved another look. Check out that awesome vintage cigar box!

• Gary Sheldon recently posted a forum thread asking the question "Can cigar box guitar builders call themselves luthiers?" The thread has been one of the most popular discussions on the Nation ever since. So what do you think - are we luthiers? Click over to the forum post and add your thoughts.
• Uncle Fred has posted a thoughtful take on positioning magnetic pickups and finding the "sweet spot". If you have ever wondered where you should place your pickups, this one is worth a read.
• Bad Finger (Eric) continues his series of blog posts on the ups and downs of running an open mic, and the challenge of getting out and performing in public. Learning to play, and then taking the step of performing in front of others, is a big deal for a lot of people (and rightly so). So if you have been struggling with the question of whether you could do it, check out Eric's posts for some inspiration.

The Festival season is officially under way! Don't forget to check out the Summer 2015 Cigar Box Guitar Festival Guide, put together by Shane Speal and posted on the Nation. There are still lots of great CBG festival and music events coming up!

The next festivals on the docket are:

• "Boxstock" held in Birmingham, UK on July 3 & 4 - the UK Cigar Box Guitar Festival!
• The 1st Italian Cigar Box Guitar Festival in Tuscany, Italy on July 18.
• The Republic of Texas Cigar Box Guitar Festival on August 22 at the Pistoria Blues Festival in Albert, TX.

If you know of any other festivals that involve cigar box guitars, or are planning an event yourself, please let us know!

The C. B. Gitty Sound Hole Contest wrapped up a couple of weeks ago, and was a resounding success. So many awesome and creative entries were sent in, and it was very difficult to judge. Check out the contest results here!

. 

Want a special instrument, but too busy with warm-weather stuff to build your own? C. B. Gitty is having a summer instrument sale - 15% all finished instruments. This sale ends tomorrow (June 19) so you'll have to hurry!