Posted by CanJoe*John on November 22, 2009 at 9:07pm
Hello CBG makers, I joined this site after viewing comments that I discovered from a forum discussion on this site about the one-stringed musical instruments called "canjoes". Though I saw several comments regarding Herschel R. Brown's canjoe instruments in the discussion, I also noticed that the actual history of these cool little instruments (that Herschel did originate) needed to be included. Herschel Brown was a very close and long time friend of mine. He introduced me to his canjoe instrument concept just a few days after he created his first completed canjoe instrument. He gave to me, and I still have one of those original instruments from the first 5 he ever made. There is detailed information about canjoes on my web site at www.canjoe.com. When Herschel first started making his canjoes (and he coined the name too), he was not interested in making them for commercial sales. His finger boards, always made from pine, were, at first, simply 1X1 sticks with no strum cut hollow and no angles cut, just straight, flat sticks, fretted to a diatonic scale and a tuner key with the one string pulled through a 12 oz beverage can as the resonator. The design changes including the angle cut on the tail part allowing drop on the can for better, more even action the length of the string and the cut for the strum hollow were later added. Herschel and I regularly collaborated for over the past 20 years on design changes and hardware adaptations to make improvements. Though Herschel is genuinely the originator of the instrument and deserves the credit for that, the more pertinent changes that have made the contemporary design what they have thus become, so far, came from my own constant effort to improve on and provide better, more functionally correct musical instruments. This is no attempt to steal any of his thunder but if Herschel were alive today he would not hesitate to verify this info. Herschel made his living as a contractor and died at age 87 just last year working in his contracting business up to within 6 months of his passing. I attended his funeral and played "Wayfaring Stranger" on my own canjoe at his service in his memory. I have made my living for the past 17 years totally and completely as the sole proprietor of the CanJoe Company. Herschel helped me get this venture started. I have personally hand made well over 10,000 canjoe instruments and every one of them by hand, no mass production. Herschel and I together have provided the world with over 30K canjoe instruments combined. His had always been made as the nearly original design, made only of pine, no edging, no stain, no finish, just simple, but he went to mass production levels by having special jigs built to produce large quantities in order to supply a wood working magazine/web site with kits. I took a different approach on making and marketing these instruments, hand crafting every one I've made and supplying the consumer demand for the high quality, accurately built finished works of art that my instruments have become recognized for, establishing their own reputation. Anyway, this blog is being introduced as an opener for those who may be interested in knowing more or for contributing to the info on these cool, one-stringed canjoe instruments.
For anyone interested, there are some recently posted photos of custom designed and built CanJoe Company canjo instruments on my profile page. Take a look at them if you get a chance and see what kind of work is produced in the form of "sticks, strings, and cans".
Hey, I'm lucky...I get to play music with the can-man every Thursday. He inspired me to build my first instrument and even though I've never built a canjoe, I often consult him on the things I do build....and, if you do buy a canjoe, I highly recommend a Guinness can. The sound is amazing and well worth the extra money. Still pickin' on mine John!!
Yes, Wichita Sam, I fully agree with every point you've made. I've had past requests by some consumers that I lower my standards and the quality of my instruments, my art, so that they could purchase cheaply. I have refused every time, even when making a dollar was very much needed at those times. My hand signed signature is always on my finished instruments with a lifetime warranty on the quality of my work and a guarantee to those who own them that they are authentic. I always build my instruments to be way above and beyond the expectations of those receiving them and have actually received extra compensation by a few who after they have received their instruments and deciding I had not charged enough, sent me extra, more than I charged. I have spent many years trying to take the canjoe instrument out of the stigma of being considered a child's toy or a cub scout craft project item. A few of my instruments have sold for as much as $600 for one instrument which is an indicator of the level of quality and craftsmanship I intentionally produce. My custom instruments commonly fetch $250 plus, with the buyers happily, unhesitatingly paying these prices for my art and telling me I don't charge enough. Many of my finished works of art, my own versions of the canjoe instruments, a "stick, string, and can", are kept in glass cases by collectors and a few are currently displayed in prestigious museums. None of this I state is brag or fluff or intended to impress but rather to reveal that I take great care and effort to produce way above the Herschel Brown concept canjoe. Anyway, I do agree, there will be many who try to replicate what I do thinking they can command equal but I'm not competing with them. I will continue to do as I do and my standards will not be lowered or compromised in any attempt to out sell or compete with those who are trying to sell quantity instead of quality. I appreciate your comments and invite more...CJ*J
In marketing terms, you might be a good example of being a "victim of your own success." As the market for any item broadens, originators can always maintain the high ground, so long as they keep their product to the highest of quality. I've had this conversation with "high end" early marketers of CBGs who were displeased with "bottom feeders", but I would tell you that your competition is not and will never be craft fair marketers who are selling "canjoes" at a fraction of what your quality instruments demand.
As a builder of CBGs and yes, even a single-string-can-on-a-stick instruments, I will never ever command the prices of a Johnny Lowebow or a Canjoe*John. What I'm about is spreading the idea that people are capable of building playable musical instruments. If I cover costs, I'm happy. I give away about 1/2 of what I build and sell product on the lower end of the price scale.
I do believe that a growing market helps everyone in the market place. If someone is trying to rip of the public with a low-quality over-priced items, they will suffer (3-5 years ago, CBGs that are realitively easy to make were commanding prices over $ 250... not now) And they will complain. But, as a market expands and "entry level" items will go down in price, those who have built a reputation for quality and leadership will continue to have superior market (and pricing) advantages.
I hope that you continue to receive the rewards that all that hard work deserve. And I hope that I am right that "a rising tide lifts all ships". Let us know when you will be performing in the midwest. I would love to catch your act in person....
Thanks, Wichita Sam, for your kind support and respect for my many years of perseverance in designing, building, promoting, marketing, performing on, selling, giving away, and believing in my products, the cool original one-stringed canjoes. I call them MY products because they actually have become largely known about, now world-wide, because of my personal intense and persistent promotions which started soon after these instruments were actually first created. Again, no intent to steal anyone's thunder by making any unwarranted or grandiose claims but when Herschel Brown first created the original canjoe design and made his first few, he had no intentions to make them on a commercial or large scale basis. He was a very busy building contractor and he only made his canjoes for his own enjoyment to give to friends and family. Yes, I saw great possibilities in making these instruments marketable and Herschel gave me, from their very beginning, his full blessings and his personal assistance in helping me start the first truly commercial marketing of them. When I first began, I had no problems in convincing folks to buy them if I personally demonstrated them but the cost of major advertisement ads were prohibitive and trying to convince the public through the use of printed marketing that "sticks and cans" made into musical instruments were of any value was nearly impossible. So I set out on a long, hard, very costly personal journey of getting in front of as many people in as many ways I could conceive. I first learned to master the instrument, playing mine incessantly for as many hours a day, every day (for years) as I was awake. Anyone can view the photos I posted on my profile of the original canjoe instrument that Herschel first gave to me and easily see how worn out and beat up it became; but also can see the signatures (with dates) on it of the music legends I DID get in front of and then often beside of on major stages as well. I dedicated my life to making these instruments known, spending many days of my life constantly on the road, booking festivals as a vendor, paying vendor fees, travel expenses, frequently sleeping on the ground in a small tent or in my vehicle, working these 2, 3, and 4 day events for 14 to 16+ hours per day with few breaks, little food, no guarantees of selling anything, rarely breaking even and personally hawking them like a carny side show salesman at a circus. It was at these events that I learned my "can-lese", my own can language, and also where the promoters saw my talent and often put me on their stages to play their "supper breaks" for free. I found that I could sell even more after a stage performance so after many years, I began to learn how to book the shows as a performer. I worked my way literally from the bottom, being referred to by some, especially in the beginning, as the "Can-Joke" John and they laughed at the idea that a guy with a stick and a can could make a living either selling them or as a performer. I also started the canjoe web site in 1995, being one of the early internet marketers and getting international recognition early on. Now, after nearly 20 years of hard driven dedication and perseverance in making these instruments recognized as worthy to be marketable, desirable items, they have become open fodder for anyone and everyone to freely copy, to make and sell as "hobby crafts" or cute flea market merchandise with some who even claim ownership of their origin. "We made these as kids, with oil cans", as one Gatlinburg,TN "can-jo" maker/vendor recently told one of my friends at a mall in that town. These instruments that Herschel created were NOT made by anyone anywhere on Earth prior to his. No grandfathers, no kids with oil cans, no hillbillies from way back, no body made or sold them anywhere.(period). Back to my story, after my performance on the Grand Ole Opry, I realized that as the first and ONLY canjoe picker in the world to have reached that pinnacle, where do I take this cool little instrument next? I decided to fully pursue the plans I first started years ago, to use them for their best and highest by GIVING them away to kids who really needed them the most, kids in children's hospitals. Herschel Brown not only knew of my plans but fully endorsed and supported them. He lived long enough to see me succeed with HIS creation too and was delighted. His persistent idea to make them available to everyone is the same reason that either he nor myself ever have bothered about the trademark rights. Yes, I'm sometimes bothered by people who unethically benefit from my hard work and who intentionally mislead the public by marketing their own versions of the canjoe instruments while using a brand name that they have no right to, regardless of the way they spell it. But I have no time to worry about the ethics of others. The public does not remain fooled for long. Many who buy other "canjos' frequently discover the truth and often are disappointed and even angry about being taken advantage of. I have sold many of mine to those who had previously bought or saw others elsewhere after they learned the difference. So, as is stated in the book of Proverbs , "a man of integrity will be known by his ways but a deceitful man will soon be discovered". I will continue on in the same fashion I began and will make canjoes till I can't physically continue and my goals and needs will always be met. If anyone would like to comment, this blog is open for discussion...CanJoe*John
For anyone who doesn't know it, CanJoe John is the canjoe king with excellent marketing of highly crafted instruments that fetch premium prices. He is also a canjoe and strumstick virtuoso. (He gets respect from many for not whining about trademark/copyright issues over the term "canjoe" that surround McNally's "Strumstick".) Anyway, if you have a chance to get Canjoe John in the flesh, you will be rewarded for your effort.
Hey John, where are you playing in december?
the best,
Wichita Sam
(not a member of the family, never met him, but admire him)
Comments
In marketing terms, you might be a good example of being a "victim of your own success." As the market for any item broadens, originators can always maintain the high ground, so long as they keep their product to the highest of quality. I've had this conversation with "high end" early marketers of CBGs who were displeased with "bottom feeders", but I would tell you that your competition is not and will never be craft fair marketers who are selling "canjoes" at a fraction of what your quality instruments demand.
As a builder of CBGs and yes, even a single-string-can-on-a-stick instruments, I will never ever command the prices of a Johnny Lowebow or a Canjoe*John. What I'm about is spreading the idea that people are capable of building playable musical instruments. If I cover costs, I'm happy. I give away about 1/2 of what I build and sell product on the lower end of the price scale.
I do believe that a growing market helps everyone in the market place. If someone is trying to rip of the public with a low-quality over-priced items, they will suffer (3-5 years ago, CBGs that are realitively easy to make were commanding prices over $ 250... not now) And they will complain. But, as a market expands and "entry level" items will go down in price, those who have built a reputation for quality and leadership will continue to have superior market (and pricing) advantages.
I hope that you continue to receive the rewards that all that hard work deserve. And I hope that I am right that "a rising tide lifts all ships". Let us know when you will be performing in the midwest. I would love to catch your act in person....
the best,
Wichita Sam
Hey John, where are you playing in december?
the best,
Wichita Sam
(not a member of the family, never met him, but admire him)