So, there are about 7 guitarist that I have met 5 of which i work with. I have shown these people my builds. A couple of them remarked "oh, cool i seen these on you tube." or something to that affect which is cool i let them look at it and play it. (sense i can't play very well at all it is nice to see them played.) However a surprising amount of them seemed confused and joke "why does it only have three strings." like there is something wrong with it. I don't know why but it makes me so angry i just want to snatch it away and say "you don't deserve to play it then." lol i don't of course buut has anyone else run in to that. i try to tell them about it mostly that does little good.
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A friend of mine recently bought a dogbowl resonator cbg on Etsy. To be honest, it didn't have much "resonator" to it, but was built well and played in tune. A friend of his saw it and wanted a resonator cbg of his own. Long story short, I got the commission.
I know lots of you have made dogbowl, paint can lid, etc resonators, but for the life of me, I couldn't find one locally that had any more than a dull metallic "thunk" sound. Probably looked like an idiot scouring local stores and thrifts flicking various pan lids and bowls hoping for something musical. Anyway, I went back to the drawing board.
While researching resonator guitars on Wikipedia, I discovered that National's original design used 3 aluminum cones and a T-shaped bridge. They called it a "tricone". They added the more popular single cone version to the line a couple of years later. Further research revealed that tricones are still out there and are preferred by many players for their balanced tone - not as harsh or in-your-face as the single cone variety - yet still distinctly a "resonator". So a tricone it was. Now, where to find cones that will fit in a CBG...?
As it turns out, the bottoms of Arizona Tea cans are perfect. They're larger that normal aluminum cans and, if you shave off the cylinder part, it leaves a nice, domed surface that is ridiculously strong.
Now, three holes for the ridged bottom to sit in, a maple T-bridge and a cedar brace on the backside (which got shaved down quite a bit in the end).
Most of the rest is pretty standard stuff - neck-through, notched box (I made the box) and a 25" scale. Since the bridge has to be further in on the body, the neck was a bit longer than ususal. 23 frets, to be exact. Getting the bridge location and neck angle right was a bit of a challenge. There was only a minor bit of bridge adjustment possible and the string height couldn't change much either. Measure twice, cut once? More like measure 10 times, and cut with your fingers crossed. Ultimately, it worked!
For the pickup, I borrowed an interesting design from Highlander. They make a magnetic pickup specifically for tricone guitars. Single coil under the bridge with a piece of steel mounted on the bridge. Picks up any movement in any axis. Pretty interesting. And it really works! Would benefit from a preamp but the tone is there.
This was a fun build and I have another order already. Pretty happy with the Tricone! Be sure to scroll to the bottom for a quick sample video.
Just completed a small run of these. Two are one string Diddly Bows and the rest are 3 Stringers. Reclaimed Fir necks with single coils. All wiring is enclosed. Aluminum bridge and nuts.
I build and repair guitars in Western Canada. For many years I built traditional Acoustic And Electrics one at a time. In the last number of years I am making and playing almost exclusively 3 and 4 string CBG's and homemade guitars. I generally have several guitars for sale.
For those that are interested I thought I would post some of my builds, some of my techniques, and some works in progress. I work in a one man shop, that was originally a 1950's barn, and was in bad disrepair when it became mine.
My shop.
Next post will be guitars.
Internal Remo toy hand drum from thrift store. (not adjustable)
I had the wood. $25 to $30 project.
Jump on that Train!
Please check out my new single now available on iTunes
i play 3 string cbgs, 2 string bass,
Caroline Hammond - Percussion & vocal
Scottie Burke - Drums & vocal
http://itunes.apple.com/album/id1244241677?ls=1&app=itunes
Cheers
Nigel
Decided after the 2x4 contest that i wanted to build an e-drum version of my acoustic drum kit firstly to challenge myself secondly to keep good relations with my neighbors. also decided to once again use 2x4s
i got the stave rings glued up for the 20" bass and also started to improve the drum lathe i built i put my roughter table into the top of one of my benches and started building the uprights when done i should be able to do a drum from 6" to 24" and up to 20" long
Dan Sleep attended the 2016 fest and surprised everyone, wasn't sure he would come. He must've had a good time because he said he would be back.
Unfortunately Dan got some bad news and life turned on him and he wasn't well enough to attend this year. Talked with him via email and he asked if he sent a photo would I stick it in a corner then he would feel like he was there. I said that I would make it happen. Checked with others to see if my idea to make a life size image of Dan would be something we could do and everyone thought it seemed like a good idea.
So we came up with Dan 2.0. We took Dan 2.0 all around the fest and had people take a selfie with Dan and email the photo to him so he could keep up with the fest. Some also included well wishes for his situation.
Hopefully we didn't over stimulate Dan and he enjoyed the fun. Everyone at the fest seemed to enjoy Dan 2.0 .
I guided my grown step-son through building his own Cigar Box Amp, his first experience with soldering and some basic woodworking. We had a great time and he really likes the sound.
2017 5th Annual CBG Fest St. Louis MO.
Cigar Box Guitar Festival Brings DIY Instruments to St. Louis This Weekend
Posted By Quinn Wilson on Thu, Jun 1, 2017 at 6:09 AM
- Cigar Box guitars can be constructed out of a wide range of materials.
Guitar fanatics and DIY lovers will have a place to call home this June. Now in its fifth year, the St. Louis Cigar Box Guitar Festival will return Saturday, June 3.
Since its formation in 2013, the festival has been held at Highway 61 Roadhouse and Kitchen (34 South Old Orchard Avenue, Webster Groves; stlcbg.com), where it will return once again. The event was concocted by St. Louis area residents Steven Miles and Gary Herget.
The two came in contact through the website Cigar Box Nation after Miles inquired about whether St. Louis had a cigar box guitar festival like he had seen in other cities — and if not, why not?
"It started off just wanting to have a gathering of builders and musicians to get together in St. Louis," Miles explains.
A cigar box guitar, as the name implies, has a body typically made out of a cigar box or other home items. The neck can be made out of anything from a shovel to a broomstick.
The festival provides an outlet for cigar box guitar vendors to sell their own creations, and will also include local folk artists with their art for sale. "This year we will have more vendors than we've had in the past," Miles boasts.
The festival has seen a steady increase in popularity each year, Miles says, and even attracts international fans from Canada, France and Australia. Miles believes the festival's growing popularity stems from the fact that it has free admission, unlike other festival who charge admission fees, and all around has a relatively low cost for those looking to purchase a guitar.
There will also be a station, run by Herget, where customers will be able to purchase and build their own cigar box guitar. This will feature pre-cut materials and will give customers an opportunity to assemble, string and tune their own guitar and learn a song on it before they go home.
Also returning for the fifth consecutive year is Nashville-based roots, blues and Americana artist Justin Johnson, who will perform at the festival. Johnson is internationally known for his use of homemade instruments. Despite having traveled mainland Australia and Tasmania, Europe, the United Kingdom and coast to coast in North America, Johnson has told Miles that he loves this festival because it feels like "home base" to him.
"He's really good with the public," says Miles. "After that first event, we knew he was the guy."
Johnson will perform Friday, June 2 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday, June 3 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Johnson will also lead a "Roots Music Workshop" Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon for a $10 donation, which will benefit Six String Heroes, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing injured U.S. military veterans free guitar lessons. There will also be a performance by Matt "The Rattlesnake" Lesch.
The festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information visit http://stlcbg.com/.
For the fifth year, Highway 61 Roadhouse hosts the annual Cigar Box Guitar Festival on June 3, featuring workshops, vendors, and live performances by Justin “The Wizard” Johnson and Matt “The Rattlesnake” Lesch.
A time-honored craft dating back to the mid-1800s, Cigar Box Guitars found great popularity during the Civil War. Using a hollow box as a resonator and a broomstick for a fretboard, these instruments quickly became the staple of jug bands and early blues composers.
These days cigar boxes are not the only items beings used to create these whimsical treasures. Vendors at the festival display musical creations made out of cookie tins, hubcaps, iron skillets, briefcases, and the ever popular bed pan. In addition, there are a few banjos and fiddles thrown into the mix.
Enthusiasts take turns playing a variety of cigar box guitars in a tent on the parking lot, while guitarist and cigar box guitar expert Justin Johnson performs on the main stage. Inside, cigar box luthiers stand in line at the stage with their creations, waiting their turn for Johnson to check out their instrument. Taking a few minutes before he begins to play, Johnson describes the instrument’s construction and features, followed with a short performance on the instrument.
Swamp Witch GuitarA raffle to win a Swamp Witch Guitar will benefit Six String Heroes, whose mission is to provide guitars and guitar lessons for United States veterans who are suffering from PTSD. The guitar was built and donated by “Pick”, a mysterious custom guitar creator who lives and works in Canada.
Festival organizers Gary Herget and Steve Miles created the festival in 2013, along with the owner of Highway 61 Roadhouse, Bill Kunz. In 2014 the St. Louis Cigar Box Guitar Club was formed and holds a regular meetup on the third Saturday of each month at the Roadhouse from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/smilingdogguitars.
5th Annual Cigar Box Guitar Festival
34 South Old Orchard Ave., Webster Groves MO 63119
(314) 968-0061
www.hwy61roadhouse.com
I've recently had a major change of direction in my builds. I've turned away from the shiny graphics and modern electronics, and I've headed back to the roots of Cigar Box instruments. I'm talking Vintage Antique boxes. Example; my latest build, a Vintage Harvester Ukulele. Starting with a depression era, "NRA Stamp" box, and a hand carved set neck. No Electronics, just simple old fashioned acoustic sweetness.
I've just about given up on through neck builds. A through the box neck occupies too much real estate in the acoustic chamber. I seek out particular boxes, ones that from experience hold the best acoustic qualities. I then internally brace the corners, neck block, and sound board. This process almost doubles the volume of the box compared to having a neck running through the middle.
https://homemadeblues.wordpress.com/e-book/
Guys, if you have any interest in diddley bows and the history of instruments check out this fine book by Phil Thomas. The link takes you to a free ebook that's quite informative and interesting. His video Desert Surfin' has the link and it's close to dropping off CBN's front page.
Started on the neck and cut some strips for the linings.
Had to drop the exposure, even then it is hard to see how I cut the kerfs in the linings. I use a piece of wood with a slot cut in it to limit the depth of the cut. You have to have all the pieces the same thickness to get the same depth of cut. I dimension them on my drum sander before this stage.
And the linings glued in and the neck glued up.
Started on the neck and cut some strips for the linings.
Clamped up the ends.
A quick rosette.
I have spent and spend a lot of time searching for STUFF to adorn my CBG's I can't walk in a department store with out scouring the walls and shelves looking for the next great IDEA. My wife thinks I'm crazy. says I have too many CGB's. When I am looking on e-bay for parts ,the longer I look the better deals I find . Most of the wood I use is reclaimed lumber , I'm buying Cherry and Maple at give away prices. There is a store here that sells metals hard woods, overstocks, cabinet doors , and hundreds of other items It's really a cool place you never know what you'll find. What inspires you when building a guitar?
