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This week I'm a blessed gal,....(most weeks i am, this one especially so) .............read on:

A parcel arrived this week from Georgia and sent by one Mr.BeStillroy Within the splendid box lay a beautiful handmade 3 string custom CBG reso that BeStillRoy felt led to gift in my direction.....!!!:-) it is dubbed "Cinderella"..(.and i spose it DOES have my name on it! --be sure and see his posts of pics for close ups) LOL (my YT user name cinderellalifestyle)  I am spending my tax refund this year on gas and food, needed things, mostly ...(package of undies, a splurge woo-hoo!) SO, such a treat was a blessing and delight, because beautiful instruments are truly off limits. This 3 stringer joins 3 others, ..in fine company, it is!!! VERY special instruments have graced my path since 2005, when I found an antique banjo at a mountain swap meet. I bought it intending to sell it, but that did not happen, it led to banjo lessons then a change of horses in midstream when I began to play the National reso, in 2006.....that old banjo.It led to many MANY blessings, more instruments and a path I never would have imagined, for myself.  This particular week, the arrival of this generous gift is TRUE therapy, for I have a computer truly on the blitz, AND fritz!!! hacked, virus'ed, trojan'ed, mal-ed, ..THEY got me...GRRRRRrrrrrrr..I won't go into detail, but my patience serves me well....feel like bludgeoning the ole globox!   A song was baked, pics taken, intended to make a short vid, ...however, I've no sound AGAIN, and therefore cannot run WMM...so you get a couple photos, and a song today....

It is "Cinderellas" maiden sound clip/song voyage:-) and yes, there WAS a 58 Caddy in my past, very few pics exist of it, did not take alot of pics in my 20s....... used to buy and drive as daily drivers/workcars vintage vehicles in the 70s/80s/90s; they were still findable and affordable, at the time. The 58, cost 350.00 in about 1979 or so......it was the second of the genre for me, having learned to drive in a 65 caddy convert coupe.......I can still see the keys flying down the stairwell my way ...my Pa, a car lover since his childhood, gifted the caddy to me, my first car. Spose I'm still driving vintage, a 92 Dodge van, now 18 years of age, and it's draining already poor pockets...but I love it.    Well, a big CA thankyou goes out to your generous heart, BeStillRoy!

It is so much fun to play and I love the artistry, pics rarely do justice to the "live" versions!!!....a sweeter neck you'd be hard pressed to find...and fretless, a fun challenge for me...! it's a beaut!!

Blessing to all ya...gotta get on with chores today.....grass is tall, in need of mowing!

XOsLaurie

This weekend I attended a party at a friend's house themed "bring your own musical instrument."  I wasn't sure about bringing my CBG since the host is a talented guitar player, so I just ate a mess of beans for lunch.  Then I decided to bring my CBG in case I got performance anxiety and needed a backup instrument.

So I arrived with the family and was surprised that no one else had brought anything.  Not even a set of maracas or spoons.  Nada.  The host immediately reached his hand out for my guitar with a big smile on his face.  He plucked out a couple notes and said "OK, I can play this!"  He grabbed his slide and proceeded to make some pretty nice music while I attempted to hold back my other instrument.

Next he goes into the house and brings out three guitars, hands one off to another guest and they sit down to start playing together looking for me to follow along.  Ha-ha.  Joke's on them.  I'm a newb and have only picked out a handful of riffs by ear.  So they stop and he says, "OK you go and we'll follow you."  So that was fun for about three and a half seconds before I was lost again.

In all, it was a great time and he requested that I build him a CBG.  He had a great time and was truly appreciative that I brought it with me.  I took the frustration of my performance and sat down for the next three days to practice. . .hard.  I improved a couple skills considerably and I'm happy with the result.  Now I need to go squeeze in another build among the three or four I plan for myself.

LT Virginia Sullivan's three-string CBG has been shipped to her in Afghanistan.

Here is a photo, but if you're interested in more, and some details, go to my blog http://totalrojoguitars.blogspot.com for a look.

In the Part 2 lessons for 3 string CBG, I retune the GDg tuning to ADf# tuning.

This is Open D Tuning because it contains the 3 tone (1,3,5) from the Major D scale (1-D  2-E  3-F#  4-G  5-A  6-B  7-C#  8-D) needed to form a Major D chord.

From low to high the notes are stacked 5-A  1-D  3-F# 

In the lessons, I explain a system of movable chords based on a root note found on each string.

String 3 is based on a movable C chord. (Fret 3)

String 2 is based on a moveable E chord. (Fret 2)

String 1 is based on a movable A chord. (Fret 3)

Understanding this makes it possible to find the same chord in three different positions on the fingerboard.

In the video New Morning Dew, I am in Vestapol Tuning. Most guitarist know this as Open D Tuning (DADf#ad / 151351), although I am tuned a full step  lower to the key of C (CGCegc / 151351). Due to the fact the tones are relative to their respective keys, all the fret positions are the same except that the guitar will sound in a different key.

Notice that the Open D CBG tuning ADf# / 513, is a small part of the full 6 string Open D Tuning D(ADf#)ad. 

The same movable chord system that is used on the 3 string CBG can be applied to the 6 string.

In the opening chord progression I am playing:

C -Root string 3 / Em -Root string 2 / Bb -Root string 3 / F -Root string 1

The simple point is that if you understand the relativity of open tunings, your knowledge can be easily transfered to different instruments regardless of the number of strings.

Banjo: Traditional Bluegrass tuning is gDgbd / 15135 . Even though this the key of G, the same tonal relationships are here: g(Dgb)d / 1(513)5.

4 string CBG: tuned Dgbd this is the same tuning without the high drone string. Note that this is a part of the full 6 string Open G tuning: DG(Dgbd) / 515135. The same moveable chord system applies here: DG(Dgb)d.

It all started on Thursday night.

I'd corralled a couple of friends into coming to see Hillstomp, from Portland OR.  Those boys flat out kill it!  Henry playing the banjo, guitars and cigar box guitar, John playing the "drum" set (which is cobbled together from old radiator parts, plastic buckets, maybe a legit drum or two, and a shitload of duct tape).

Got to talking about 2 man bands, and the possibility of my two-man band opening for them.  So, we'll see what the future brings on that front.  Also had him sign my cigar box guitar.

Now, I had to be halfway across the state in two days for a gig, and rather than drive all at once, I decided to break up the travel time by going from Denver to my parents house in Gypsum.

I didn't really want to make this drive, either, due to a rather sizeable hangover on Friday morning.  But, I'm glad I did. 

I'd just happened to read the paper, and find out The Cedric Burnside Project was playing a free show in Eagle-Vail, which is about a half hour's drive east of Gypsum.

Cedric is a pretty decent guitar player, but when he gets behind that drum kit, man, watch out!  By far one of the most natural people I've ever seen drum, and he does it with a smile on his face the whole damn time.

Well, during one of his set breaks, I asked him to sign my CBG, as it was still in my car.  He said sure, go grab it, and then we can jam.

I think my heart skipped a beat there.  Cedric Burnside, who has jammed with so many people (including his grandfather R.L.) just asked me to jam with him?  Man, I've been nervous before gigs before, but this might have been the most!

We ended up playing two tunes, which I (for all intents and purposes) learned from R.L.: Rollin' & Tumblin'/Indian Blown Whistle and Shake 'Em On Down.

I honestly thought he was gonna sing (and I wouldn't have to!), but after a few bars it was apparent he wanted me to.  Holy shit, I was under pressure!  But after I sang a few verses, he sang a few, and we ended up trading verses on both songs.  I had a huge shit-eating grin on my face all night... hell, I still do today!

What a cool guy.

And, a while after I'd played with him, I happened to notice a strange tingling in my fingers.

SWEET! 

(I'd always, in a perverse, abusive way, hoped to play so my fingers bled during a show.  I've played some half hour shows, and nothing.  Jamming two songs with Cedric was all it took!)

The next day, I began packing all my gear in preparation for two gigs in Grand Junction.  I pulled out my Hill Harp...

SWEET!

Blood just makes it look cooler.

Today I was going to sit in with my buddies, Flat Top Reed. 

Our first show was at an Earth Day celebration. 

Well, evidently, the Earth wanted to it rain that day, all damn day.

I was worried we might get shocked.  We were on an approx 12x12 stage, with an 8x8 tent over us.

But it was fun.  I even got to meet Sharecropper from here on Cigar Box Nation.

Then, that evening, we got to open for T-Model Ford.

I can't even begin to tell you how cool and down to earth that man is.  He showed up at the venue around 7, 7:30, said "it's Jack Daniel time!" and hung out with us until our set started.  He was hanging out in the bar (not back stage), talking with anyone and everyone who came up to him.  Seemed to be grooving to our set, too.

Then he gets on stage... man, I'm telling you, at 90 some years old, 2 strokes and a pacemaker, he can outplay a lot of cats, and his voice is still so full of power.  His music was great, but I think I value his stories even more.  SUCH A COOL GUY!  I wish I had a tape recorder on me the whole night.

I remember him telling us he had 26 kids.  My buddy said, "wow you musta been busy!"  He looks over and says, "I'm still busy!"

If you EVER get the chance to see him perform, please do yourself a favor and SEE HIM!

HEY EVERYONE! DO YOU LIKE CIGAR BOXES? WELL WE HERE AT AVALON DISTRIBUTING HAVE PLENTY FOR YOU! WE ARE A PART OF BILL'S CIGAR WORLD , SO WE WON'T RUN OUT! IF YOU ARE INTRESTED PLEASE CONTACT US AT ....

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601.824.2121

601.824.2494 (FAX)

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WE HAVE TONS OF BOXES DIFFERENT SHAPES AND STYLES!!!

PRICING IS $2.00 FOR PAPER WRAPPED BOXES

WOODEN BOXES ARE $ 4.00

ANY QUESTIONS? CALL THE NUMBER ABOVE OR YOU CAN EMAIL US AT 

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CIGAR.CHICK@hotmail.com (KRISTY MITCHELL)

For details go to my blog http://totalrojoguitars.blogspot.com/.

So I have built a number of cigar box resonators. Last Friday I had a chance to meet Husky Burnette and get his impressions of some of my builds. (Thanks Reverend Nix) What was cool for me is we sat around for a while with a number of my builds, he played them and we would talk. I think I had three resonators there one of them had a piezo in it. Husky had his amp in the car so I asked if he would try it out and let me know what he thought. Here is a clip when he first plugged in. (Husky's is the one that say's "what" in the beginning of the clip) Later that night I ended up at the show and got to hear Husky play it live. That was the first time I have ever seen one of my builds live on stage in the hands of a journeyman musician. If you are not familiar with Husky check him out. He is awesome! Oh and when he pulls out a little 3 string cigar box resonator...... You will get a chance to see what I saw.... Rock on!

http://soundcloud.com/crackerswamp/1st-test-husky-and-cigar-city

Hey all you slide players out there. I recently got into geocaching (www.geocaching.com) and thought it would be cool to have a copper slide travel the world playing as many CBGs as possible. So i created one called Slide and Seek (TB40859) and placed it in one of my cache's. If you find it on it's travels please use it and take a photograph. I have posted a photo on m page.

Andy

Keep on rockin

A while back I contacted Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC to see how I could go about donating some of my/our instruments to military personnel who were recovering from their injuries in the hospital. Oddly enough, their response was:

"We sincerely thank you for your sentiment and dedication in deciding to
have a positive impact on those in the Armed Services. However, upon
review of your application, it has been determined that we cannot
receive your donation considering we do not have a need for the donation
at this time."

So, I mentioned this to some of the folks I work with, and they will be putting me in touch with a representative from the Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment,  who would LOVE to have some of our instruments.

If anyone would like to join me in sending several CBGs to the Wounded Warrior Regiment, as opposed to sending them one at a time, let me know and we can coordinate our efforts.

I will be building a few to send myself, I just needed to sell a few in order to afford some more hardware/supplies.

Thanks so much to everyone who has donated an instrument to the CBGs for Service Members project!!

My 12 year old daughter brought home an assignment this past friday, seems they are being tasked to build home made musical instruments. And her choice was an up-right tub bass of all things. So, to break in our newly acquired, used shop equipment, we are building a tub bass as our first instrument. We found an old bed frame with some good wood and wares for the build just a couple blocks in the hood. The neck has a natural warp that will fit onto a 5 gln bucket for the tub. My daughter was really ammazed at how the shop tools work in shapping the parts.

First we made some measurements on which end to use on the neck. Figured what she needed for the head piece and what would work for the main body of the neck. Our next step in building is shaving the head to get an angle for the tuning keys and to set the nut, mount the neck to the tub, and build a bridge for the unit. Since this is to be as authentic as possible, I will teach her how to make tappered tunning pegs out of walnet and then reaming the holes to fit. Which means we will use the scroll saw to first cut out here peg shapes. I have tapered tool which resembles an over size pencil sharpener that will be used to set the tapper on the pegs themselves. Hopefully she gets it right with little troubles.

We decided to wind our own strings from nylon kite string. 4 strands for the 4th string, and on down to just 1 for the first.

Twisting strings requires a good deal of patience and time, for the correct length, we need to triple the actual length of the final cut. She will need to make a hole disk to help guid the strings as we wind them with the drill. For being only 12, she loves to be out in the shop with me all the time. Anything to do with tools and creating stuff, she is right there along with me, best shop rat I have ever seen in a long time. Pictures will be posted soon. 8-) Maximo

Recently I came across this article online where this guy uses a caliper and calculations to measure the optimum, equidistant string spacing using the neck/nut width, the string gauges and number of strings, the 'margin' on either side of the first and last string and then does a specific calculation to arrive at the spacing.

Its not complicated but I made a spreadsheet and have an example of what to do and how to use:

What you do is enter the neck/nut width (or the saddle!), the margin, the number of strings and their gauges. All in inches but it converts to mm.

Use a digital caliper if possible as it will read in decimal. Measure out the margins (this case .125") and make a thin mark on the nut. lay the string down and make a mark on the opposite side. Go ahead and cut the nut slot centered between those marks. Go slow and make adjustments as needed to keep the margin distance. Once cut, lay the string in and measure the String Space as shown in red above. Make marks on both sides and again cut the slot centered between those marks. Repeat.

In the example below, the red is where the 'marls' would be and the strings should be equidistant.

Here is the file StringSpaceCalc.xls

Enjoy and email me if you need

-WY

Below are all the templates I have created for the Cigar Box Guitar kit: Download all of them. There is also a Quick Start guide if you want to make a simple CBG from the kit.

Main Kit Instructions - KitInstructions.pdf

Quick Start - How To Build A Cigar Box Guitar.pdf

Headstock Ideas - headstockideas.pdf

Head recess template - headstockrecesstemplate.pdf

Tuner placement - TunerTemplate.pdf

Tailpiece Template - tailpiecetemplate.pdf

If you are interested in making a scarf neck (neck that bends down), look HERE.

If you want to see how I make rounded/contoured necks, look HERE.

Also I will be publishing any changes or addendums here! I have chosen to moderate comments so if you post a comment here, include your email address so I can send you a personal reply.

Good luck and email me at chronicbluesguitar@gmail.com if you have questions

-WY