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3 String Fretless Reso Cigar Box Guitar - New Song "Lay My Hat Down"

Lots of my music available here https://bemuzic.bandcamp.com/

I came in late on the last verse, but I only finished writing it a few hrs before filming it, so I wasn’t likely to get through it with no mistakes!

I’ve mainly put it on to show fellow Cambridge busker Banjo Nick, as I wrote it with the intention of us playing it together when we meet up busking, if he likes it.

GUITAR INFO

It’s also to show my newly finished 3 string Cigar box reso.
It’s the first guitar I’ve made that isn’t a through neck, so that was all a bit new. I was intending to fret it, but loved the wavy lines going up the neck (walnut) and didn’t want to cut across it, so decided to leave it fretless. I’m also really enjoying playing something fretless for a change…a lovely old time sound.
I was intending to put a flatpup on it as well as a rod piezo in the biscuit bridge, but decided to leave that off as I like the piezo sound as it captures the resoness (not a word??!)
The scale length is 23”
The strings are Zebra DR acoustic/electric. I bought them when I thought I was going to put a magnetic as well as piezo, as they work with either, and left them on as I liked them. I’ve used the D,G and B strings (24,32,42)
The nut and bridge are unbleached bone. The reso cone is a 5 1/2" one made by Charles Atchison. I bought two, so I may make a similar one, but fretted at some point. You can buy them here https://www.cbgitty.com/cigar-box-guitar-parts/resonator-parts/5-5-inch-lightning-spun-aluminum-cigar-box-resonator-cone-by-charles-atchison/ I also vaguely followed his building instructions http://www.charlesatchison.com/#!build-a-resonator-cigar-box-guitar/c1uyj
The tuners are these from Chickenbone John http://chickenbonejohn.myshopify.com/products/epiphone-deluxe-machineheads-2-1 I really like them, both for the nice retro look, and also they turn nice and smoothly. Much nicer than the cheapy eBay ones I’ve been using. The slide is also one from Chickenbone John - one of these http://chickenbonejohn.myshopify.com/products/daddario-chromed-brass-slide It's worth having a browse on Johns page as he has some good quality stuff! I got this slide for busking as I keep breaking glass ones : -/ Like it a lot but wouldn't use it for recording as when playing a guitar with a magnetic pickup I get a slight crackle. Can't notice it while busking though, with street noise etc.
I'm most often tuned A,E,A, but for this song I went down to G,D,G as I thought it’d be better for Nick in G?

Filmed with a GoPro Hero 4

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Comment by Jim Morris on April 8, 2016 at 5:13am: I thought I remembered some others by you but can't think of too many other folks singing about this fun way to perform.I think my top payday busking was $32 for 3 hours worth and that was split with my 2 busking buddies.

Comment by bemuzic on April 8, 2016 at 5:04am: thanks will, I'm loving the twanginess! and yeah haven't seem to have time to do videos lately. Have a few more builds and songs I want to do...

Comment by bemuzic on April 8, 2016 at 5:03am: thanks Jim, yeah I think I can have some fun with this one : -) Think this is my fourth song about busking?! There's Busking, Head Full Of Songs, As I Sing (Autumn Busk) and this one...

Comment by Alan Hergert on April 8, 2016 at 5:02am: Very good! Song and guit!

Comment by Will King on April 8, 2016 at 4:12am: Nice twang....Glade to see you back.

Comment by Jim Morris on April 8, 2016 at 3:46am: Sounds wonderful! Thanks for the build details too. Fantastic song as well. Not many songs actually written about busking 'specially by invisible buskers Plus you could harmonize with yourself while standing in the audience!

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