Hi All, I'm Rick from Baltimore.

Posted by DarthValiant on March 8, 2016 at 12:40pm

I am a lifelong musician (everything from Tuba to harmonicas and all sorts of stringed instruments) and just recently got around to making my first cigar box instrument from 'scratch.'  I really tried to talk myself into buying a Seagull Merlin dulcitar for my birthday, but ended up trading in some old random gear for a tenor banjo instead... But I still wanted my dulcitar. So I decided to go ahead and build one. Now I need to makeanother one because the first one I built made an executive decision for me that it would stay fretless.

I've made washtub and trashcan basses and a bad attempt at a canjo made out of the corpse of a Mcnally strumstick, but I am now really interested in making more cigar box instruments. I just don't know which of my ideas to build first!

I dig old time clawhammer banjo, play electric bass in an Americana band called Midway Fair ( midwayfair.org ) participated in February Album Writing Month ( FAWM.org ) and am, when I find the time and space, a hobbyist blacksmith. 

cbg.jpg

You need to be a member of Cigar Box Nation to add comments!

Join Cigar Box Nation

Email me when people reply –
Follow

Replies

  • Dave Lynas March 8, 2016 at 4:51pm
    Great Darth. My favorite is kids tin tool boxes. They are heavy metal and sound wonderful.
  • Paul Craig March 8, 2016 at 2:15pm

    Welcome from a long time guitar player. I dabble with the bass and bongos. Made a Dulcitar about 3 years ago out of a plywood Strat body. Neck and fingerboard is Red Oak at 28 & 1/8" scale.306533453?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024

    • DarthValiant > Paul Craig March 8, 2016 at 3:19pm

      That's slick! 

      How do you have it tuned?

    • Paul Craig > DarthValiant March 9, 2016 at 1:09pm

      6-C, 5-G, 4-C, 3-G, 2-C and 1-C.

      Found the body on the side of the road. Had all the parts in my parts bin. Bought the loaded Squier Affinity pickguard off the bay.                                                                                                                                      

    • Dave Lynas > Paul Craig March 9, 2016 at 1:28pm
      Side of the road! That's what I tell my spouse too.
    • Paul Craig > Dave Lynas March 9, 2016 at 1:37pm

      Haha. It was one of two that found. About a month later on another street I found a 3-piece Basswood Strat body and a '65 Silvertone 1482 tube amp. Put a new cord on it and it worked, but needs to be rebuilt. Couple months later I got a Snare, bass kicker and 2 sets of toms, all but 2 toms need skins and there wasn't any hardware.

    • Dave Lynas > Paul Craig March 9, 2016 at 5:19pm
      You must live in a wonderful music haven to have such trash! I'd spend my days driving the streets and alleys.
    • Paul Craig > Dave Lynas March 9, 2016 at 5:35pm

      I think I'm the only one left in the neighborhood that plays anything dagnabit.

    • Dave Lynas > Paul Craig March 9, 2016 at 6:25pm
      Sorry to hear thatDarth. I get to play with a big group once a week. We've done it for years. I went to school in Baltimore. Way back in the 60's. I had one good music buddy back then.
    • DarthValiant > Dave Lynas March 10, 2016 at 9:59am

      That was Paul who said that. Baltimore still has a thriving music scene. Our Old Time and Bluegrass scnes are really strong and growing too. There are weekly or bi weekly jams that are really well attended, square dances, all kinds of stuff.

This reply was deleted.