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Electric Porch?

So I was practicing some songs the other night with a tin guitar and my electric soda crate stomp box (with license plate stomping area), and while I like the sound of the stomper through a bass amp, keeping a foot on it puts me in a weird, unstable playing position. I'd rather be

So I'm kicking around the idea of building a section of electric porch, about the size of a shipping pallet, only sturdier and with slightly nicer boards. Then I'll put a piezo or two in strategic locations and wire 'em directly to an output jack. Then, when needed, I can stand on my little section of porch and stomp away.

I think somebody had something similar posted here back in 2012 or so, but I don't remember who.

Any and all suggestions are welcome, whether for making it sound decent or for making it sillier than it already will be. License plate(s) again? Multiple "hot" areas on it, or just one?

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Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on May 8, 2014 at 4:46pm

Porch pics!!! video of EP in action!!! Wannasee, wanna see!!

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Permalink Reply by Cigar Box Gus on May 9, 2014 at 2:04pm

I'll get some photos/video up this weekend. It turned out to not look all that enthralling, but it sounds cool. I decided I'll just start painting and drawing goofy stuff on it gradually and let it slowly gain "character" that way.

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Permalink Reply by Uncle John on May 10, 2014 at 12:31am

Sounds dreamy good to me. So long as you don't move next door. Down the road would be cool.

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Permalink Reply by Cigar Box Gus on May 10, 2014 at 1:53am

Shot a video last night that doesn't quite capture the sound of the Electric Porch, but it works at least.

A larger bass amp might be the answer...I had my little one cranked up all the way.

http://www.cigarboxnation.com/video/uncle-gus-electric-porch-demo

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Permalink Reply by Duke on May 11, 2014 at 11:19pm

Congrats on a really neat build. I love that tune you played, what is it?

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Permalink Reply by Cigar Box Gus on May 12, 2014 at 12:29am

Thanks. It's an original number called "Eugene Dalton's Blues." I wrote it after finding this photo (attachment) at the Library of Congress archive.

The photographer's description: Some results of messenger and newsboy work. For nine years this sixteen year old boy has been newsboy and messenger for drug stores and telegraph companies. He was recently brought before the Judge of the Juvenile Court for incorrigibility at home. Is now out on parole, and was working again for drug company when he got a job carrying grips in the Union Depot. He is on the job from 6:00 A.M. to 11:00 P.M. (seventeen hours a day) for seven days in the week. His mother and the Judge think[s] he uses cocaine, and yet they let him put in these long hours every day. He told me "There ain't a house in 'The Acre,' (Red Light) that I ain't been in. At the drug store, all my deliveries were down there." Says he makes from $15.00 to $18.00 a week. Eugene Dalton. Location: Fort Worth, Texas.

Attachments:

03911v.jpg, 101 KB

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Permalink Reply by Duke on May 12, 2014 at 1:19am

Wow, interesting story. I'd love to hear the lyrics.

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Permalink Reply by Cigar Box Gus on May 12, 2014 at 7:22am

I might be able to throw down sometime today and get that up. I'm also going to record a "studio" version at some point, but being the unrepentant money-grubber that I am, will probably stick that on a Bandcamp.com album.

(Yes, for those that remember, I'm still on about making an album "one a these days.")