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2017 "Kick The Can" Build-Off contest - Canjos, Tin Can Guitars

"Come on, brothers and sisters, KICK OUT THE CANS!"

For our final build-off contest of 2017, we're looking for your best canjos, cookie tin banjos and any other playable stringed instrument made from discarded metal containers. It can have one string wired to a tin can or it could be a full size harp made from an outdoor propane tank! The more creative, the better.

Here's the details:

Contest runs Nov. 16 - Dec. 20, 2017

Prizes: $100 C. B. Gitty Gift Certificate for 1st place, $50 Gitty gift certificate for second and $25 gift certificate for third.

Judges: Shane Speal, Ben "Gitty," Glenn Watt and Farley Andresen

How to Enter:

1. In the comments section below, post up to three (3) photos and one (1) video of your entry.

2. Add a one (1) paragraph description with your photo entry.

3. Shake, stir, repeat. (Yes, you can submit more than one entry!)

4. Submissions that won previous Cigar Box Nation contests are ineligible.

Need inspiration? Here's Wesseh to show you how it's done...

Note: This is the official contest entry page. Do not use this page to post comments about other submissions.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Lonman on November 26, 2017 at 4:29am

This is the only left handed build I have made. Originally, the tin was right handed, had a painted green neck, fretless (after the nail frets started popping out), but the guy interested in buying it liked the idea of the guitar, but basically wanted me to rebuild the guitar using the same tin and make for left handed. So this was the end result. New oak neck and oak fretboard, frets, wood dowel fret markers, I used gold tuners. I admit, this turned out much better than what I originally did.

In my pictures on my homepage you can see what this tin originally looked like.

Permalink Reply by Kigar on November 26, 2017 at 3:13pm

My entry - Boy scout mess kit tin, hardened wooden match sticks for the nut and lower string guide, bridge is the embossed part of the clamp on the tin. Oak neck and “body”. Scrap pine pickguard is really more of a leg rest so the tin isn’t being dampened when sitting, it also holds the pickup and plug jack. Topo map on the neck, with light cuts on the corner of the neck as frets, spelled BE PREPARED on the side for fret markers. It rings pretty good acoustically, a bit metallic as expected with good volume and with pretty long sustain. Sounds more normal electrically without a tinny sound.

Permalink Reply by Andrew Corl on November 29, 2017 at 5:21am

I am a scout leader and would love to see more photos of this guitar. I am thinking about building one similar to yours. Could you also provide some dimensions.

Thanks,

Andrew

Permalink Reply by Kigar on November 29, 2017 at 4:01pm

I should be able to take a few pictures tomorrow evening. I'll post it under my pictures as we are limited to three images here.

Permalink Reply by Jonathan on November 30, 2017 at 4:20am

Dig it

Permalink Reply by Jay Kicinski on November 26, 2017 at 4:13pm

This is a pre-amp inspired by Shane Speal’s. It’s made from a cookie tin and really improved the sound of a dual piezo CBG even with a tone control potentiometer. And it still smells like Christmas cookies!

Permalink Reply by Jonathan on November 27, 2017 at 4:24am

Unplugged sewing tin resonator Box Guitar gitty. 100% handcrafted with unplugged manual tools. Featuring a handcarved 200 year old tobacco sticks neck. Several Civil war artifacts and military documents from the Civil war... as well as many other found objects connected to the time period of these unorthodox/roots instruments fabricated to fit this Piece. Follow the link to see,hear,and learn more.

Attachments:

Permalink Reply by Jonathan on November 27, 2017 at 4:27am

I had to post the way I did because the Mobil version would not allow me to post "correctly"

Permalink Reply by Cigar Box Nation on November 27, 2017 at 10:10am

I fixed it

Permalink Reply by Jonathan on November 30, 2017 at 3:24am

Thank You so much Shane, sorry for the late response, I've been treading water here lately.
Thanks man.

Permalink Reply by Jerry E. Kopinski on November 27, 2017 at 8:13am

"Jerry Can Bass". Single string, fretless, acoustic,
electric bass. Can be played like a guitar, or, screw
in endpin and play as an upright bass.

Permalink Reply by Dsphillips on November 28, 2017 at 5:04am

Metal letter purchased at a local shop. 25.5 scale length, nail frets, mahogany neck, eyebolt tuners. colored the front and back of letter with a Sharpie. Shellacked. Not really a can, but it is metal. Thanks.