The How-To Repository for the Cigar Box Guitar Movement!
How to Build and Play Cigar Box Guitars and other Homemade Instruments
We have just added a new how-to article by Ben “C. B. Gitty” Baker to our knowledgebase, which deals with the topic of zero frets. Zero frets are sometimes considered an arcane topic by cigar box guitar builders, and in this article Ben tries to demystify them, showing you in simple terms and clear pictures what they are, why to use them and most importantly how to use them.
Need a dose of cigar box guitar-related humour and motivation? Read Glenn Watt’s latest blog post:
HUMILITY, FRET SAWS, AND A FLAMING CIGAR BOX GUITAR
Glenn is quickly becoming one of the most active and insightful voices of the cigar box guitar and handmade/homemade music movement. His mixture of inspiration and humility, humour and plainly stated how-to information can be useful and instructive for both new builders and veteran CBG-ers.
We have just posted a two-part article to the new Sourcing Materials section of our knowledgebase, in which Ben “C. B. Gitty” Baker shares some of what he has learned about finding great stuff to make cigar box guitars and other homemade/handmade instruments out of. Ben shares with you the sort of rusty gold he looks for, where he looks for it, and how he goes about the art of effective buying.
Part 1 of Gitty’s Guide to Junkin’ and Pickin’ for Cigar Box Guitar Building
Part 2 of Gitty’s Guide to Junkin’ and Pickin’ for Cigar Box Guitar Building
We’ll be adding more good info to the Sourcing Materials category in the future, so be sure to check back!
This is the third year for the Chicago Cigar Box Guitar Festival, and check out that line-up! Click on the poster image below to go to the site where you can get all the info. This festival has quickly grown into one of the best ones in the country. C. B. Gitty is helping to sponsor the event this year, and rumour has it Ben “C. B. Gitty” Baker will be flying out to take part in the festivities. Be there if you can!
We’ve been diligently adding new song tablatures for one-string canjos to our knowledgebase. If you haven’t looked it over lately, you should! If you don’t own a canjo, well you either need to build one or check out the American Canjo Company store page and get one, so you can get busy pickin’!
Click here to check out the Canjo Tab section of our Knowledgebase!
Take a few minutes and watch the new addition to our knowledgebase here at CigarBoxGuitar.com – a well-done video how-to lesson from CBG Guru Glenn Watt on how you can get started on making your own cigar box guitar fretboards with just a few simple tools!
Ben “C. B. Gitty” Baker was recently called out to do the ALS Ice Bucket challenge. Never one to just pour a bucket of icewater over his own head all willy-nilly, Ben gathered up the C. B. Gitty crew and headed up to the roof of Gitty Mills to sing a little blues and take care of business.
In the next few weeks Ben and the Gitty workshop crew will be making custom guitars from those paint cans, and listing them for sale at $100 each on the C. B. Gitty web store. Half of the proceeds of those guitars will be donated to the ALS Foundation.
If you haven’t seen/heard this yet, you have to check it out. Shane Speal and Aaron Lewis, a member of Shane’s Snake Oil Band, belt out an awesome bluesy version of the King of Pop’s “Billie Jean”. This was recorded at a Pennsylvania public radio station. For more vids and clips of Shane Speal’s Snake Oil Band in action, visit www.ShaneSpeal.com!
