Author: C. B. Gitty

The Who’s Who of Cigar Box Guitar Performers

Samantha FishWe have been busy compiling the definitive database of performing musicians from around the world who regularly incorporate Cigar Box Guitars and other homemade/handmade instruments into their stage acts. Check out the first 13 entries here!

This is a work in progress and we have more artists to add, so don’t panic if you don’t see your favorite CBG musician yet! Also please note that this list is limited to musicians who are actively touring or frequently performing public shows in front of live audiences (including busking).

“Self Medication” – New Blues Album from One Hand Dan featuring Homemade Instruments

Untitled-1The new album “Self Medication” from One Hand Dan Russell on C. B. Gitty Records is a rich collection of deep, swampy blues steeped in the mud and heat of the Mississippi delta. Dan joined up with a seasoned group of musicians to create this studio album, laying down his unique, energetic vocal style over their solid and smooth bluesy backup. Dan added his own instrumental flare as well, playing a range of handmade and homemade instruments, including cigar box guitars and license plate guitars.

You can listen to sample tracks and buy the album in MP3 form on CDBaby.com via this link. It is also available from iTunes, Spotify and many other digital music providers.

You can learn more about Dan and his unique story from his entry in our Who’s Who of Cigar Box Guitar Performers.

Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones tries out a Cigar Box Guitar

Ronnie Wood with Cigar Box GuitarCigar Box Nation recently broke the story about legendary Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood trying his hand at a cigar box guitar. Turns out it was a Daddy Mojo built by our friend Lenny Robert. Get the full details from the feature article over at CigarBoxNation.com!

Old Homemade Ukulele at the American Pickers Nashville Store

Mike Wolfe (American Pickers) Antique Homemade UkuleleWhile down in Nashville, TN for the Summer NAMM show, Ben “C. B. Gitty” Baker took some time out to visit the American Pickers store down there. As might be expected, most of the coolest stuff was from Mike Wolfe’s personal collection “Not For Sale” – including this amazing old homemade ukulele. The tag describes it as a “Wooden Square Ukulele” and doesn’t give any more information, so we’re going to try to contact the folks at Antique Archaeology to see if they can provide any more backstory on it: how old it is, where it came from, whether anything about the maker is known.

Beatles “Come Together” on Cigar Box Guitar

Another in our series of responses to the question of “So what can you really play on one of them things”, we present the Blues Doctor Stacy Mitchhart and his band belting out a rocking rendition of the classic Beatles’ song Come Together.

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2015 Cigar Box Guitar Fretting Tips Contest Entries

Untitled-3We’ve compiled all of the entries we received for the C. B. Gitty/Cigar Box Nation 2015 Cigar Box Guitar Fretting Tips Contest, and created a PDF document out of it. This document contains all of the entries we received, unedited and as close as possible to the original formatting, with photos. We present it here so that everyone can share in the collective wisdom freely submitted by builders of cigar box guitars and other homemade intruments all around the world. Enjoy!

Cigar Box Guitar Fretting Tips Contest Entries

(Click the link above to view the PDF Document)

Free Cigar Box Guitar Blues Album

tempDid you know that there’s a bunch of free cigar box guitar music available over at CigarBoxNation.com? It’s true! For years, CBN members have been contributing to compilation albums that are then made available for free download.

Here’s a great one to get started with: the 2012 Cigar Box Nation Blues album, made up of 27 tracks that are a mix of originals and covers.

One of the great things about the Cigar Box Nation community is the massive amount of free music offered by our musicians. So…what’s the next great download album gonna be?

Product Feature: The Electric Delta 3-pole Cigar Box Guitar Pickup

Electric Delta 3-pole Cigar Box Guitar PickupFINALLY! An inexpensive magnetic pickup for 3-string Cigar Box Guitars!

For years, cigar box guitar builders have been asking for 3-pole pickups specifically for 3-string cigar box guitars, but that has always been the rather pricey realm of the hand-wound pickup makers. Now, those days are over, with the introduction of the C. B. Gitty “Electric Delta” 3-pole single-coil pickup. With its laser-engraved wood-top bobbin, wooden bobbin base and pre-wired 1/4″ output jack, popping one of these little growlers into your next cigar box guitar build is a no-brainer.

Priced as low as $16.99, this pre-wired pickup system is ready to install, no soldering or additional wiring required.

Check them out here at the C. B. Gitty web store.