OddMusic ~ Cigar Box Guitars

Subject: OddMusic ~ Cigar Box Guitars
From: Tweed
Date: 14 Feb 04 - 11:22 AM

Found this highly technical luthier's site while on my morning ramble. Some very odd but cool instruments in this place and a history lesson as well. I believe I will try my hand at making one of these things. I don't really need a new Martin anyhow...;~)

The CigarBox Guitar's Rightful Place in History

Subject: RE: OddMusic ~ Cigar Box Guitars
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 14 Feb 04 - 12:38 PM

Done a few, Tweed... one out of a gallon metal can, and one out of a couple of cigar boxes with a hexagonal body. Done a banjo like it, too... a lot of fun. I have a completed banjo neck sitting in the garage, made for a gallon can..

Jerry

Subject: RE: OddMusic ~ Cigar Box Guitars
From: GUEST,reggie miles
Date: 14 Feb 04 - 03:02 PM

I've been collecting old seegar boxes for just this purpose. The old ones are made of solid wood and are generally made a little lighter (sawry 'bout that pun) than the newer plywood examples. It probably doesn't really make a great deal of difference at this level, but who knows. I guess I could try both as there seems to be many more plywood examples that I seem to run into these days at garage sales where I hunt them. I don't know that I'd try to build a guitar, as the boxes I've found seem kind of small for a guitar body, but I was thinking that they'd be just the right size to use to make a ukulele. That's my plan and I'm stickin' to it. Okay, maybe a banjo uke or even a fiddle would be a hoot to make. I don't know that this is one of those project ideas that are real high on my to do list, but one of these days in the not too distant future look out.

Subject: RE: OddMusic ~ Cigar Box Guitars
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 14 Feb 04 - 08:47 PM

I have a guitar that is a neck attached to a metal enamelled hospital bed pan - mentioned in other threads here. I've had all the jokes...

Robin

Subject: RE: OddMusic ~ Cigar Box Guitars
From: Tweed
Date: 15 Feb 04 - 09:19 AM

How many strings do you guys have on your cigarbox/sh*tpan guitars? There's a guy I know in Memphis who builds two and three string electric diddly bows, calls them LoweBows. Some have a bass string with two treble strings and have handwound pickups for each. The custom there is to keep the root note on the bass string while sliding these amazin' sounds on the trebles. Richard Johnston is about the foremost player in this style and I'll tell you, it sure is a far cry from what cigar boxes used to sound like. Here's photo of Richard with his double broomstick Lowebow.
Lowebow/Oddities

There's some soundclips over on the FootHill Stomper's website here:
Richard Johnston/Listen. Check out Miss MayBelle. I've seen him play this solo with electric diddlybow and kick drums all going at once. It's amazin' to watch.