Cigar Box Nation | Cigar Box Guitars

Which soldering station?

On November 1, 2011, In Blog, Forum, by admin

Hi guys, So my soldering iron has died…. again. I keep buying the cheap 30w stick type, but its a false economy. They are slow to heat up, the break… what I need is a proper set. But which one? Iv found a few on Ebay that are within budget that look ok, but I was wondering if anyone had any personnal experience with any of them? Or maybe you can recommend one? I dont want to spend anything over £50… and ideally less! Or maybe you’d like to point out what I should be looking for? I do a fair bit of soldering and am impatient, so Im thinking a 60w should be more suitable than the old 30w…. These are the ones Im looking at; http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/150630766352?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/220874067804?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/280757198381?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/220882786487?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/200593105091?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/150573392783?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649 Cheers )

Continued here:Which soldering station?
Which soldering station?

ATLAS of Plucked Instruments

On October 31, 2011, In Blog, Forum, Videos, by admin

I recently found a site of incredible content regarding every type of plucked string instrument in the world (Yes, the WORLD!), except one – our beloved CBG’s. I dropped a line to Mr. Henny de Bruin who owns and runs the site http://www.atlasofpluckedinstruments.com/index.htm . This is the message I sent him and I included a few pictures as well: What an amazing site! You have indeed created an almost boundless collection of wonderful culture here. The only thing I found lacking was any reference to Cigar Box Guitars, which originated in the American South. Mostly for playing Delta Blues, cigar box guitars are unique and varied, coming in versions using 1 to 6 strings and can be fretted or unfretted, acoustic or electric, played in various tunings either plucked or with a slide. If you are interested in learning more and seeing some incredible examples of this international phenomenon, take a look at www.cigarboxnation.com . At the website you can see many more examples along with pictures and videos of cigar box guitars being played, construction methods, technical discussions, and history. We also provide instruments to active-duty soldiers and wounded warriors around the globe. As a member of that group, I’m sure I speak for all homemade guitar builders and players – we would love to be included in your incredible atlas! Thank you! Here is his response: Hello Hal, Thank you for your interest in my website ATLAS of Plucked Instruments. I am always pleased to hear from visitors who enjoyed browsing the many different guitars and lutes. Regarding Cigar Box Guitars, I think you have a good point here : By accident I recently noticed the large number of Cigar Box Guitars offered for sale these days on eBay – which means that there are more than just a few people involved in this type of special instrument. So yes, I will soon include the Cigar Box Guitar in ATLAS, on page Miscellaneous. I have now already ordered the book : One man’s trash - the History of the Cigar Box Guitars – to get the background information, and I may even think about buying one myself ! So you may hear me again in near future, for more information ! Thanks a lot for pointing out the Cigar Box Guitar to me, with the first snippets of information, and pictures of your beautiful instruments. Kind regards, (mr) Henny de Bruin Netherlands I hope everyone here will visit the ATLAS. Besides pictures and history of all these fantastic instruments, many have links to UTube vids of them being played. You will get some amazing ideas for builds.

See the rest here:ATLAS of Plucked Instruments
ATLAS of Plucked Instruments

Tagged with: a-few-pictures • a-good-point • book • delta • guitars • international • plucked-or-with • world

Nut shaping from a bone nut blank

On October 31, 2011, In Forum, by admin

I am finally getting ready for a nut and would like some advice on shaping notching and installing the nut. Any great ideas i bought some bone nut blanks…Peter

Tagged with: a-nut-and • advice-on-shaping • and-installing • bone-nut • bought-some • finally-getting • great-ideas • installing-the-nut • nut-and • ready-for • shaping-notching • some-advice • the-nut

What size string for a diddley bo ?

On October 31, 2011, In Forum, by admin

I am making a couple of one strings and was wondering what size string to use.I’m sure there is no hard rule but in general what do most people use and why?

Read the original post:What size string for a diddley bo ?
What size string for a diddley bo ?

Tagged with: general-what • hard-rule • most-people • one-strings • size-string • sure-there • use-and • wondering-what

newbie, contemplating first build

On October 31, 2011, In Forum, by admin

I’m thinking of building a 3 string guitar, or perhaps diddley bow for the first one, and I’m wondering about tone. Instead of waiting around trying to find the right cigar box, I decided to perhaps build my own box. I went to a specialty lumber store and bought some 1/4″ multi-ply birch plywood for the sides and bottom, and for the top/lid I got some 1/4″ mahogany ply. I checked all the plys and this one “rang” the best then I thumped it. The guy said it wasn’t mahogany all the way through, unlike the birch, but just the skin. Middle was mystery wood, maybe lauan. But, as I’m looking at some of the common designs, the neck is either glued to, or butted right up against the top/lid, so, any ringing the top might do is going to be muted by the neck.Or am I wrong? Is it still a good idea to have a quasi tone wood for the top? Is it not a good design to have the top float above the neck, with bridge transferring the vibrations to the top? I’ve read that trying to make cbg’s acoustic is not the best way to go, unless it was a reso. So, maybe more solid wood all around will contribute to the sustain. Perspiring minds want to know!

Link:newbie, contemplating first build
newbie, contemplating first build

Tagged with: a-good-idea • a-quasi-tone • above-the-neck • best • have-the-top • looking-at-some • multi-ply-birch • neck • perhaps-diddley • ringing-the-top • skin • the-vibrations • will-contribute

My First One

On October 31, 2011, In Blog, Forum, by admin

Hey Y’all New to the forum.Been lurking around abit though.I put together a rough CBG just to see how they all come together.These things are just COOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The wife is even wanting to start messing with them.Anyway here it is.The box came from one of the large craft stores the neck is a peice of off fall from work.The slide I’m using is a cigarette lighter. I hate to say it but I’m HOOKED. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7lkh1lBZYs Hope the link worked

Visit link:My First One
My First One

Tagged with: abit-though- • box-came • come-together • from-work- • hope-the-link • large • link • neck • put-together • start-messing • stores-the-neck • the-forum- • the-large • things-are

Chinese pickup.

On October 30, 2011, In Forum, by admin

Any one use this http://www.tmart.com/Noiseless-Copper-Coil-Guitar-Magnetic-Acoustic-Pickup-Black_p116018.html Its allmost free…Worth of money or just junk ?

Follow this link:Chinese pickup.
Chinese pickup.

Tagged with: allmost-free- • one-use

Android smart phone

On October 30, 2011, In Blog, Forum, by admin

Dose anyone have a android smart phone.can you use the chat.if so how do you?

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Android smart phone

Tagged with: a-android-smart • android-smart • chat • use-the

Humbucker Placement

On October 29, 2011, In Blog, Forum, by admin

Hi folks,my first post here! I’m working on my first build, a three string CBG, and would appreciate a little advice on how to use a six-string pickup. I’m no novice at woodworking and have learned to work on solid body guitars because I’m poor and my oldest son is a guitar freak. But, I’m not sure how to deal with this pickup in my planned 3-string build; or if its even appropriate. The pickup I have a Seymour Duncan “Little 59″ I pulled from one of my son’s guitars – he wanted something else in its place and we intended to sell this one but haven’t gotten around to it. Its relatively small and has two rows of six posts, intended to line up directly under each string of a six-string. They marketl it as a Telecaster pickup replacement. here it is: http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/electric/telecaster/high-output/little_59_for_t/ I guess its a bit overkill for a 3-string CBG, but its what I have. I’ve heard these pickups have a narrow range. That is, the string needs to be directly over the pole and somewhat close. Do I need to worry about the strings lining up? Should I Line up my three strings with three of the poles of the pickup – say the middle three? Install the pickup at something like a 45 degree angle to the strings so the overall span of the posts equals the span between my three strings? Something else? Bag this idea and go with a piezzo? Any advice would be appreciated Thanks!

Go here to read the rest:Humbucker Placement
Humbucker Placement

Tagged with: a-narrow-range- • advice-on-how • directly-over • guitars-because • narrow-range- • something-like • strings • three-strings • work-on-solid

Part 2: The Making of My Contribution for the 2011 Cigar Box Nation Christmas CD

On October 29, 2011, In Blog, Cigar Box Nation, by admin

In this arrangement, I am using the same “Moveable Chord Method” that I teach on CD 6 for 3 string CBG. Just like in the previous 6 string arrangement, I utilize single notes, doublestops, and the three basic chords (D,G, A) with the addition of the bottleneck slide technique.

Continued here:Part 2: The Making of My Contribution for the 2011 Cigar Box Nation Christmas CD