Cigar Box Guitar Articles

1919 Luther Oliver Six String Banjo-Guitar

Mar 5, 20233 min read

1919 Luther Oliver Six String Banjo-Guitar

This homemade banjo-guitar was handmade by Luther Oliver (1904-1987) of Western Watauga County, North Carolina in 1919. He was only 15.

978 views0 comments

1800’s Tin Can Banjo from Saxapahaw, North Carolina

Shane Speal

Feb 2, 20231 min read

1800’s Tin Can Banjo from Saxapahaw, North Carolina

This primitive homemade banjo was found in a barn in North Carolina. The strings and bridge are long gone and the tin can body is rusted all

641 views0 comments

Rebel Weapons 3-String Solidbody Guitar: Cigar Box Inspired!

Shane Speal

Jun 3, 20221 min read

Rebel Weapons 3-String Solidbody Guitar: Cigar Box Inspired!

Cook was inspired by three string cigar box guitars with neck-through-body design, but he wanted to make a solidbody version.

2,140 views1 comment

Shane Speal

May 26, 20221 min read

The Boat Oar Two-String Guitar by Shane Speal

A two-string slide guitar made from a canoe paddle. Built by Shane Speal. How to build link included

2,299 views0 comments

Tampa Nugget Antique Cigar Box Guitar (date unknown)

Shane Speal

May 24, 20222 min read

Tampa Nugget Antique Cigar Box Guitar (date unknown)

Four-string cigar box guitar that was found in an old car abandoned in a field in Danville VA.

1,066 views6 comments

What Is This Mystery One-String Guitar (and is it even a guitar)?

Shane Speal

May 23, 20222 min read

What Is This Mystery One-String Guitar (and is it even a guitar)?

The neck and body are all one piece of wood. Leaf patterns are carved into the sides of the body and the inside was hollowed out. The butt

377 views2 comments

Shane Speal

Apr 7, 20221 min read

The Exit Sign Guitar

This three-string cigar box guitar was crafted from a discarded exit sign by Gary Desrosiers.

694 views1 comment

Video: Jim Morris Re-Creates Historic Cigar Box Violin

Shane Speal

Apr 5, 20221 min read

Video: Jim Morris Re-Creates Historic Cigar Box Violin

Musician and historian, Jim Morris restores 100 year old cigar box fiddle & creates an authentic copy.

599 views1 comment

The Cigar Box Guitar In the Smithsonian Institution

Shane Speal

Mar 14, 20222 min read

The Cigar Box Guitar In the Smithsonian Institution

The cigar box guitar in their collection was made by an unknown maker in North Carolina around 1875-1899. It is a four course (4x1) guitar

530 views7 comments

Cigar Box Guitar Museum Gift Shop is Open!

Shane Speal

Feb 2, 20221 min read

Cigar Box Guitar Museum Gift Shop is Open!

The photos of the Cigar Box Guitar Museum instruments have been artfully turned into shirts, cell phone covers and more. You can find the la

426 views4 comments

Shane Speal

Feb 1, 20223 min read

Wooden Dough Bowl Banjo, Greensboro NC

This curious antique banjo was made from a wooden dough bowl for a body, a carved hunk of wood for the neck and clothespin tuners

532 views20 comments

Shane Speal

Jan 25, 20222 min read

1921 Marxolin One-String Slide Guitar

“If you can hum, whistle or carry a tune in your head, you can play the Marxolin with only a few hours practice!”

1,108 views12 comments

Antique One-String Cigar Box Guitar (Diddley Bow)

Shane Speal

Jan 24, 20222 min read

Antique One-String Cigar Box Guitar (Diddley Bow)

Cigar box guitarists frequently talk about one-string diddley bows as the foundation of many slide blues players. This is the real deal

994 views7 comments

Freak of the Week: The Concertone Button Harmonica

Shane Speal

Jan 20, 20223 min read

Freak of the Week: The Concertone Button Harmonica

The Concertone is one part harmonica, one part accordion, made in Germany in the early 1900’s. It was also known as a Pipoleon or a Hohneret

626 views6 comments

1940's Electric Diddley Bow from Quincy, Illinios

Shane Speal

Jan 10, 20223 min read

1940's Electric Diddley Bow from Quincy, Illinios

The Electric Diddley Bow is a homemade one-string slide guitar that uses an old radio headphone earpiece as a pickup.

982 views34 comments

Freak of the Week: 1903 "Little Joe" Novelty Banjo

Shane Speal

Jan 7, 20223 min read

Freak of the Week: 1903 "Little Joe" Novelty Banjo

The Little Joe is a bizarre novelty instrument by the Harp-O-Chord Company of Columbus, OH and enables players to be a one man band!

1,514 views12 comments

Antique "Old Peach" Cigar Box Violin - Toledo OH (feat. new demo video!)

Shane Speal

Jan 5, 20222 min read

Antique "Old Peach" Cigar Box Violin - Toledo OH (feat. new demo video!)

This cigar box violin is probably over 100 years old, and it's still playable! It was discovered in Toledo, OH.

475 views18 comments

Antique Six String Cigar Box Guitar from Illinois

Shane Speal

Jan 4, 20223 min read

Antique Six String Cigar Box Guitar from Illinois

Much time was spent carving and building this instrument and it truly looks like an instrument that could launch a bluesman's career.

393 views2 comments

Shane Speal

Jan 3, 20222 min read

The Yellow Cigar Box Guitar from Ohio

This unassuming yellow painted cigar box guitar is literally the grandfather of modern cigar box guitar design!

564 views6 comments

1930's Cigar Box Guitar with Half Moon Sound Hole

Shane Speal

Dec 31, 20212 min read

1930's Cigar Box Guitar with Half Moon Sound Hole

This small and very primitive cigar box guitar was found in East Troy, Wisconsin and features a cigar box dating back to the 1930's.

382 views2 comments

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