Members grace_slick Posted September 3, 2012 Members Share Posted September 3, 2012 Hi, lovely people Has anyone here got, or had experience, with a cigar box guitar? I'm thinking of acquiring one as they SEEM to be fairly easy to play. Only 3 strings, and I've seen people playing them with the guitars resting on their laps instead of holding them in the normal guitar-playing style, which appeals to me. I don't know what I'm doing with proper guitar playing and found too many chords too difficult so gave up playing all together a long time ago. But this I think I could play around with and have some fun improvising and ad libbing stuff. Apparently many of these guitars don't even have fret markers, which slightly excites me as I really CAN just go free form and play entirely by ear instead of by rules or sight. Anyone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitarcapo Posted September 3, 2012 Members Share Posted September 3, 2012 Hi, lovely people Has anyone here got, or had experience, with a cigar box guitar? I'm thinking of acquiring one as they SEEM to be fairly easy to play. Only 3 strings, and I've seen people playing them with the guitars resting on their laps instead of holding them in the normal guitar-playing style, which appeals to me. I don't know what I'm doing with proper guitar playing and found too many chords too difficult so gave up playing all together a long time ago. But this I think I could play around with and have some fun improvising and ad libbing stuff. Apparently many of these guitars don't even have fret markers, which slightly excites me as I really CAN just go free form and play entirely by ear instead of by rules or sight. Anyone? I have a 6 string electric. It's got a single coil tappable humbucker...full scale and volume tone. I'm selling it for $150.......IM me if you are interested Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Chicken Monkey Posted September 3, 2012 Members Share Posted September 3, 2012 I built a two-string bass cigar box (with strings made of weedwacker line) that's fretless and a lot of fun. I've got the parts for a 3-string nylon number I've been meaning to assemble, but I loathe cutting fret slots and haven't spent the time on it. I say go for it. IIRC, you're in Oz, so you're probably best ordering one built in-country than importing one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Opa John Posted September 3, 2012 Members Share Posted September 3, 2012 I think cigar box guitars are like Volvos. I've known some people who have bought one, but I've never met anyone who bought a second one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Pitar Posted September 3, 2012 Members Share Posted September 3, 2012 Get a cheap banjo without the resonator. Same sound. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members grace_slick Posted September 3, 2012 Author Members Share Posted September 3, 2012 Well, it's just for fun. And a bit of a different sound. We actually already have a banjo, named Bungalo Bill, heheh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members D Carroll Posted September 3, 2012 Members Share Posted September 3, 2012 woophttp://cigarboxguitars.com/resources/how-to-build-a-cigar-box-guitar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Starrshine Posted September 3, 2012 Members Share Posted September 3, 2012 I would suggest that you look into mountain dulcimers, these, I think would sound a whole lot better. Lots of instructional videos and tabs too to learn how to play. Plenty for sale on Ebay and elsewhere for reasonable prices:http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p5197.m570.l1311&_nkw=mountain+dulcimer&_sacat=619Also, whole websites devoted to them:http://www.everythingdulcimer.com/discuss/index.phpBob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Chicken Monkey Posted September 3, 2012 Members Share Posted September 3, 2012 I would suggest that you look into mountain dulcimers, these, I think would sound a whole lot better. I had that same thought, though the fret layout would limit the keys/modes one could play in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Starrshine Posted September 3, 2012 Members Share Posted September 3, 2012 I forgot to add a sample http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_10107876?utm_campaign=opengraph&utm_content=song&utm_medium=link&utm_source=facebook Fret layout can be limiting, but retuning is easy to play in different keys and there are capos too Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Chicken Monkey Posted September 3, 2012 Members Share Posted September 3, 2012 I forgot to add a sample http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_10107876?utm_campaign=opengraph&utm_content=song&utm_medium=link&utm_source=facebook Fret layout can be limiting, but retuning is easy to play in different keys and there are capos too Bob It's been a long time since I've played one, but obviously re-tuning would be limited by the stretchability of the strings. Capos would allow for some truly weird modes to be played, but it wouldn't open up all the keys, as the frets are not evenly spaced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members herbie d Posted September 3, 2012 Members Share Posted September 3, 2012 Cigar Box's are very cool I think. I'm not sure what kind of music you are into, but if your into Blues... I think every blues guitar player should own a Cigar Box. Your right, a 3string style one is common, but some I've seen have 4 strings as well. (mine is 3) another thing to concider if your into blues, is a Diddley Bo'. it is a one string instrument, and usually has no frets. The traditional slide for one is a 16 penny nail, though most I've seen play, use a regular guitar slide.My two favorite players are, Scott Ainslie, and Sea Sick Steve. Here are a few you tubes with them. Good luck and I bet you'll have loads of fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Opa John Posted September 3, 2012 Members Share Posted September 3, 2012 I had that same thought, though the fret layout would limit the keys/modes one could play in. Just in case you didn't know.......they DO make chromatic dulcimers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Chicken Monkey Posted September 3, 2012 Members Share Posted September 3, 2012 Cool! certainly not traditional, and anyone ordering a dulcimer would have to be sure of what they were getting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Starrshine Posted September 3, 2012 Members Share Posted September 3, 2012 They can be a lot more versatile than one thinks! My friend Bing Futch is amazing on the instrument![video=youtube;kSl1LQdIOjY] [video=youtube;tIXpuGbKKpU] Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Chicken Monkey Posted September 3, 2012 Members Share Posted September 3, 2012 ^^^Near as I can tell, those are both in the same key/mode/tonality, which is the limitation I was referring to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Opa John Posted September 3, 2012 Members Share Posted September 3, 2012 But.......add a dulcimer capo and you'd have virtually the same flexibility as with a guitar and capo. EDIT: Actually, this thing gives me a pretty good idea for a homemade guitar capo that might just work better than what's currently available on the market these days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Chicken Monkey Posted September 3, 2012 Members Share Posted September 3, 2012 A capo on a modally-fretted dulcimer (like the one pictured) would allow you access to some weird modes starting from different home pitches, but it wouldn't allow for simple transpositions, as the uneven fret placement wouldn't translate directly up the neck. If it were a chromatic dulcimer, like you posted earlier, then yes, a capo would solve the key-change problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MDLMUSIC Posted September 4, 2012 Members Share Posted September 4, 2012 I've made a bunch of cigar box typoe guitars using everything from Altoids cans to tennis rackets to tambourines to actual cigar boxes. Here's a couple of pics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members C70man Posted September 4, 2012 Members Share Posted September 4, 2012 Check this out...he's one of my best friends and also maybe the best cigar box player I have ever heard....did I mention hes and incredible guitar player too?....for years I have mentioned my mentor and guitar set up guy...well here's a clip with him playing the cigar box guitar....not the maker...the guy playing in the video...Ed Wright...an incredible musician.... When I'm at his house playing around with his, I just can't do it...you really need a unique touch, and the ability to play slide really helps....watch the vid, its fun. http://jenesiscreative.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=32&Itemid=394&wid=20 http://jenesiscreative.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=32&Itemid=394&wid=20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members TESmith Posted September 4, 2012 Members Share Posted September 4, 2012 [video=youtube;sqLc5zjp-po] Apparently Cigar box guitars are a big deal near me.....(York Pa 20 minutes from where I live) I never knew it! Here in York Pa, it seems we have a museum dedicated to these instruments and we host an annual festival http://www.ydr.com/local/ci_21401719http://blog.pennlive.com/go/2012/08/cigar_box_festival.htmlhttp://videos.pennlive.com/patriot-news/2012/08/3rd_annual_pennsylvania_cigar_2.htmlhttp://yorkdispatch.mycapture.com/mycapture/folder.asp?event=1522146&CategoryID=60379&ListSubAlbums=0http://photos.pennlive.com/patriot-news/2012/08/3rd_annual_pennsylvania_cigar_27.htmlhttp://cigarboxguitars.com/about/museumhttp://cigarboxguitar.com/ [video=youtube;E2YuVj4gaLw] [video=youtube;PpKlF_A4N0I]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpKlF_A4N0I&feature=related I may have to check it out, you learn something new all the time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Axegrinder009 Posted September 4, 2012 Members Share Posted September 4, 2012 I recently made a fretless CBG to use strictly for slide playing. 3 strings tuned to EBe. It's electrified, and sounds great, with a deep, "black snake moan' kind of sound. Not at all like a dulcimer or banjo. http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa412/Omnibus2011/SallyGuitarVertical.jpghttp://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa412/Omnibus2011/SallyGuitarBackView.jpg They are great fun to build and play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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