Resonator Cigar Box Guitars

Not getting enough sound out of your acoustic cigar box guitar but don’t want to go electric and lug an amp around?

Install a resonator for a really big sound.

According to Wikipedia
A resonator guitar or resophonic guitar is an acoustic guitar whose sound is produced by one or more spun metal cones (resonators) instead of the wooden soundboard (guitar top/face). Resonator guitars were originally designed to be louder than conventional acoustic guitars which were overwhelmed by horns and percussion instruments in dance orchestras. They became prized for their distinctive sound, however, and found life with several musical styles (most notably bluegrass and also blues) well after electric amplification solved the issue of inadequate guitar sound levels.
Resonator guitars are of two styles:
Square necked guitars designed to be played in steel guitar style.
Round necked guitars, which may be played in either the conventional classical guitar style or in the lap steel guitar style.
There are three main resonator designs:
The "tricone" ("tri" in reference to the three metal cones/resonators) design of the first National resonator guitars.
The single cone "biscuit" design of other National instruments.
The single inverted-cone design of the Dobro.
Resonator’s are finding new life in CBG’s. I have taken the liberty of posting some beautiful pictures of some Cigar Box resonator Guitars.

Folks are building there own resonators out of all types of materials.

I recently purchased a lightweight all brass resonator from a fellow in the Cigar Box Guitar community that goes by the name of Old Lowe. They are nicely made and inexpensive. Below is an example of Old Lowes resonator built into a CBG.

Hand Crafted Bone Guitar Slides by MojoBone

Custom engraved bone guitar slide made by MojoBone Works.

I have been checking out Randy's slides for awhile now and have heard great things about them from players and builders alike that have been fortunate enough to order one.

Randy is a true artist; utilizing his impressive carving skills to create some of the most attractive, comfortable, and functional bone slides I’ve ever seen in my life.

One player/builder of Cigar Box Guitars said, "After hearing so many players say such great things about these slides, I decided that I wanted to try one for myself. I’ve been experimenting with a lot of different sounds lately and actively working to improve my guitar playing and as part of this, I wanted to check out the sounds that I could get from different slides (all I ever used was brass). I’ve been interested in bone for a while now as it had been explained to me that there is really no substitute if you’re trying to achieve a roots-era 20’s to 30’s sound."


You will never see another slide shaped like this one unless you order one from Randy yourself. Top to bottom, it is absolutely incredible. The slide itself is good and meaty with plenty of weight behind it but the part that wraps your knuckle is carved quite thin and you barely notice that it’s there when you’re playing. The whole thing is polished as smooth as glass. Those notches along the side make a perfect resting place for your other fingers, and he even goes so far as to texture the inside of the slide with grooves in order to give your slide finger extra tactile grip.

On top of all this, every slide that he sends out comes with some adhesive moleskin that you can wrap around the inside to ensure the right fit.

Randy also includes a custom made bone pick – something he could probably get as much as $10 for. He just likes to throw them in.

This will give you an idea of MojoBone Works artful slides. For more information on MojoBone Works slides you can email Randy at farmish@comcast.net

Raw Talent on Cigar Box Guitars

I’m looking for video links to other countries of folks playing Cigar Box Guitars. Please post them in the comments section below this article, thanks!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKJtoy0KTwI German Cigar Box Guitar crew!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WFZqFLzK7s little guy shows no fear! Not a CBG player (yet) but worth seeing!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wsMZGlMuR4 David Williams gives a musical history of how One String Willie goes to Europe and what he sees.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnJ6IZKLX1s Smojo from England. A builder and CBG musician

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7xCrgi2b-Y&feature=related Hollowbelly on 3-String. Maybe my British friends recognize the surrounding scenes?!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBHAaoVO_oA&feature=related small box with a big sound

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USwytBKQCHI&NR=1 not just for slide

I hope this gives you an idea of the versatility and growing popularity of the Cigar Box Guitars…. Get one, get playin’ and get hooked!

Royal Jamaica “RJ” CBG

I really like the way my newest cigar box guitar creation turned out! It is a 6-string CBG made from a hardwood box used to pack Royal Jamaica Maduro cigars in. I hand sanded the box and applied several finish coats to it.

The neck is handcrafted from red oak with a padauk fret board. I hand shaped the neck with my wood rasp and plenty of sandpaper. It turned out really well if I do say so myself!

I used brass grommets and brass corners to dress it up a bit even though RJ really didn’t need anymore sprucing up.

RJ can be played acoustically or electrically and sounds really nice either way.

Acoustic Six String on the Way

After much thought and research I have decided it’s time to build myself a 6-string acoustic cigar box guitar.

I found a nice all wood cigar box with brass hinges and clasp. It has some nice artwork right in the middle of the lid that I think will look good. The wood is lighter in color with a decent grain pattern on the top and bottom with a darker mocha colored wood for the sides and end.

I spent quite a bit of time just sanding it and getting it ready for the golden oak stain. I was going to use tung oil but plan on using a several coats of polyurethane and didn’t know how well it would hang onto the oil.

I found a couple of dings in the wood on the bottom and decided to try a technique I found on utube for “pulling them out”. I put a few drops of water in each one until it beaded up. Just short of the running stage so it would still hold its form. I came down the next morning and the water had done its trick. The dings were gone and the wood was perfectly level.

I got a really good start on the neck for my CBG. I used a 2 inch wide piece of red oak and beautiful piece of African padauk for the fret board. I finally got to try out my Stewart MacDonald fret miterbox and saw along with my new fret template guide. All I can say is, "Nice!"

There will be a tail piece that extends out of the opposite end of the cigar box to anchor the strings to. With 6-strings there will be a lot of tension on the neck and by having the neck extending clear through the body will cut down on any tendency to warp the neck.

Retire when the work is done; this is the way of heaven

Let Go, Let God

For several years now I have have had the thought in my mind, "Let go and Let God". I came across this information and thought I would share it.

The sage who grasps the everlasting nature of the Tao has gone beyond false identification with the ego, and instead has a living connection to the Tao. This person puts others first, asks nothing in return, and wholeheartedly serves. In this way, the sage lives the ultimate paradox of the Tao – by giving without asking, the sage attracts everything that he or she is capable of handling or needing. By putting others before themself, the sage endures just like the Tao. The sage emulates the natural philanthropy of the Tao, and all of his or her needs are fulfilled in the process.

The more you pursue desires, the more they’ll elude you. Try letting life come to you and begin to notice the clues that what you crave is on its way. You’re in a constant state of receiving because of the ceaseless generosity of the eternal Tao. The air you breathe, the water you drink, the food you eat, the sunshine that warms you, the nutrients that keep your body alive, and even the thoughts that fill your mind are all gifts from the eternal Tao. Stay appreciative of all that you receive, knowing that it flows from an all – providing Source. Stop the chase and become a witness – soothe your demanding habits by refusing to continue running after more. By letting go, you let God; and even more significantly, you become more like God and less like the ego; with its lifetime practice of edging God out.
Qouted from Dr. Wayne Dyer's Change Your Mind Change Your Life (excellent read!)

What if we were all God's favorites?

While conversing with my good friend Barbe Beaty this evening on face book I had one of those epiphany's you sometimes get while bouncing things off a really good friend.

Epiphany: A comprehension or perception of reality by means of a sudden intuitive realization: "I experienced an epiphany, a spiritual flash that would change the way I viewed myself"

I had grown up with virtually no self esteem. At one point I realized we were all God's favorites! OMG! It changed my life! Suddenly I realized how much I enjoyed enjoying people!

I love to watch the look on someones face when you compliment them. I became a believer that something as simple as a smile or a kind word could change the course of a persons day.... or possibly their life.

It lives!

After much trial and error I finally have my first Cigar Box Guitar up and running!! I plugged it into the amp last night startled the cats, made the dog bark and woke my wife up! So I guess electrically it's a success. I felt a bit like Dr. Frankenstein when he threw the switch and exclaimed to Egore, "He's alive, he's alive!"

Pics and Utube to follow!