It's time for me to build a cigar box guitar, after reading about them on the Cigar Box Guitars website. There's something special with cigar box guitars, as they have a great history and are great fun to play. One factor for the current CBGR (Cigar Box Guitar Revolution) can be attributed to many musicians desire for a more primal/rootsy sound. Blues guitarists, in particular, have picked up the cigar box guitar in an attempt to play Delta Blues in its purest form. Cigar box guitars got a voice and tone of their own, and played with a slide they have a great whining blues sound that you just can not get from another guitars.
One of the best things with cigar box guitars are that they are easy and cheap to build, and there are no set rules about their looks, specs etc., so you are free to use your own imagination and resources. They’re also small, portable, almost indestructable, weird looking, and they really attract a lot of attention and interest.

I got a couple of cigar boxes, some pine wood in the sixe of 1"x2"x3ft (25 x 50 x 900 mm) and some tuners and other hardware, that I will turn into two cigar box guitars.
Updates of my progress will follow.

Labels: CBGR, cigar box guitar

Anders Lewen from Knockout Greg A the Blue Weather plays some nice soft blues with a T-Bone Walker influence. Does anyone know what guitar he's playing on?

Labels: Anders Lewen, blues, blues instrumental, Knockout Greg, old school blues, T-Bone Walker;, the Blue Weather

According to FingerWeights you get the following benefits.

"Used by Professional and Amateur musicians, FingerWeights increase speed, dexterity, endurance, and control for all players – all instruments. Designed specifically for musicians, the slip-on model fits comfortably on any size finger and is worn during practice and pre-performance warm-up. FingerWeights target the extensor and flexor muscles, the tiny muscles that open and close the fingers. The extensors (speed muscles) determine how quickly the musician can move from one key or string to the next. The flexors close the fingers and are essential for purity of tone.

The Musician is a unique form of athlete. Whether driven by string or wind, FingerWeights are guaranteed to improve your playing."



My view is that feeling is more important than speed when playing. But if you can get them both - what's the heck (but only in privacy).

Labels: guitar playing, legato, shredding, sweep picking, sweeps, tapping

A funny, true and amazing thread from tdpri.com on the creation of a one-off Telecaster. It's not my cup of tea when it come's to Telecasters, but one must admire his guts.


Image by Buckocaster51

Labels: Pink Telecaster, Telecaster refinish

A truly modern Tele® guitar built for big sounds. As lead guitarist for Slipknot and Stone Sour, Jim Root is one of todays leading heavy guitarists.

This Tele was a labor of love for both artist and Fender, combining several unique features to give it an identity all its own. Special features include a mahogany body, EMG pickups, 22 Dunlop 6100 jumbo frets, black locking tuners and hardware, and a single volume knob. Available in a black finish with a maple neck and fingerboard with a white pickguard or in white with a maple neck, ebony fingerboard and a black pickgaurd. Includes black tweed hardshell case with red interior.



Model Name: Jim Root Telecaster®
Model Number: 013-4444-(Color#)
Series: Artist Series
Colors: (706) Flat Black or (780) Flat White, (Polyurethane Finish)
Body: Mahogany
Neck: Maple, Modern “C” Shape, (Satin Polyurethane Finish)
Fingerboard: Ebony on (780) Flat White, or Maple on (706) Flat Black, 9.5” Radius (241mm)
No. of Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Frets
Pickups: 1 EMG 60 (Neck); 1 EMG 81 (Bridge)
Controls: Master Volume
Pickup Switching: 3-Position Blade. Position 1. Bridge Pickup, Position 2. Bridge and Neck Pickups, Position 3. Neck Pickup
Bridge: Black 6-Saddle Strings-Through-Body Hardtail Bridge
Machine Heads: Black Fender®/Schaller® Deluxe Cast/Sealed Locking Tuning Machines
Hardware: Black
Pickguard: 1-Ply White On: (706) Flat Black, 1-Ply Black On: (780) Flat White,
Scale Length: 25.5" (648 mm)
Width at Nut: 1.650" (42 mm)
Unique Features: Mahogany Body, Active EMG Pickups, Ebony or Maple Fingerboard, Black Hardware, Flat Finshes
Strings: Fender Standard Tension ST250L, Nickel Plated Steel, Gauges: (.009, .011, .016, .024, .032, .042),
Accessories: Black Tweed Case with Red Plush Interior
Introduced: 7/2007

Labels: Jim Root, Slipknot, Telecaster