COTTON PICK r CIGAR BOX GUITARS

DANIDOFF ROBUSTO EXTRA Serial # 010

2011-07-11T06:21:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since my last completed build but I've had this little box for a while. I always wanted a two-stringer and this box seemed right for the job. With a set oak neck, under-the-bridge piezo pick-up, homemade tail-piece and proprietary (!) beer bottle-cap resonator/thing-a-ma-do. Frets are marked on so making it technically fret-less. I tagged her "REBEL" as seen on the cap and because with only 2 strings, the less-is-more concept makes her go against the normal 3-string build design.

"Double Knot Spy":

GRANDE DE ESPANA Serial # 009

2010-05-30T09:20:00.000-07:00

Build number nine started with a nice looking Grande De Espana box. Love the bull-fighting graphic on the front. Tried to use the bull's horns idea with the gold sound holes & wooden bridge. Made it another 3-stringer model with piezo transducer. Frets are made from nails--too much work so I most likely won't use them again. Tuned down a bit to get a nice low-end thump.

"DIRT SOUP" :

ASHTON VSG Serial # 008

2010-02-23T11:56:00.000-08:00

The latest build started with a very nice ASHTON VSG box. All wooden with rounded edges and gold labels, which made for a better than average lookin' CBG! Three string model with gold closed tuners,steel (nail) frets, corian nut and brass bridge/saddle. A piezo installed so it could be used as an electric. This one played very nice acoustically, with notes ringing out and great sustain. This was the first CBG I ever sold. Went to a professional musician in Georgia. Missing it already.

"Back Porch Boogie" :

LEON JIMENES # 007

2009-12-16T07:57:00.000-08:00

This build, an acoustic three stringer was made for a friend of mine as a gift. This will be the first of my builds to leave my hands... Since he is a huge Traveling Wilburys fan, I used this as the theme/tribute. Also, on this build I made the fretts go to the 14th rather than the 12th as seen on previous builds. The LEON JIMENES NO. 1 box was very light & unfinshed. After applying the Wilburys graphics, several coats of polyurethane was applied. Strung up with some light Martin strings (D,G,B), she produced a nice acoustic tone.

"WILBURYS SKIP" :

CHATEAU REAL SERIAL # 006

2009-11-12T07:53:00.000-08:00

My sixth build was done as a tribute to the legendary Beale Street in Memphis. A three string resonator style acoustic. For the resonator "cone" I used an old 8mm film can. I wanted to use the metal film reel that came with it for a spider-type bridge support but was getting metal-on-metal vibrations/buzzing. So some remnant tile/stone samples were used for the bridge. Decorated with a vintage photo of blues legend B.B. King and a home-made tail piece from a small tin container purchased a A. Schwab's hardware store (on Beale since 1876!!!).

"Strollin' Down Beale" :

PARTAGAS BLACK LABEL Serial # 005

2009-08-30T07:34:00.000-07:00

Build # 5 started with a sweet looking black PARTAGAS box. The neck was painted black to match. Frets are the shafts from pop rivets whose rivet heads are used for string grommets! Typical 3-string design with the Radio Shack piezo inside. Decided this time to make it easy & use bolts for the nut & bridge saddle. Currently strung with light guage strings, acoustically gives it a mandolin sound when tuned up.... as heard on "Itchy Feet" below. Plugged her into a reissue BIG MUFF pedal with sustain set low to avoid feedback and recorded "Blak Box Jamm". A fairly versatile instrument!

"Itchy Feet" :

"Blak Box Jamm" :

COHIBA CORONA Serial # 004

2009-06-13T08:49:00.000-07:00

Build number 4 started with a all wooden COHIBA Corona box. Not sure what type of wood was used for the neck as it's not poplar or oak and was found on the white board stack at Lowes' . On this attempt, I removed the piezo from its plastic housing which made it very sensative. In the audio clip below, I use the box to provide the beat during playing. To remedy the sensitivity, I encased the piezo between strips of wood which helped & for the first time...allowed me to run it through the distortion channel of my FENDER CHAMPION 110 without too much feedback. The video clip...is done as a spoof on what can be heard in any Guitar Center as a pimple-faced brat shreds away!

"WARPATH" :

"COHIBA BOUNCE" :

"GUITAR CENTER TRASH" :

Padilla Series '68 Serial # 003

2009-04-19T15:10:00.000-07:00

Build number 3 started with a smaller Padilla box using an oak neck. The oak was a bit tougher to work with, still not much in power tool assistance! I kept this one acoustic only as an intial test with the piezo transducer had results too harsh. May be attributed to the smaller box & oak neck combo. This one is currently a favorite of mine. The first sound clip was recorded in a closed bathroom (for acoustics) with a door used as a bass drum -- supplying the beat.

"The Bathroom Thump" :

"Noodlin'" :

PUNCH GRAN PURO Serial # 002

2009-04-11T15:23:00.000-07:00

Using a cool looking PUNCH GRAND PURO box with poplar neck (now at correct length!) completed a 4 string model. Had to use additional internal bracing to support the neck and eliminate bowing due to the added tension. Same piezo configuration for a pick-up. Added tooth pick frets with fancy position markers. Lower scale logo seen here for first time.

"Peter Gunn Thang" :

"Box o Blues":

"MARLBORO JAM":

ARTURO FUENTE serial # 001

2009-03-21T16:11:00.000-07:00

Here's the first finished model using a Arturo Fuente box. The classic 3-string build. I have it equipped with a Radio Shack piezo transducer for a pick-up. On this, my first build....I accidently made the poplar neck too long. Scale length pushes 28" !! So, one trick I like is to move the bridge towards and away from the nut changing the scale length & tuning which in turn also changes tone as well.

"Arturo Stomp":

"Running Wild" :

"ARTURO PICKIN'S" :