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In Making Poor Man’s Guitars, Shane Speal, the “King of the Cigar Box Guitar,” shows you how to build amazing musical instruments from found items!

Learn how to build cigar box guitars and other musical instruments from found itemsStep-by-step instructions and over 300 photosThe history of cigar box guitars and the golden age of blues and jazzIntroduction from the New Orleans Museum of JazzAuthor Shane Speal, an active roots music performer, is recognized as the creator of the modern cigar box guitar movement and known as the “King of the Cigar Box Guitar”

Many books have been written about how to build cigar box guitars and other unique hand-made instruments… but few have touched on why. This book presents the authentic stories of American DIY music with step-by-step projects, photo studies of antique instruments, interviews with music legends, and historical accounts.

Shane Speal, the “King of the Cigar Box Guitar,” brings the making of music and musical instruments back to its roots. From a simple two-string tin can guitar to an electrified washtub bass, Shane shows how anyone can build amazing musical instruments from found items.

Sidebars present the fascinating backstory of the music, capturing struggle, poverty, and the blues within the artistic side of cigar box guitar building.

Featuring an introduction from the New Orleans Museum of Jazz, this DIY musical instrument book is as inspirational to read in the living room as it is in the workshop!

From the Publisher

Making Poor Man’s Guitars

The pages of this book are packed with everything you’ll want to know about these classic DIY guitars:

Step-by-step projects to create your own instruments Builder’s Diaries offer inspiration for your own inventions Excerpts from newspapers and magazines chronicling CBG history Suggestions for accessories and modifications

The Heart and Soul of Cigar Box Guitars

Explore the Roots of DIY Instruments

Learn the history of DIY music while you build your very own cigar box guitar (CBG)! Making Poor Man’s Guitars presents authentic stories of American DIY music, interviews with music legends, and photo studies of antique instruments.

Renowned CBG leader Shane Speal will take you on a journey through his own experience in the DIY music world. From live shows, recording studios, and road trips to building and perfecting the instruments found in these pages, you’ll find endless inspiration!

Foreword includes an interview with blues legend Little Freddie King Step-by-step directions to build your own CBGs Firsthand stories about the roots of DIY music Beautiful photographs of antique instruments from the golden age of blues and jazz

Tried and True DIY Instrument Projects

Three-String Cigar Box Guitar

The step-by-step directions inside will take you from choosing your cigar box all the way through stringing up your finished guitar!

Handy pictures, diagrams, and a detailed list of parts and tools will help you create your very own three-string cigar box guitar with ease.

Tin Can Guitar

Also known as “The Portland Cowboy,” the tin can guitar is fantastically simple in design. Speal discovered this antique guitar at a flea market with a set list attached.

Build your own replica of this gem following the detailed instructions inside this book!

Cigar Box Percussion Unit

Speal has refined his “foot stomper” over the past decade to the setup you’ll find in the pages of this book.

Build your own handy percussion unit with carefully thought out, easy-to-follow instructions.

Electric Washtub Bass

No DIY band is complete without the “Soul Bucket”! Follow the detailed directions inside and you’ll be able to create your very own thundering washtub bass with an acoustic pickup, metal washtub, and an 80-gauge weed-whacker string.

Shane Speal

Shane Speal is a musician, historian, and instrument builder, the self-styled “King of the Cigar Box Guitar,” and is recognized as the founder of the modern CBG movement. He is the creator of CigarBoxNation.com, a network and history site for cigar box guitars.

Shane has recorded more than 10 self-released cigar box guitar albums, and publishes Uncle Enos zine, dedicated to cigar box guitars and other primal poverty art and music.

The History of DIY Music

Learn about the history that spawned CBGs via first-hand stories, interviews, excerpts from newspaper and magazine articles, and photo studies of antique instruments found throughout this book.

You’ll discover an interview with bluesman Albert Collins, a “Guitarcheology” of instruments like the one-string violin, and the “Circus One-String Cigar Box Fiddle Story” as told by Henry Wood to Michael Fedo.

Modify and Personalize

Learn how to personalize and modify your instrument using a woodburning pen, paint can lid, acoustic pickups, and more fun ideas!

Inside Making Poor Man’s Guitars, you’ll find various sound hole design suggestions, learn how to personalize the neck of your guitar with pyrography, explore new approaches for a custom resonator cone, and much more.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow detailed step-by-step directions, pictures, and diagrams to build 8 of your very own DIY instruments and equipment, from a beer can microphone or electric washboard to a lap steel guitar made out of a 2 x 4 inspired by Hank Williams’ “Cold Cold Heart.”

Shane has made these instruments himself numerous times, perfecting the process for you to learn!

The Author

The History

Modifications

8 Projects

“Not all legends are written in books. Sometimes they’re written inside the instruments we make.” —Shane Speal

Beer Can Microphone

Don’t throw away that can of beer, save it to build your very own microphone!

This DIY setup creates an AM radio, lo-fi vocal effect that emulates the sound of 1930’s recordings.

2 x 4 Lap Steel Guitar

Grab a 2×4 from your garage or local hardware store and you’re well on your way to creating your very own handcrafted lap steel guitar!

Find inspiration from Speal’s many modifications like adding legs, painting fret lines, and adding art to use on your own instrument.

Cigar Box Preamp

Meet every DIY instrument’s best friend: The cigar box preamp!

Achieve a deeper bass response and reduce piezo pickup feedback easily with this essential project.

Electric Washboard

You’ll love this feedback-proof design using a magnetic pickup. While a washboard rarely needs to go through a PA system, you’ll be ready when the occasion arises!

The included bonus section lists easy additions for the bells and whistles that will take your washboard up a notch.

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Fox Chapel Publishing; First edition (October 8, 2018)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 176 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1565239466
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1565239463
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.2 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.1 x 0.4 x 10 inches