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Thin-topped cigar boxes deliver magnificent tones to homemade instruments. The drawback is they may require a little extra bracing to become guitar bodies that are made to withstand the abuse of stage and studio.  In this video, Shane Speal shows how to use common corner molding from a big box hardware store to quickly brace the box up. This simple tip can be used on just about any cigar box intended for guitar building.  Watch the quick video below to see Shane's tip. After …

The Cigar Box Guitar Festival at Lowe Mill in Huntsville AL returns June 2 & 3, 2017 with ten acts appearing over the two days.  This is the longest running cigar box guitar fest and is proudly sponsored by C. B. Gitty Crafter Supply.  The 2017 fest also features instrument building workshops and a full marketplace of cigar box guitar vendors.Headliners include Hymn For Her, Microwave Dave and Edward David Anderson.   Here's the main info:The Cigar Box Guitar Festival at Lowe …

Turn your 2x4 Lap Steel Guitar into a console lap steel with this simple mod using three table legs! The simple tripod setup gives a sturdy foundation at just the right height for you to sit and slide away!You'll need:a C. B. Gitty 2x4 Lap Steel Kit (completed with a 2x4 plank)Three 27.5" table legs from Lowe's or any other big box hardware storeThree angle mounting plates for the legsHere's the simple process: …

C. B. Gitty Clear Acrylic Fretboards come with laser-cut fret markers on the underside, giving a beautifully clean look to DIY lap steels (especially ones made from 2x4's).   Lately, I've been placing Pearloid drum wrap material underneath them for a classic look.  However, the fret lines become washed out a bit and camouflaged in with the pearl (as seen in the left side on the picture above). To make them pop, I've come up with a simple way to darken the fret lines.  …

As it turns out, quite a bit - check out this guitar's amazing (and ongoing) story below.For a while now, I have been working on finding ways to help my homeless friend Connan down in New Orleans. A couple of weeks ago, I decided to auction this guitar off and donate the proceeds his apartment fund. During that period, we also started a GoFundMe fundraiser to help our friend Dan Sleep, who is fighting pancreatic cancer. Dan helped run Cigar Box Nation for years and has been a huge part of the ci …