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Climbing over and sorting through mountains of goods, long since discarded and forgotten, she pauses to consider the life of each item that catches her eye. She imagines the past each has had, but more importantly, the future that could be. How could this be made into a guitar? Jetsam from the ship of another life is what Farley Andresen seeks to repurpose, to write a new history, to give a new voice. In this case, the voice of music. “So many items I just pass by but then every once …

While at the Summer NAMM trade show down in Nashville, I got to meet Joanna Pearl, a rising star on the LA music scene (check out her site here). She wanted a lesson on the diddley bow and suggested a novel approach - she'd operate the pick and I'd operate the slide. This video shows the result. We might not have made musical history that day, but we did have fun!This diddley bow was built from our new complete Cigar Box Diddley Bow Kit... check it out here: …

Have you ever heard what a diddley bow can really do? If not, keep reading.I first got to know T. J. Wheeler back in the summer of 2008. I was at a blues festival up in the White Mountains of New Hampshire with my wife and some friends, and to get out of the sun I ducked into a tent that was set up off the main stage. The sign said something about a blues history demonstration. I had very recently discovered cigar box guitars and handmade instruments, so I thought it could be worth a look.T …

We're excited to announce that we've signed a new deal with "One Hand" Dan Russell. Dan and his band, currently centered in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, will be hitting the studio in Muscle Shoals in the next few weeks to lay down the tracks, with an estimated release of mid-August. Dan, a former professional wrestler, has honed his musical chops through years of gigging and busking and has an awesome, energetic style. Check out the video below and stay tuned for more info! …

“I’ve got something you’re going to want to see,” Merlin Miller said, as he entered my booth at the 2015 Huntsville Cigar Box Guitar Festival carrying a cardboard box.Merlin has been building cigar box guitars and other homemade instruments for years. In addition to having a really cool first name (and he does have a bit of a wizardly look about him), he is also the father of Jon Miller, who is currently working on a “Strung Together” documentary on cigar box guitars and the people who build the …