The 2020 Homemade Banjo Build-Off! Win prizes from CBGitty.com

After the enormous success of our "Hard Times Make Great Music" instrument contest, we decided we're gonna party like it's 1869 and have a Banjo Build-Off!   

The first set of cigar box instrument plans ever published were for a cigar box banjo.  These plans were for a 5-string, minstrel-style banjo made with a wooden cigar box body.  They were based on an actual instrument from a former slave.  The banjo was quite playable, too!

We want to see you make some great banjos.  Five-string cigar box banjos.  Junk parts tenor banjos.  Hide skin bodies.  Car parts... whatever!  Gourd banjos, Foxfire-style Appalachian banjos and conventional banjos also qualify.  We're looking for you to get creative.  

That means this build-off has no limits on whether it's made from cigar boxes, cans or old guitar parts. It just needs to be a banjo type of instrument.  Here's what qualifies:

• A stringed instrument with a banjo-style 5-string neck.  (Four full strings, one half-string.)  The body style for this type has no limits.  Fretted or fretless.
• Or a stringed instrument with a fretted tenor-banjo, 4-string setup.  The body type has no limits. 
• Or a stringed instrument with a hide skin or drum head body.  Going this route means that certain world instruments such as the guimbri, mosenqo and rebak qualify!
• Or instruments that fall in between the guidelines above can qualify if you can convince us it is a banjo in your description!  This means you have one paragraph to give us your best urban legend as to why your instrument is actually a banjo.

Oh yeah... you must be the builder of the instrument.  

Here's the details:

Contest runs September 15-October 31, 2020

Judging based on artistry, originality, overall wow factor and most creative use of homemade materials.  

Prizes: 

• GRAND PRIZE - $300 C. B. Gitty Gift Certificate for 1st place
• TWO RUNNERS-UP - $100 C. B. Gitty Gift Certificate to two runners-up
• BEST DEMO VIDEO AWARD - $100 C. B. Gitty Gift Certificate awarded to the best demo video submitted.  (Note:  photo submission to the overall contest is acceptable.  This award was made to encourage you to film yourself playing and/or demonstrating your instrument.  We wanna show off your videos!)
• MACGYVER AWARD - $100 gift certificate from C. B. Gitty for the best instrument made from 100% recycled materials
• INSTAGRAM - Two random winners who enter via Instagram will be selected to win a $50 gift certificate from C. B. Gitty (See entry details below)
• FACEBOOK - Two random winners who enter via the Friends of C. B. Gitty Group on Facebook will be selected to win a $50 gift certificate from C. B. Gitty (See entry details below)
• CIGAR BOX NATION - Two random winners who enter via Cigar Box Nation will be selected to win a $50 gift certificate from C. B. Gitty.  (See entry details below)

Unlike past contests, no entries will be accepted on the CigarBoxNation.com main website.  This is simply due to a glitch in the comments section.  You can enter via Instagram, TikTok, Facebook or email.

How to Enter Via Instagram:

1.  In your Instagram feed, post up to three (3) photos and one (1) video of your entry.

2.  Add a one (1) paragraph description with your photo entry.  

3.  You must include the following in your post: CBGitty.com Build Off Contest #banjobuildoff @cbgitty @cigarboxnation

How to Enter Via Friends of C. B. Gitty Facebook page:

1.  On the Friends of C. B. Gitty Facebook page, post up to three (3) photos and one (1) video of your entry.

2.  Add the title BANJO BUILD-OFF in the beginning of the description and then a one (1) paragraph description with your photo entry.

3.  Direct links from Cigar Box Nation and Instagram are ineligible.  You must have an original post on the page. 

How to Enter Via CigarBoxNation.com:  

1.  Post up to three (3) photos and one (1) video link of your entry in the Photos and Videos section of Cigar Box Nation.   

2.  Add the title BANJO BUILD-OFF in the beginning of the description and then a one (1) paragraph description with your photo entry. 

Judges:  Shane Speal, Ben "Gitty," Baker

NOTE:  IN ALL SUBMISSIONS, INSTRUMENTS THAT WON PREVIOUS CIGAR BOX NATION CONTESTS ARE INELIGIBLE.

By entering the contest, you give Cigar Box Nation, C. B. Gitty Crafter Supply, Cigar Box Nation and PoorMansGuitar.com the permission to reprint your photos, descriptions and videos in social media.