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The Lita Ford Cigar Box Guitar by Second Fiddle Cigar Box Guitars

Heavy metal legend, Lita Ford has just been filmed playing a 3-string cigar box guitar in concert!  Swamp rocker, Christopher Ameruoso posted this video on his Facebook page of the event...and we tracked down the actual builder of this guitar for an exclusive interview!  

First, here's the awesome video:

The guitar was made by Harrisburg, PA builder, David Gilson of Second Fiddle Cigar Box Guitars.  Gilson has made over 500 instruments, including the axes played by Lita Ford and Christopher Ameruoso.

We asked Gilson to describe his style of instrument building.  Here's his response:

I build my own boxes and have gravitated to a distressed look on all my builds each with a different theme carved or etched into the front. My wife Barb does some painting on some. I use new parts, some bought from C. B. Gitty, and rust out and age the corners, tuners and bridges. 

(Pictured above:  A closeup of Christopher Ameruoso's guitar by Second Fiddle.)

I also customize boxes for customers. My lids are planed down to 3/16” and I use oak for the neck and double it through to the inside back of the box and glue and screw it in place. 

[Some of my boxes are] made from rough cut pine and hand distressed on others. I try to use as much reclaimed material as I can. 

The creative process is what drives me on. I have built over 500 guitars and am still experimenting and learning new things.

*See more photos and information at the Second Fiddle Cigar Box Guitar page on Facebook.*

14th Dec 2016

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