An Axe For Sgt. John
I once again had the opportunity to ship a guitar to a Marine in Afghanistan.
Ist Sgt. John Thompson wrote today to let me know that he received it and is excited about having it. As you may imagine, his time is consumed with the job he is doing to keep us safe here at home, but he says as soon as some of his troops return from assignments, he is going to share a photo of several of them with their guitars. I cannot wait to see the group . . . another "Band In The Sand".
Here's a photo of John with his guitar. Thanks John for all you do!
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Tomorrow, I'll ship a four-string electro/acoustic guitar to another courageous serviceman, Navy Petty Officer Jeff Noack, who is stationed in Kuwait.
Jeff wrote me recently that it is the hottest place he has ever been stationed . . . '130 degrees on a regular basis.'
Perhaps a little cigar box blues will take his mind off the heat.
Thanks Jeff, for keeping us safe here at home! And, say hello to Laban Thompson.
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Bastion Hospital Gets Another CBG
US Navy Corpsman Nicki Tarant requested a CBG, and I'm glad that I'm the person chosen to provide her with it.
Like all of the folks at Bastion Hospital, whom I've had the opportunity to build guitars for, Nicki doesn't make any demands, she just would like a guitar. Well, Nicki, yours will be on the way Monday.
It's a three-string electro/acoustic ready for you to start playing. As an accomplished six-string player, you'll have no trouble making this little TotalRojo rascal romp.
Perhaps you can form a 'Sand Band' with LT Virginia Sullivan, Chuck Setzer, and Brittany Saulsberry, along with some others who have received guitars from builders on CigarBoxNation. q;-) Please say hello to them for me.
Life at Bastion is not 'cake walk', and the daily pressure of treating traumatic injuries can take a toll on the best, and my friends there are THE BEST! If I can bring a little pleasure to them in the form of a musical instrument, then I consider it the least I can do to thank them for keeping me safe here at home.
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Brittany's New Axe
The old adage, which proclaims, "It is better to give, than to receive", is true! How do I know this?
Well, read the response from Brittany Saulsberry (a US Navy Corpsman stationed at Bastion Hospital in Afghanistan), which I received recently thanking me for making a guitar for her, and look at her photo . . . the question will answer itself.
I was very busy building other guitars and amps when Brittany asked for a guitar, so I promised her one, which I had made for my personal collection. She enthusiastically said, "Yes". I was relieved to be able to get something to her soon, and she was happy, too. Read her response.
I got it finally. I got it right when I made it back to the other base, coming from Chapel . . . I was so excited. When I get on my own computer, I will email you pictures of me opening it and playing.
A British officer already taught me a twelve bar. He said that after a few times he is going to add in more for the song.
Thank you so much, and thank you for being kind while I was sick (I wished her well when she was ill), I feel so much better and I have not stopped smiling
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I'm going to see if the shop personnel could make me a case for the guitar.
Respectfully yours,
Hm3 Saulsberry
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More Music in the 'Stan
The basis for the guitar is a collectors limited edition Arturo Fuente Opus X Piramide cigar box commemorating 'The Lost City' production directed by Andy Garcia. There were only 600 of this particular box made and issued throughout the world, so he'll have a special creation soon.
Eddy wanted a design that is, as he said, "nothing fancy", but with a theme that would reflect his home and remind him of San Francisco. So, on the back of the body is a collage of photos that should do the job.
I love being able to share my creations with new friends serving us in the military, in a place I would not visit under the best of conditions. I have the greatest respect for them . . . not one time has any one of them complained about the job they are doing . . . something many of our citizens stateside could learn from. Talk about working in a hostile environment for minimum wage!
Eddy and his friends are my heroes!
(Eddy with his new 3-string cigar box guitar)
"We've been incredibly busy at the hospital lately," Eddy writes, "and it just just leaves me drained of all my energy. I just want to go to sleep when I get off duty, but random loud speaker announcements prevent it."
"I love the CBG, and I've learned a couple songs already. I have it with me today at work, and I plan on practicing during my breaks. It gives me an excuse to get up and get outside to enjoy some fresh air and blistering sun, but it's well worth it. Thank you again so much for the CBG, I love it."
Several days ago, I checked temperatures around the world and discovered that it was 115+ in the 'Stan, with no relief in sight. And, I can only imagine how busy they are at Bastion, with the ongoing fighting insurgents, but my new friends NEVER complain about their jobs. I think many of us could learn something from them.
Thanks, Eddy, and all the others, for what you are doing!
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Music in Afghanistan
Chuck got his guitar, and this is what he had to say:
June 8, 2011
Hey Jess,
I just got it yesterday. It came into the mail center and I picked it up as I went to work. I love it! Several others at work were very impressed too. After I finished with the only patient I had last night I just sat up and played all night long. It's very cool. I love the artwork and the finish. It looks amazing! My friend Eddy and I took turns with it. I took several pictures as well. Thank you so much for taking the time to make this for me. I am very grateful and it's already helping to take my mind off of some of the crappy things here in Afg.
I threw in a desert sunrise picture just for the hell of it, and I threw in a picture of a box of rocks. Sometimes the box is smarter. I just thought that was kinda funny. It's a door stop in the hospital, but growing up my mom always used to say, "he/she is about as smart as a box of rocks". So, that made me laugh when I saw it.
Well, I'm off to the gym, before I go to chow, then to work. I'll be taking Crystal with me to work every night. It's nice to have a faithful woman at my side, who can make me feel happy.
:) he he.
Thanks so much!
HM2 'Chuck' Setzer
I will continue to build cigar box guitars, if for no other reason than to share them with the people who give so much, so I can enjoy security and freedom here at home, what better way to say 'Thank You' to them. They are my heroes!
Photos of Chuck . . .
Yes, it's packed well. That's not a bottle of hooch by the chair, it's the amp.
OOH, I think Chuck likes his lady!
Afghan culture looks like a concrete wall.
How dumb is that?
The start of a breathtaking 120+ degree day at Camp Bastion.
Nothing like an early morning sunrise to make things look good.
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Anthony Got 'The Bee'
EO2 Anthony Dennis, a US Navy Seabee, stationed somewhere in Africa received his cigar box guitar today, and the following is what he had to say:"Jess,
I received the coolest thing anyone has ever made for me. This cigar box guitar is amazing and more than I expected to receive when I made the post (CigarBoxNation). I will have this one for the rest of my life and I'm sure it will be passed down to my son one day. This guitar will always remind me of the appreciation people have for what we do and mark another deployment down. This is truly the highlight of this deployment, thank you very much.
Anthony Dennis"
Stay well, and safe, my friend!
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The 'Sully' is on it's way to Afghanistan
I mentioned in a post yesterday that I created a CBG for US Navy Nurse LT Virginia Sullivan. Well, It's on it's way to Camp Bastion, Afghanistan.This is not only one of the most personally rewarding guitars I've built, but I think it is the best sounding of all. It has a nice mellow tone, which is attributable to the hardwood nut and saddle, I suspect.
The basis for the guitar is a Cohiba cigar box, oak neck and poplar fretboard. It's a very straight-forward three-string guitar, which I chose to make acoustic only, because it will be easier for Virginia to enjoy in the Afghan sandbox, without messing around with an amp.
Lt. Sullivan (left) and her friend Carrie (Wichita Sam made her
guitar) are having too much fun.
