Eddy's 3-String

HM2 Eddy Phouthaboun, a Navy Corpsman stationed at Bastion Hospital in sunny and sandy Afghanistan, recently received the San Francisco-themed guitar I made for him.

"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!

I Swore I'd Never Write Anything Political, But the Current Debt Craziness Must Be Addressed

Please call your Senator(s) and Congressmen(women) to ask that they set aside their petty political differences, to do what is right for America.  They must raise the debt ceiling now, to avoid financial default.

This is not about Democratic or Republican blame games. It's about unilaterally DOING THE RIGHT THING! NOW!

Ask them to support the President's proposal, which will keep our Nation from debt default and financial collapse.

-----------------------------------------------

I wonder why it is so difficult for some politicians to grasp the concept of asking large corporations and wealthy Americans to pay their fair share?  Why shouldn't they be taxed appropriately, when compared to middle-class Americans.

It's not difficult to figure out - all you need is to be smarter than a fifth grader. 

Politicians are owned by big business, and controlled by lobbyists.

You gotta laugh to keep from crying!  So, enjoy what Warren Buffett (probably the most honest and intelligent wealthy American you'll ever meet) has to say about it . . .

Warren Buffett, in a recent interview with CNBC, offered one of the best quotes I've heard in all this drama about the debt ceiling:

"I could end the deficit in five minutes," he told Becky Quick.  "You just pass a law that says that anytime there is a deficit of more than 3% of GDP (Gross Domestic Product), all sitting members of Congress are ineligible for re-election."

What a concept!  But, it will never happen!  The same incompetents who have screwed things up, would be the ones required to pass the law.

Oh well, a bit of humor to stall the tears, right.

It's About Friendship

This post isn't about guitars or amps.  It's about a friendship that started nearly 65 years ago, when I was a first grader.

My friend Jim lived a couple blocks away and we were pretty much inseparable throughout our school days.  We did all the normal kid stuff, and then some, when in grade school.  We learned about girls and other fun stuff in junior high.  We made money delivering sheep manure for lawn fertilizer, when in high school.  We played sports, and even drank a beer or two, trying to become young adults.  But, the most memorable thing Jim recalls about our friendship was that I used to draw horses for him . . . lots of horses.  We each loved the nags, but Jim really did have a natural and keen equestrian interest.  To this day, so many years later, he still enjoys that interest, by raising world class Quarter Horses at his New Mexico home.

So, you're asking, where is this going?

Well, after high school, Jim and I went separate directions and I lost track of him, until just a few months ago, when we reconnected, after more than fifty years.  We now write each other often, and Jim recently reminded me of his appreciation for the drawings I did for him.  I really had no idea, but it is a nice feeling to know, that after all the years, he remembered and cared.

The drawing below, which Jim is holding, is the first I've done in years, and I did it especially for my friend.

It's about friendship!

Don't Mess With An Old Gunny!

The Defense Department found that several branches of the military had too many non-commissioned officers and decided to offer an early retirement bonus. 

The DOD promised any military non-com, who volunteered for early retirement, a bonus of $1,000 for every inch measured in a straight line between any two points on his body.  The early retirees got to choose what those two points would be.

The first participant, an Army Staff Sergeant accepted the bonus and asked that he be measured from the top of his head to the tip of his toes.  He measured out at six feet  tall and walked away with a bonus of $72,000.

Next to accept the bonus was a Navy Petty Officer, who was a little smarter.  He asked to be measured from the tips of his outstretched hands to his toes.  He walked away with $96,000.

The third to take the early-out was a grizzly old Marine Gunnery Sergeant who, when asked where he would like to be measured, replied, "From the tip of my penis to my testicles, sonny!"

It was suggested by the officer administering the retirement bonus, that the Gunny might want to reconsider, explaining about the nice large payouts the previous two shorttimers had received.  But, the old Gunny insisted and they decided to go along with him, provided the measurement was taken by a Navy Medical Officer.

The Navy Doc arrived and instructed the Gunny to 'drop 'em', which the Gunny did.

The Doc placed a tape measure at the tip of the Gunny's weenie and began to work back.

"Dear Lord!", the Navy Doc cried, "Where are your testicles?"

The old Gunny smiled and calmly replied, "Afghanistan."

I love this country!

It's the government that scares hell outta me!

Back At It

Summer always brings opportunity . . . to mow grass, water foliage, putter around the flower garden, paint the winter deterioration, cook out, and perhaps to enjoy a vacation or short getaway. 

And, all this gets in the way of my real fun . . . building guitars and amps.

But, yesterday I roughed out 50 guitar necks.  The bulk of the lot is walnut, but some maple, oak and cherry round out the assortment.  The final layout and design will come with the individual cigar box or, in some cases, my own  box design.  So, I'm back in the game, to heck watering.

There are a lot of options for final guitar design . . . the casual or rustic approach, to the more refined and 'finished' result.  I lean toward the 'finished' result, but that is only because I'm more comfortable in that arena. 

I'm sure I could do the 'rustic' thing just fine, but I'm having trouble getting my head around where to begin and what elements with which to work.  It seems pretty straight forward, especially after viewing what many builders display on a couple of the more popular web sites. 

But, I think if the result is to be acceptable to me, I cannot just slap tuners onto a slab of wood, which I stick into a cigar box with sound holes drilled into the surface, lay on a couple bolts for a nut and bridge, and feel good about what I've done.

Don't get me wrong!  I like the primitive look (especially the stuff I see on Cigar Box Guitars Australia), and I want to try it.  But, not today.  Maybe tomorrow, if tomorrow ever comes.

Don't ask me why I'm dancing around about it, I cannot tell ya!

Grammas Can Be A Hoot!

Years ago, I was bringing my wife to vist my grandmother.

 Grandma never remembered that I had visited her often, so she reminded me where she lived.

"You come-a da front door of da apartmenta.  I'm inna apartmenta 301.  There issa bigga panel at da fronta door.  Witha you elbow, pusha da button 301.  I willa buzza you in."

"Come-a inside, da elevator issa on da right.  Getta in, an witha you elbow, pusha 3."

"When-a you getta out, I'm-a on-a da left.  Witha you elbow, hit-a my bell."

"Grandma," I said, "That sounds easy, but why am I hitting all these buttons with my elbow?"

"What!, you come-a witha you hands empty?"

Grandpa's Know Best!

My grandfather was aging, and with that came certain discussions, which were sometimes uncomfortable.

He took me aside one day and said, "Sonny, I wanna' you lissina me!  I wanna' you to take-a my chrome-a plate .38 pistol, so you always remember-a me."

"But grandpa, I cried, I really don't like guns.  How about you leave me your Rolex watch instead?"

"You lissina me, boy!  Somma day, you gonna be runna da business, you gonna have a beautiful wife, lotsa money, a biga home, and maybe a whole lota bambinos."

"Somma day, you gonna come-a home and maybe finda you wife inna bed with another man.  Whatta you gonna do then?  Pointa to you watch and say, 'time up'?"

A Must View!

http://www.youtube.com/v/ervaMPt4Ha0&autoplay=1

Please view this presentation created by a 15-year-old girl, who has more character than many decades older.

Our troops need our support!

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.

Hello Jess,

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.

I'm going to see if the shop personnel could make me a case for the guitar.

Well, you have a blessed night, and I will talk to you later.

Respectfully yours,
Hm3 Saulsberry

'The Chief'

I mentioned a while ago in another post that I had purchased an old cathedral-style radio at a yard sale, and was going to use it for an amplifier.  Well, I decided not to chop it up.  But, the design of it is so cool that I decided to build a guitar in that design.

Here it is.

(The inspiration for the guitar design)

The project started with a concept, and finished with what you see here.  But, along the way, it was really interesting, especially since this build is the first from the ground up.  Everything from concept to completion is my own personal design and application.

It is a 4-string electro/acoustic tenor guitar with an on-board battery powered GuitarFuel amp harness and speakers (http://guitarfuel.com/), which were supplied by my friend Ty.  There is also a headphone jack in the back panel, so the only person I annoy with my lousy playing is myself.  Ty encouraged me to do the on-board thing . . . I usually build the amp separately, but this is such a sweet application that I'm sure it is not my last.  And, it sounds awesome.  Thanks Ty!

I started with a drawing of the basic radio design and transferred it to a large piece of 3/32" maple for the front and back of the guitar. 

After cutting out the two pieces and opening the relief areas and sound holes; marking locations for the neck, pickup, speakers, etc., I covered all the openings with a dark brown fabric, which looks like wood.  I also cut an access opening in the back panel in the basic shape of the guitar body.  I need this to get to the electronics inside the body.

Then I commenced to install interior bracing and handmade purfling on which to cement the side pieces.  Once I had this done, I glued the front and back structure together.  The sides are made up of  one-piece of 1/16"  mahogany cut to give the body a 3-1/2" thickness.  This piece was cemented to the basic body structure, as was the back piece, and  voila, I had myself a 'real' guitar body.  The body was then finish filed and sanded to completion.

Next was the completion of the walnut neck, maple fretboard, and corian nut and saddle.  The walnut, maple, mahogany stock, and corian were supplied by my friend Matt, who owns a local counter top shop. 

The headstock was designed in the basic shape of the body with a very thin piece of balsa used to accent the design and to carry the TotalRojo logo.  After the pieces were cemented together, the shaping and finishing was done by hand, until I was satisfied with how it looked and felt in my hands.  Frets were added to the fingerboard, and the finished neck was laminated to the body.

The bridge is a piece of Spanish cedar designed in the shape of one of the body openings, on which the saddle and oak filled brass tube string retainer is laminated.  Inset into the bridge is a 1935 Indian Head nickle, which gives the guitar its name, 'The Chief'.

I chose a bass guitar pickup for this application, because of its compact size and design, and it works very well in this instance.

Gold tuners with wood grain knobs were installed in the headstock to adjust the strings over the 25.5 scale neck.  And, a custom designed brass string tree holds the strings in place, when riffing a hard blues number.

Finally, eight hand applied coats of poly, hand sanded between applications, finish off the guitar.

The A-D-G-B (5, 4, 3, 2) strings from a standard set of medium acoustic guitar strings are tuned D-G-B-D (open G tuning) for a bright and lively sound and tone.

The amp is fully adjustable from a mellow, earthy sound, to a quite loud and twangy presentation, and a lot of options in between.  This is very cool setup with the amp on board the guitar . . . no messing with a cable and separate amp.

If you like what you've seen and read, leave me a comment, or email me with your comments.

Thanks for visiting.

KANSAS CITY CIGAR BOX GUITAR FESTIVAL IS JULY 31!!!

The Kansas City Blues Society is pleased to present the first Kansas City Cigar Box Guitar Festival to take place Sunday July 31st, 2011 at BB’s Lawnside Blues & BBQ. Fun for the whole family, this event will feature musical performances by local artists Skaught Patterson, Shae Lee, Jason Vivone, Kevin M. Kraft with Wichita Sam Wood emceeing.

Courtesy of Cigar Box Nation.

Brittany's New Axe

HM3 Brittany Saulsberry is a US Navy Corpsman stationed at Bastion Hospital in Afghanistan. 

She says her friends call her 'Steak'.  I didn't ask why, but I'd guess that it's her favorite food.  She sings in the church choir, brings a lot of joy to hospital patients with her bright smile and witty disposition, and she wants a cigar box guitar so she can further advance her passion for music.

In her words, "Any setting of a hospital can be dreadful, and so I do the best I can to build morale.  Music heals the heart.  When it's all down, music will always be around, and it heals the body faster."

So, Brittany, here it is . 

A three-string electro/acoustic that is based on an Oliva Robusto cigar box.  It has a nautical feel to the design, which I thought would be appropriate, since she is Navy Corpsman.  Like nearly all cigar boxes, the body is Spanish cedar with an oak neck and poplar fretboard.

Share your enthusiasm with your friends and patients, and enjoy your new axe.

On the DoD Radar!

I have a stat counter on this blog, which I periodically check to get a feel for who is  visiting, and from where.  It's kinda neat to see cyber contacts from places I'll never visit, who are interested in funky little musical instruments made from discarded cigar boxes, broomsticks and screen door wire, which can be used to create music, or to swat flies.  Pretty harmless stuff, right?

Well, the other day, I checked details in the counter and was surprised to see that along with interested folks from all around the USA and nineteen other foreign countries, there were multiple hits coming daily from the Department of Defense (DoD) Network Information Center, which serves the need of POTUS, the Vice President, Secretary of Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Combatant Commanders, and other Department of Defense components under all conditions of peace and war.

Wow!, here's ol' me, a senior citizen, who has never been arrested; can fly without being on a no-fly list; hasn't had a traffic violation in more years than I can remember; don't take any medication; married to the same woman for nearly fifty years; occasionally drinks a glass of really good Chardonnay; never smoked dope; and who can still boogie to a good Bob Segar song, is being monitored by the DoD . . . Ya, that's right, the DoD!

How did they ever find BinLaden, when they're watching guys like me?

So, I Googled the reference and found it's mission:

DoD Network Information Center Mission Statement:

To provide information and services that are critical to the operation of the worldwide IP router Defense Information Systems Network (DISN), and other DoD sponsored networks.

I like my guitars, and I think they are pretty well designed and crafted, but to catch the eye of 'Big Brother', these little devils gotta be cool. 

I'm so damned excited, I'll probably wet myself . . . not sure if it's from being critical to existence of the DoD, or if it's because they have nothing better to do than to watch or monitor, (who the hell cares it's all the same), intrusion into an old retired guy's hobby building guitars for a few US servicemen/women who are serving our country and dying, in a place nobody in their right mind would visit.

I bet Leo Fender or C. F Martin didn't have the Gov watching them.  Damn, is this hot or what!

What's next? . . . a visit from the boys in a blue suit and striped tie?

More Music in the 'Stan

Today, I shipped a three-string guitar to HM2 Eddy Phouthaboun, a US Navy Corpsman stationed at Bastion Hospital in Afghanistan.

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!

Music in Afghanistan

The Afghan girls, 'Crystal' and 'Blondie', arrived at Camp Bastion a couple days ago (just over a week in route), to keep US Navy Corpsman Charles Setzer company.  Geez, it took less time for this package to arrive half way around the world, than it does to ship to Montana.  Go figure!

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!
HM@ '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.

'Sully' Is In Good Hands

US Navy Nurse LT Virginia Sullivan, stationed at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, shows us the three-string guitar I created for her.  The LT, her friend Carrie (my friend Witchita Sam built hers), and Corpsman Chuck Setzer find a little enjoyment in their free time playing their guitars.

Afghan Girls!

Let me introduce you to Navy Corpsman Charles Setzer's Afghan girls, 'Crystal' and 'Blondie'.

Crystal's long, sleek, dark, neck accentuates her slender, honey-colored and art-adorned body, and when you carefully move your hands over her smooth form, she purrs like a kitten.  The more you stroke her the better she performs.

Blondie's more compact body radiates a certain warmth, and when you turn her on, the sound can be deafening.

Whoa!  Now that I have your attention, I confess that I'm describing the cigar box guitar and mini amp that I built and shipped today to Chuck, who is stationed at Bastion Hospital in Afghanistan.

'Crystal' is a 25.25" scale, four-string, electro/acoustic guitar, based on an Ashton Crystal No. 1 cigar box, with an oak neck and maple fretboard.  The art on the front of the guitar is a selection Chuck enjoys; the eagle and Blondie are my idea; and the Caduceus is the insignia.  Chuck is a Sailor, but he considers himself more a Marine, thus the 'Devil Doc' art on the inside of the box.

 

 

 

'Blondie' is a mini amp constructed from an Acid Cigars Blondie Belicoso cigar box.  The GuitarFuel harness and speaker is powered by a 9-volt battery (AC, when using an adapter) and controls include volume, tone, and tone expander.

Stay safe and well Chuck, and come home soon.

Remember Our Servicemen/women

Remember Them!

The men and women who serve our country,

so we can be free.

May God Bless Them

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!

A Bee In Africa

Anthony Dennis is a Seabee stationed somewhere in Africa, who is receiving this guitar as a gift to show appreciation for what he and many other servicemen and women are doing to preserve our freedom.

Like other GIs, Anthony placed a message on the CigarBoxNation site asking if any of us creators could make a guitar for him to help pass the time in a place most of us would never think of visiting, especially under his conditions.  So, I took the opportunity to give back a little for all the good things that I've experienced.

This three-string electro/acoustic uses an Oliveros cigar box as a basis for the build.  A neck made of oak and a poplar fretboard is the setup.  Strings pass from an exposed tailpiece to one-piece tuners for a sleek transition, and the action is low for finger style playing (amplified sound may be a little scarce in Africa).  But, if Anthony gets the urge to crank out a little Delta Blues, he can easily adjust the saddle to add a bit more string action.  The electro part is a Piezo pickup located under the top near the bridge, which transfers sound nicely to an amp.

Give it hell Anthony!

Oh, Momma!

I took a brake from building CBGs and amps this week to volunteer at the rummage sale for our church.  Anyone who has ever done this knows that it's a boatload of work, no money, a handful of strong backs doing the heavy lifting, a weak mind or two telling everyone else what to do, but the rewards far outnumber the weaknesses.

I didn't pay a lot of attention to where the music was coming from, but when I did get curious, I spotted this old cathedral style mantle radio surrounded by TVs, computers, other radios, and miscellaneous junk, pumping out great sound.  I looked around to make sure no one was watching me sneak up on this jewel, 'cause I wanted it, no matter the cost.

Oh, momma, this is awesome!  What an amplifier this will make.  So, I beat feet over to the lady running the show and asked her if I could buy it now?  She thought about it and said, "I guess so, but can you leave it plugged in for the sound around here?"  How much?  "Is twenty bucks OK?"  I nearly kissed her.  Sold!

After I got it home, I decided I just couldn't rip it apart, it really is an awesome radio, so I'm going to install my super-duper-monster GuitarFuel amp harness inside the radio cavity with all the other wires and crap, for a real sanitary creation, which I can use in many ways for entertainment. 

It now commands a very special spot at the end of the bar in our basement, which is finished in a music theme honoring our dog Wyatt, who passed several years ago . . . the 'Black Dog Blues Bar'. 

And, after drooling over it for awhile, I got the screwy idea to build a guitar shaped like the radio, complete with cutouts and recesses, which would match the radio. 

Geez, I can't wait to get started, but I gotta finish a couple guitars and an amp for servicemen in Afghanistan and Africa, first.

See ya later, gotta go!