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Can An Apple Branch, Popcorn Tin & Waterskis Become Guitars?

Can An Apple Branch, Popcorn Tin & Waterskis Become Guitars?

Nearly anything can be made into a musical instrument. All it takes is a little creative thinking and elbow grease.

My first cigar box guitar was from a kit. Because of that, the components were already chosen, and instructions on how to assemble them into a guitar included. And even though it wasn't me that decided on what things made it, I was astounded at how awesome my first cigar box guitar looked and sounded.

It's remarkable that with a cigar box, a 1 x 2 stick, and a handful of hardware, I had made a fully playable, and totally awesome, 3-string guitar.

That resourcefulness and repurposing of everyday items is part of what's so darn cool about cigar box guitars and other folk-style handmade musical instruments.

The Strangest Things Can Become Guitars

In this week's Watt Corner you'll see how some strange things have been given new life as musical instruments. 

There's a waterski turned lap steel guitar, a popcorn tin made into an upright bass, and a tree branch turned into a guitar neck. 

Plus, you'll see some excellent craftsmanship on display with some other cigar box guitar builds and the works inspired by them.

First up in this week's Watt Corner is our friend Dave G. whose creative spirit inspired him to build this gorgeous custom hollow body 3-string guitar.

Custom CNC Hollow Body

Custom hollow body 3-string by Dave G.

Custom headstock, front, by Dave G.

Custom headstock, back, by Dave G.

"This is a custom hollow body I made using a 2 x 12 of Southern Yellow Pine and cut out on my Gatton CNC" wrote Dave. "The body is milled out leaving between 1/8" and 3/16" as the guitar body top. I then stained the body with a Minwax Red Mahogany and added several coats of clear lacquer on both the body and the neck. The neck is glued in. I am super pleased with the quality of the C. B. Gitty pre-fretted necks and that Deltabucker sounds awesome. Special thanks to Ben and all of the Gitty Gang!! I'm from McDonough, GA, the home of the Georgia International Cigar Box Guitar Festival." 

This guitar really is a work of art. 

That Dave made the body himself on his CNC machine makes this build extra special. 

And it's an honor to see C. B. Gitty components used in this custom build.

Nice work, Dave!

C. B. Gitty parts used include:

Next up is a build that really cuts to the core of the cigar box guitar community. 

Thomas K. shared with us his simple and beautiful cigar box guitar he built using an apple branch for the neck.

Apple Branch Neck Guitar

Apple branch-neck 3-string guitar by Thomas K.

3-string cigar box guitar, apple branch-neck, by Thomas K.

Wrote Thomas about his build, "It's an electric three-string made from a apple tree branch." 

Do you see the bark Thomas left on the tailpiece and what appears to also be some of the neck? It looks marvelous!

Now if that ain't DIY, I don't know what it is. 

And I love how, in the first picture, you can see the the organic, non-linear, tree branch growth.

There are these little turns and bends that help make the guitar look alive. 

Really cool stuff, Thomas!

C. B. Gitty parts used include:

Here's something, while sorting through customer submissions to our website, that caught my eye: a popcorn tin used by Larry R. for a bass guitar body.

Popcorn Tin Upright Bass

"This was a really fun project and took some extra engineering to get the string alignment along the neck correct" wrote Larry about his upright bass. "You might try one yourself."

Part of why I enjoy this instrument so much is because of my fond memories receiving popcorn tins, like the one Larry used, filled with 3 or 4 types of popcorn every Christmas.

If only I had saved all those tins...

Some really nice touches on Larry's bass are the curtain rod support repurposed as a tailpiece and the beautiful handmade bridge.

Given how cool this upright bass is, hopefully Larry keeps his creative eye out for some more unique musical instrument inspiration.

Now, even though it's winter up here in New Hampshire where the Gitty Shop resides, there's plenty of our community in warmer climates.

And those more temperate locales have objects specific to those areas that we don't see a lot of up here.

Case in point is this lap steel build, under construction with Jimi B.

Water Ski Lap Steel

Waterski lap steel guitar by Jimi B.

"I have seen shovels, oars, frying pans, shotguns and fence posts made into cool guitars" writes our friend, Jimi B. from his home down south. "I have never seen a classic old waterski turned into a lap steel until now. All parts from C. B. Gitty except the ski. Simple hand tools and a little sweat equity. Almost done. Easier than it looks." 

The gorgeous mahogany ski, sanded and refinished, with the appropriate parts make for one heck of a unique lap steel guitar. 

Big thanks to Jimi for including C. B. Gitty parts on his instrument and for sharing pictures of it with us!

C. B. Gitty parts used include:

Last up in Watt Corner is a set of fine cigar box guitars built by Joe S. 

Blue Ribbon Winner

3-string Camacho by Joe S.

3-string cigar box guitars by Joe S.

Virginia State Fair ribbon winning diddley-bow and 3-string cigar box guitars by Joe S.

Wrote Joe of his builds, "These are a few of my projects. Two of which -- the Mark Twain box and the single string diddley-bow -- took first and second place ribbons in this years Virginia State Fair. All are acoustic/electric."

Each of these builds clearly had a discerning touch applied during the construction process. 

Joe builds some really nice instruments, and it surely isn't just me who thinks that: winning first and second place in the Arts & Crafts event at the Virginia State Fair is evidence many others appreciate Joe's work.

Congratulations, Joe. You won some well-deserved ribbons!

C. B. Gitty parts used include:

The Wrap-Up

And that's a wrap on Watt Corner.

As you can see, an apple branch or even a waterski under a creative eye can be turned into a wonderful handmade musical instrument.

Hopefully these photos have inspired you to see some of the objects that surround you just a little bit differently.

Who knows? Perhaps you'll build something no one has seen before!

If you do, and even if you don't, please share photos of your builds using C. B. Gitty parts and kits to this link. 

From there we'll share you builds on our website and maybe even Watt Corner!

14th Jan 2019 Glenn Watt

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