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On a request from a long-time customer, Ben Gitty recently sat down to arrange tablature for the beloved Scottish song "Flower of Scotland". This piece, often thought to be traditional, was actually written in the 1960's by Roy Williamson, a member of the Celtic band The Corries. It quickly found its way into the hearts of Scottish folks all around the world, and is one of the country's unofficial national anthems (it does not have an official anthem). We are happy to present it here as a free d …

Early in the summer of 2021, I embarked on a two-week 8,400-mile solo journey around America by train. This adventure was equal parts post-modern walkabout, mid-life crisis, and long-awaited escape after two years of COVID lockdowns.My sole companion throughout this momentous journey was my trusty little Hobo Fiddle, a style of cigar box guitar I created a few years back. It’s a funky little thing, a cross between a ukulele and a guitar, envisioned with the goal of building the sort of instrumen …

Shane Speal's latest four-string cigar box guitar combines a wide array of CBGitty.com parts into an alternate-reality, retro blues machine.  Follow along as he describes the gumbo of parts, techniques and creative ideas behind it.  Here's a quick intro video highlighting the fantastic tone of this machine...Photos, video & text by Shane Speal Above: A collection of CBGitty.com's resonator covers, displayed in front of the half-built Reso Electro.  A second H …

Electrifying your cigar box guitar or other homemade instrument build can be a very rewarding experience. Being able to plug into an amp not only gives you more volume, but it opens the door to a huge range of effects that would not otherwise be available. And it is a proven fact that having a pickup in a guitar makes it easier to sell - being able to plug in and rock out evokes images of Eddie Van Halen and Slash and is sure to get any would-be rocker's blood pumping.Our Disc-o-Tone pre-wired p …

Metal box corners come in a variety of styles and finishes. From low-profile surface-mount types to long-legged trunk corner styles, they are a great way to spruce up your homemade instrument builds. In addition to their decorative appeal, they also serve useful structural roles. For instance, they can be used to effectively keep your cigar box closed, so that you don't have to rely on the flimsy box latches. And of course, they serve their original protective purpose quite well, keeping …