The Greatest Gift of All is the Act of Giving: Mike Boswell and his Breast Cancer Awareness Guitar

With his cigar box guitar built with breast cancer awareness in mind, Mike Boswell knows well the grace of a gift.

The soulful, haunting melody of Amazing Grace hangs in the air. Mike stands back, grateful to witness the performance on a guitar he built.

Although he doesn’t yet play his own instruments the way he’d like, hearing what can be done with his work is inspiring.

Mike Boswell is a builder and like the lot of us, he’s got a thing for cigar box guitars.

The performer gives a high appraisal of Mike’s guitar, suggesting it should command a handsome sum of money. After sitting with the instrument a few more days, Mike instead gives it to the man who made the instrument sing with such grace.

Although it isn’t payment Mike seeks, he is given the greatest reward in return as the performer sheds tears of joy, and shares in a moment of true gratitude.

In Service of Community

After his wife told him that he needed to “make a ‘girl’ guitar, that it was under-represented in [his] guitar line” Mike set out to make one.

When his wife spoke to him about a teacher in their community who had been diagnosed with breast cancer, Mike knew he had the perfect opportunity to touch someone’s life in a positive way and to help encourage cancer awareness for others.

As with many of us, he has seen and known the struggle one can have with this disease. “Cancer has touched my life in several ways, my brother had to have a cancer removed from his neck.” says Mike. “I personally had a skin cancer removed from my face, a good friend of mine died of liver cancer, and the list goes on.”

Mike does sell some of his cigar box guitars in this “self supporting hobby”, as he likes to call it.

However, the satisfaction of selling an instrument pales in comparison to the act of giving. He says that with the “breast cancer awareness guitar, again the reaction and the satisfaction I got when I presented it can't be bought or sold.”

Although the list of recipients does not end there, the reactions are often the same; they’re of genuine appreciation and gratitude.

Common Beginnings

Like so many, Mike stumbled across cigar box guitars while on the internet. In fact, to this day, he’s built the only CBGs he’s ever seen in person.

“Being fairly handy in the wood shop, I said ‘I can do that’. And I did. The first one I made I found some used tuners, I used 6 penny nails for the frets, I used tarp eyelets for the sound holes and a piezo from a buzzer I got at the Radio Shack. It was crude but I was proud of it. I am really glad I found CBGitty for all my parts now, it really took my building to another level.”

Having been bitten by the building bug, Mike has embraced his hobby. “I build for personal satisfaction, I love being creative, and this is one of the best outlets I have found.”

“I am always in search of a new idea for my next build. I have built bedpan guitars and ironing board guitars. I go on CigarBoxNation.com to see what other people are doing and get ideas from that.”

Paying it forward

Mike’s involvement in his community and the joy he shares with it is part of what makes building so special.

“Everybody I show them to has never seen or heard of them. I am trying my best to change that.”

“I always try to give [people] some history of CGB'S and educate them on the subject. They are always very well received. I have even sold several of them to people that just want them as a display piece.”

Most important is his service to his community. This is evidenced by the breast cancer awareness guitar he has built for the teacher who can use all the positivity she can get.

“Any time you can brighten up someone's life with something you do, be it art, time, talent I encourage you to do so.”

And do so we shall, Mike. Thank you.