null
Watt Corner: End 2018 Right With These Awesome Customer Builds

Watt Corner: End 2018 Right With These Awesome Customer Builds

This is the last Friday in 2018. Therefore, this is the last Watt Corner of the year!

And what a Corner it is.

2018 is filled with so many fantastic handmade musical instrument photo and story submissions from you, our friends and fellow builders.

In turn, each Watt Corner segment on The Gitty Gang Show has been an honor to curate and share with the rest of the world.

How Watt Corner Works

If you’re unfamiliar with how Watt Corner works, here’s a brief run-down before we get to the amazing submissions we’ve received the past week.

Shortly after you make a purchase from C. B. Gitty Crafter Supply, you receive an email from us with a link. That link allows you to share some pictures of, and a bit of story about, what you built using the parts or kit you bought.

To share those pictures, all you have to do is follow the link in the email.

After uploading your photos and sharing some of your thoughts, we receive your submission and share it on cbgitty.com.

Then as the rest of the world clicks through our website, they get to see your killer cigar box guitar or other terrific handmade musical instruments.

This way you get to proudly display your builds without having to mess around on social media. And you also inspire other people with your creativity.

Get Seen By More People

Here’s a little trick to ensure that your photos inspire as many people as possible. During the submission process, you’re asked to enter which C. B. Gitty products you used on your build. The more products you accurately enter, the more likely your build is seen, thereby inspiring more builders.

How cool is that?

Then each week I go through all the submissions to pull out a few to share on The Gitty Gang Show.

I’ve got to tell you, choosing which photos to share is no easy task.

Watt Corner is not a popularity contest.

Instead, it’s an effort to bring together a handful of entries that represent the spirit of the cigar box guitar community and handmade musical instruments.

With a few more scrolls down this webpage, you’ll see what I mean.

This being the holiday season in the U. S., we received a bunch photos of builds that were Christmas presents for loved ones and many included a heartwarming story.

And as always, we got some downright wild pictures of guitars the builder understandably intends to keep.

So now that you know what Watt Corner is about, and how builder photos make it there, let’s get to your awesome submissions!

The Last Corner Of 2018

First up we have Jason R. who built some stellar ukuleles for his nephews.

Jason R. built ukuleles for his nephews

"I built these ukuleles for 3 of my nephews. I used C. B. Gitty fret wire and grommets. The necks, fretboards, and bridges were made out of red oak. Apparently they’re still their favorite gifts, which says a lot since they also received an Xbox for Christmas." - Jason R.

I think it goes without saying, the gifts you gave your nephews, Jason, will make a better impact on their lives. Good on you, Sir!

C. B. Gitty parts used include:

Next up is a sweet lil' gitty built by William F. 

A 3-string CBG built by William F. for a friend's grandson

"Built for friend's grandson. Mahogany neck, cherry fretboard, all parts C. B. Gitty." - William F.

Gotta tell you, William, it's a pleasure to see that boy smiling and knowing that you included us in your gift. Thank you!

C. B. Gitty parts used include: 

Here's a Gittylele (our terrific and fully DIY ukulele) built by Phil D. for a gift to a love one. 

"I built this uke for my niece for christmas. Turned out nice. Has a nice tone and plays easy! Fun little instrument." - Phil D.

As you can see, Phil added his own flair to the Gittylele, making his gift a personal one. Really nice work, Phil!

C. B. Gitty kit and parts used include:

Now, not every guitar is a gift; sometimes the build makes a nice sale to buy more parts! Here's a rockin' electric 3-string CBG built by Eric S.

Rockin' electric 3-string CBG built by Eric S.

"I bought this box a while back from Gitty's and it's been sitting around for the right project. A guy came along and he said he wanted a heavy metal 3-string and this is what I came up with. It's a Pinar Del Rio box with a Jarrah neck. The fretboard is maple with Indonesian rosewood binding. The headstock is African rosewood and the tailpiece is a 3-ply laminate of jarrah and macrocarpa. Skull tuners and knobs with a single humbucker pickup. I had a bit of a play about with different grades of strings and by chance hit on a combination that works really well. Even if I say so myself, it has a really warm deep rich tone. It'll be interesting to see just how much of that remains after he plugs it into his bank of amps and distortion gadgetry." - Eric S.

No matter what gets played on the beauty, it's bound to sound awesome, Eric. That guitar rocks!

C. B. Gitty parts used include:

It's hard to follow that showpiece built by Eric S. However, I think we've got the right guitar next.

Built by longtime Cigar Box Nation member and super-talented artist, Davy L., here's a one-of-a-kind guitar with loads of personality. 

It's the Psycho Cat three-string. 

Psychocat 3-string by Dave L.

Psychocat oil painted design custom-printed on a C. B. Gitty box kit for Dave L.

"I got a box kit that and provided a picture for C. B. Gitty to print on top. It went together easy as the parts fit perfectly. I also got a pre-slotted fretboard and set my own C. B. Gitty med/med frets. The frets went in easy and tight. I’ll add a basic piezo pickup with shielded cable. I’ll use hot glue to set the piezo disk into a bottle cap. Details yet to add to finish my Christmas project." - Dave L.

Anytime I see something from Dave, I know it's filled with his character and talent. Thank you so much for sharing this with us, Dave!

C. B. Gitty kit and parts include:

Speaking of instruments with loads of personality, check out this 4-string cookie tin guitar built by Danny J.

Danny J. with his 4-string cookie tin guitar

"Christmas cookie tin with a 4-pole pickup and a 2x4 wood neck and custom fretboard." - Danny J.

That guitar is a diamond amongst the jewels surrounding you in that photo, Danny. That's one cool gitty!

C. B. Gitty parts used include:

Here's another personal project by talented builder, Jim B., who's rightfully proud to share his work.

American Eagle guitar built by Jim B.

American Eagle guitar with C. B. Gitty parts built by Jim B.

"I built this cbg for myself, because I am proud of being an American and proud to show people that I am. When I saw the box, I knew I had to have it and I knew what I wanted to do. The neck is walnut with maple fretboard. It has a "We The People" fret sticker on it. The guitar is fully electric, with double humbuckers and a hard tailpiece. This is the first one I built that I have done like this. The head stock was a fluke, because I wanted it to be different from other ones that are out there. I have sprayed the box with shellac first, then sprayed the color and afterwards sprayed again with shellac and then three coats of poly." - Jim B.

In terms of pride for your country, I know where you're coming from, Jim. And I love this guitar you've built.

C. B. Gitty parts used include:

As if that guitar and accompanying thoughts weren't cool enough, Jim also shared the following heartfelt story along with the license plate guitar he skillfully crafted.

License plate guitar built by Jim B.

Chrome wrapped license plate guitar by Jim B.

"This CBG is acoustical and electric. The plate was given to me over 40 years ago from my grandfather who told me to put it away and save it for that day. Well that day came. I built this CBG with him in mind. My grandfather was a professional cabinet maker, so when I started building CGB's I figured I had big shoes to fill and I hope that I made him proud. This plate was on my grandfather's car when I first saw it and asked if I could have it some day and that's when he took it off and told me to save it.

Well as you can see it is a real plate that the Florida highway patrol cars have on their cars. And since this was from the 70's and we all knew back then a car had real chrome bumpers. So I made my box and vinyl wrapped it and for the slots on top and bottom they represent the grill of the car. Which I used plastic backing from a yarn rug kit. The neck I bought from C. B. Gitty a while ago. All in all I love this CBG and when I play it, I think of that day that my grandfather gave it to me and I always wonder if I made him proud. Love you gramps." - Jim B.

There's nothing more moving in the cigar box guitar world than a story like that. Thank you so much for sharing it with us, Jim. 

C. B. Gitty parts used include:

Next we have a big an' awesome 3-string guitar built by William C. who used a host of C. B. Gitty products to build this work of art.

"Really like the flat single coil pickup to avoid digging into thru neck." - William C.

Not only are those soundholes terrific, but the combination of the Hubcap resonator cone and Wickedbucker pickup makes for one sweet build!

C. B. Gitty parts used include:

Here's another wonderful guitar built with a loved one in mind.

"This is my first build, it is a gift for my father who is a retired police officer, which is why I countersunk the badge and surrounded it with acrylic, and used 25 cal. bullet casings for fret marker. All the actual working parts were purchased at cbgitty.com." - Larry B.

What a thoughtful way to honor your father and his years of civil service as a police officer. Good on you, Larry. You've done your father proud.

C. B. Gitty parts used include:

Heartfelt touches to handmade musical instruments don't just come in the form of familial gifts. Here you can see the outstanding work Terry put into this 3-string guitar.

"This guitar has a wolf which is woodburned on the surface of the box, and then stained using several different shades of stain. The neck is stained the shade of the box and I applied recessed pennies into the neck. The sound hole, box corners, the bridge on box and the keys are all for C. B. Gitty Crafter Supply. I have added a piezo pickup with a volume knob. Sounds pretty awesome." - Terry M.

Really, I couldn't pass up sharing Terry's guitar. His woodburning is exquisite, making for an amazing guitar to behold.

C. B. Gitty parts used include:

Coming up next is another beautiful gift. Just check out the clever placement of the picture which happens to be the same person receiving the gift.

"Cigar Box Uku-Leila. Soprano scale. Repurposed neck. C. B. Gitty low profile nickel plated corners. Vegetable steamer tailpiece. Soundhole picture of my daughter Leila to top it all off!" - Richard W.

Let me tell ya, Richard, I don't know if it gets better than that. Great work out of you, man.

C. B. Gitty parts used include:

And last, but certainly not least, is this marvelous photo of Ben and his family holding the cigar box guitars they built together for gifts. 

"How does a dad inspire his three teenage daughters to spend time with him? Building C. B. Gitty Guitar Box guitars! Thanks to your supplies and instructions we built a dozen of 'em. None of our friends and family know yet how to play 'em but it'll make for a great New Years resolution." - Ben L.

That, Ben, is one of the coolest things I've seen this year. Good on you for including your daughters in such a wonderful endeavor. I hope the memories you have from this last forever.

C. B. Gitty parts used include: 

The Wrap-Up

And there you have it. 

The last Watt Corner of 2018!

Big, big thanks to each and every one of you who shared your work and stories with us! Thanks also to the entire cigar box guitar community for being such an uplifting and encouraging band of builders.

Here's to the great times we've had and looking forward to another outstanding year in 2019.

Like my dear friend Ben "Gitty" Baker says, "Build what you play, and play what you love."

28th Dec 2018 Glenn Watt

Recent Posts