This is a website about homemade guitars.
Since the 1860's people have used old wooden boxes of all types to craft themselves a homemade guitar. They used scavenged or found lumber to crudely fashion into a guitar neck, and just with simple hand tools and a little creativity the music know today as the Delta Blues was born.
Instead of just talking about those times from long ago, let's just take a short trip back in time and listen.
Here is a song recored on a 3 string guitar - no amplifiers or electronics were used...just an old fashioned acoustic 3 string cigar box guitar
I have several different music albums and how to play lessons for sale on this site. I also ship standard DVDs and CDs in the mail.
If you need help or have any questions email me at john@reddogguitars.com
All of the music and videos on this site are only made with homemade 3 and 4 string guitars - No regular guitars were used or recorded.
A lot can be done with a homemade guitar, you can record old time blues with little effort, but you can also record modern blues styles.
These guitars have a naturally vintage sound that doesn't require much effort to play and sound well. You can let the guitar work for you because the tone is so unique.
When I was in my teens, I was totally fascinated with learning how to play the guitar. I tried to learn from many teachers. I had a very skilled guitar teacher, but when he spoke it was so confusing to me. He spoke clearly, but it was all just too perplexing for my ears.
I was not the type of person who could grasp, "it's a G chord with this note as the root....or it's with a minor 7th,...or it's an F#"...and so on.
I remember thinking to myself, "How am I ever going to learn?"
I also found it too hard and frustrating to learn by trying to memorize fretboard maps or layouts with charts and dots from math that I didn't understand in the first place. I just wanted to be able to enjoy learning how to play the guitar.
As for me, I love hearing that old time deep southern blues. It makes me feel like I've been transported back into the past to a simpler time long ago. So in the end, I have spent 30 years studying and learning many different guitar techniques and styles. In the process, I've learned how to play guitar by feeling and ear. I can now teach you how to play the same way.
This DVD is not like the other standard "hard to learn" guitar courses
On this DVD,
NO math is involved
NO scientific music theory
These lessons are different. I will explain how to play guitar using easy to understand terms and concepts so you can play and create your own music that will sound compelling and moving to hear.
These lessons have been broken down into small easy to learn step-by-step building blocks that we will then put together to achieve an authentic old time vintage sound. With just a little patience and practice, you'll be able to create dramatic and captivating music without using difficult math or music theory.
Listen to this youtube video and let's take a step back in time,
Imagine a time long ago and a farmer sitting in a rocking chair on the front porch after a long days work in the fields. He's holding in his hands a homemade guitar that was made out of an old used cigar box and some scraps of wood.
He's just sitting there relaxing and not thinking too hard about how to create music. He didn't have a computer or cell phone to compare himself to others. He's just sitting there playing guitar on a breezy afternoon without a care in the world. He's having fun and entertaining himself playing songs that his heart and ears can enjoy. - If he can do it, so can you.
These guitars are rewarding to play. Anyone can learn to play one with just a little time and patience. Thanks for your time and if you have read this far, email me with any questions.
If you would like a Physical DVD in mail click here
any questions email me at john@reddogguitars.com
This is a Delta Blues cigar box guitar music CD disc that was recorded using 3 sting guitars.
My goal with this album was to take the listener back in time the early 1900's as if you were actually there... to relive those old dust bowl recordings and ghost towns from long ago.
I set out to record these songs to sound and feel as authentic as possible. The music on this disc was played on several different types of 3 string guitars. I've also used resonator box guitars and a few different cigar box guitars that had various types of open tunings.
There is no singing or band and no regular guitars were used on this album.
If you would like a Physical CD in mail click here
have questions ? email me at john@reddogguitars.com
If you would like a Physical CD in mail click here
Shipping for CDs in the mail is about 10 days
I can mail you one anywhere world wide.
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Cigar box guitars are fun and easy to play. These guitars have a naturally vintage tone that sounds like they're from the past. It's also easier to learn how to play a cigar box guitar than it is to learn on a regular guitar - But, just as enjoyable as they are to play, they are also fun and easy to build.
If you would like to build your own guitar that can capture that old-time classic Delta Blues sound, this DVD video will show you how to build a great sounding guitar that sounds like it's strait from the 1930's.
This video covers several types of guitars, both 3 and 4 string as well as resonator guitars.
I share what to do about the body of the guitar, the wood for necks, how to fret the neck and homemade fretting like a pro - and yes, fretting a guitar neck is easy, even if it's your first time. All done with only basic hand tools. I also cover headstocks of all types and so much more than you could ever get from a book or watching random endless youtube videos....You will save many hours of trying to learn on your own.
I will show you how and what I do when I build guitars in my shop. Everything is explained from start to finish. It doesn't matter if this is your first time building or your 10th. After you study and watch this dvd you'll build a better and more resonate sounding guitar.
When I build a guitar to record with, I like the 'sound and tone' of my instrument to land somewhere in between the 1890's and a pair of rusty Hot Rod exhaust pipes :-)
The recording possibilities are endless, here's a short youtube video,
Here is a short sample list of the basic tools you will need,
- a small hand saw
- small hand pliers
- sandpaper and wood glue
- a small hand drill
- pocket knife
- small hammer / or rubber mallet
- a few small screwdrivers / Phillips type
- a quality ruler (I prefer Metric) Buy a steel ruler, It's the most important tool you'll own
As you can see, these guitars don't require expensive tools. Another aspect that I really enjoy about building these guitars is that they are easy to complete. They don't require a major commitment.
Homemade resonators are fantastic to play. The strings sit on a bridge that pushes down on a cone that is held upright inside the body of the guitar. When you strum, it vibrates the center of the cone and it provides amplification without electricity.
If you're trying to recreate that hair-raising deep slide gritty down home blues from the 1920's and 30's than this is the type of guitar for you. These instruments are a thrill to play. They have a crisp metallic bell like tone with a sound that is full of sustain and volume. The sound they produce is so vivid and incredible....and if you add an electric pickup on the guitar and plug it into an overdriven amplifier it will turn into a rude little screamer!
There are many guitarist who play only this type of guitar and nothing else. The projection of tone is so phenomenal they can become the only guitar you'll ever want to hold in your hands.
- The parts to build cigar box resonators are for sale online in many places. The cones are specialty parts designed and made for these guitars, but if you want to build in the Lo-Fi style, I also explain how to use paint can lids and other items that also work well as resonator parts. If you live in Europe or the United Kingdom there are makers of these custom parts available for sale in your part of the world. They are also available for sale in Australia.
Here's a recording of a homemade resonator this was captured acoustically open air with a microphone right in front of me,
If you have read this far, thank you for your time. I know this information was a lot to read but I only wanted to be factual and state what is offered on the video. This dvd will save you a lot of time from making mistakes and it will help you build a better sounding guitar.
Email me with any questions you may have and thanks again, John
If you would like a Physical CD in mail click here
3 String Blues guitar from days long ago.....
I also have a book on the subject of cigar box guitars.
You can click below the "Cart Button " and there is a link for the shipping page - Worldwide Shipping
In this book you'll find lots of old and antique photos, old blues history with homemade guitars, vintage stories and plans of "how to builds" and much more from the past. Many of these images have never been seen or published for over a 100 years.
There's also lots of cool photos of modern 3 string guitars, 4 string guitars, Resonator guitars and hot rod amplifiers.
This is a fun book for anyone who enjoys learning about the history of cigar box guitars, you'll read it many times. The photos alone are a treasure to view. You'll look at this book over and over.
Thanks for giving me the opportunity to share my music and videos with you. I am just one person who is super passionate about the hobby of homemade guitars. To me there is many many lifetimes of exploration a person can do in this hobby. You can learn and explore both the craft of building them....but also, playing them and then there is the art of recording with them.... and making recordings for video such as soundtracks, that is a whole world in itself! Much of this music has taken many years to put together. I hope that you have an appreciation for all the time and effort I put into it. You can always see my newest stuff on youtube.
Still here??? I'm running out of room on this site....
Here's something to leave you with,
I have lots more videos of these guitars, check out YouTube,
to see more guitars - visit to the full Red Dog Guitars website at this link
