Cigar Box Guitars Look, Sound Unique

2022 - Volume #46, Issue #3, Page #20

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Cigar box guitars have been around for more than 150 years and there’s still a lot of demand for them, says Tim Wall of Thundaburke CBGs in Whitakers, N.C. He’s been making customized cigar box guitars full-time for the past five years.
“They date back to the Civil War when people didn’t have the money to buy a guitar. They’d build one,” he says.
Cigar boxes are made of cedar that doesn’t rot. Bugs don’t like them and they’re light, so they vibrate well. They have a very distinct sound.
“I’ve been a musician all my life,” he says. “When I saw my first one, I thought to myself that I’d never seen anything like this and bought it on the spot.”
After buying multiple cigar box guitars, Tim’s wife, Lisa, suggested he try to make one. Tim’s years as a machinist came in handy when he started the project.
He started with one, built a second, which grew into three guitars, and then it took off from there. As his business grew, he began selling at his local flea market, music festivals, and through his online Etsy store.
“I’ve got a shop out back, and I go out there and build every day,” Wall says. “I can build a simple CBG model in less than two days. Normally, I have several going at the same time.
“I’ll cut the boxes, make the necks, get them all sanded and stained,” he says, “and then I’ll start putting them together, which is the easy part. Getting to that point takes time.”
He also does custom guitars, which are fully electric, fully fretted, fully toned, and completed in about 20-30 hrs.
“I can do just about anything on a guitar,” Wall says. “If they have a certain kind of guitar they like, I can make one that looks just like it. I’ve done a lot of what I call ‘tribute builds,’ including cars, hot rods, and many other things.”
He makes just 3-string and 4-string guitars because 6-string guitars are “a whole different animal.”
With all the guitars he’s made during the years, he still has a favorite that has a unique name.
“I call it Old Grumpy,” he says with a laugh. “It’s just made out of an old metal desk drawer with a little rust on it. It’s a 3-string guitar that has an actual upside-down dog bowl inside of it to use as a resonator. That gives it a unique sound.”
Prices vary based on what each customer wants on the CBG. The most recent prices on Wall’s Etsy site range from $130 to $225.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Tim and Lisa Wall, 112 South New St., Whitakers, N.C. 27892 (ph 252-673-2051; timlisa@embarqmail.com; www.etsy.com/shop/Thundaburkecbgs).

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Cigar Box Guitars Look Sound Unique FARM HOME Novelty Items Cigar box guitars have been around for more than 150 years and there’s still a lot of demand for them says Tim Wall of Thundaburke CBGs in Whitakers N C He’s been making customized cigar box guitars full-time for the past five years “They date back to the Civil War when people didn’t have the money to buy a guitar They’d build one ” he says Cigar boxes are made of cedar that doesn’t rot Bugs don’t like them and they’re light so they vibrate well They have a very distinct sound “I’ve been a musician all my life ” he says “When I saw my first one I thought to myself that I’d never seen anything like this and bought it on the spot ” After buying multiple cigar box guitars Tim’s wife Lisa suggested he try to make one Tim’s years as a machinist came in handy when he started the project He started with one built a second which grew into three guitars and then it took off from there As his business grew he began selling at his local flea market music festivals and through his online Etsy store “I’ve got a shop out back and I go out there and build every day ” Wall says “I can build a simple CBG model in less than two days Normally I have several going at the same time “I’ll cut the boxes make the necks get them all sanded and stained ” he says “and then I’ll start putting them together which is the easy part Getting to that point takes time ” He also does custom guitars which are fully electric fully fretted fully toned and completed in about 20-30 hrs “I can do just about anything on a guitar ” Wall says “If they have a certain kind of guitar they like I can make one that looks just like it I’ve done a lot of what I call ‘tribute builds ’ including cars hot rods and many other things ” He makes just 3-string and 4-string guitars because 6-string guitars are “a whole different animal ” With all the guitars he’s made during the years he still has a favorite that has a unique name “I call it Old Grumpy ” he says with a laugh “It’s just made out of an old metal desk drawer with a little rust on it It’s a 3-string guitar that has an actual upside-down dog bowl inside of it to use as a resonator That gives it a unique sound ” Prices vary based on what each customer wants on the CBG The most recent prices on Wall’s Etsy site range from $130 to $225 Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Tim and Lisa Wall 112 South New St Whitakers N C 27892 ph 252-673-2051; timlisa@embarqmail com; www etsy com/shop/Thundaburkecbgs

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