Have You Ever Seen A Canjo?
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Before you write off the Canjo as a toy or oddity, check out the videos of it being played on Henry Hoover’s website. With a stick, a string, and an empty Spam can, the Tennessee craftsman creates an instrument that’s easy to play. At $70, it’s inexpensive enough for a child’s beginner instrument or anyone who wants to make music.
The concept of a one-string instrument goes back for generations. Hoover has adapted a modern take on this classic, displayed in his craftsmanship and style. He abandoned the usual round can (often a beer can) for a Spam can as the instrument’s resonator and only uses quality hardwoods for the strum stick.
“The can isn’t in the way of the wrist when you’re playing it. It’s reinforced so it doesn’t bend easily, and lends itself as a perfect resonator because of its shape,” he says.
Hoover’s wife Alice first discovered this unique instrument at a festival in Rugby, Tenn. She heard music and made her way to a booth of someone demonstrating how to play a Canjo.
“It was so simple and easy to play,” she says. She asked her husband if he could make one. After a few attempts, the Hoover Canjo was born.
Whether it’s your first time playing or you’re a professional, the Canjo is fun and easy to learn. The frets are numbered to follow along with music in the Canjo Songbook.
Hoover makes the bodies out of kiln-dried hardwoods. His favorite is Ambrosia maple, which has streaks of color created by Ambrosia moths/worms leaving trails in the wood. Black walnut is also in demand. He coats the wood with linseed oil to bring out the grain and protect the wood. He cuts into the wood to insert the fret wire in the proper locations and uses a quality Grover Tuner (lifetime warranty) to tighten the string for precision tuning in different keys. A grommet in the Spam can ensures the string won’t cut the can.
The Hoovers sell them along with a pick, songbook pamphlet, and basic instructions at art and craft shows as well as online. The Hoover Canjo is the only featured instrument in the Spam Museum Gift Shop in Austin, Minn.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Henry Hoover Canjos, P.O. Box 61, White Pine, Tenn. 37890 (ph 931-397-9596; www.henryhoovercanjos.com; Facebook: Canjo).
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Have You Ever Seen A Canjo? FARM HOME Novelty Items Before you write off the Canjo as a toy or oddity check out the videos of it being played on Henry Hoover’s website With a stick a string and an empty Spam can the Tennessee craftsman creates an instrument that’s easy to play At $70 it’s inexpensive enough for a child’s beginner instrument or anyone who wants to make music The concept of a one-string instrument goes back for generations Hoover has adapted a modern take on this classic displayed in his craftsmanship and style He abandoned the usual round can often a beer can for a Spam can as the instrument’s resonator and only uses quality hardwoods for the strum stick “The can isn’t in the way of the wrist when you’re playing it It’s reinforced so it doesn’t bend easily and lends itself as a perfect resonator because of its shape ” he says Hoover’s wife Alice first discovered this unique instrument at a festival in Rugby Tenn She heard music and made her way to a booth of someone demonstrating how to play a Canjo “It was so simple and easy to play ” she says She asked her husband if he could make one After a few attempts the Hoover Canjo was born Whether it’s your first time playing or you’re a professional the Canjo is fun and easy to learn The frets are numbered to follow along with music in the Canjo Songbook Hoover makes the bodies out of kiln-dried hardwoods His favorite is Ambrosia maple which has streaks of color created by Ambrosia moths/worms leaving trails in the wood Black walnut is also in demand He coats the wood with linseed oil to bring out the grain and protect the wood He cuts into the wood to insert the fret wire in the proper locations and uses a quality Grover Tuner lifetime warranty to tighten the string for precision tuning in different keys A grommet in the Spam can ensures the string won’t cut the can The Hoovers sell them along with a pick songbook pamphlet and basic instructions at art and craft shows as well as online The Hoover Canjo is the only featured instrument in the Spam Museum Gift Shop in Austin Minn Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Henry Hoover Canjos P O Box 61 White Pine Tenn 37890 ph 931-397-9596; www henryhoovercanjos com; Facebook: Canjo
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