Bed Pan Reso Guitar

Just finished up this Bed Pan Resonator Guitar.  Has a Maple Neck with Imperial Tuners, and a Padauk Fretboard.  There are 2 Piezo pickups inside the Vintage Bed Pan.  This one will surely turn some heads!!

Tuna Can Resonator

Finished up the 3 String Tuna Can Resonator today.  Had to make a Tuna Sandwich for Lunch just to use the can (Chicken of the Sea!).  These Tuna Can Reso's are pretty cool if you ask me.  Has a Piezo pickup installed inside the can, and has some nice volume to it.

This Hobby Really Requires Patience!

This Hobby is definitely not for everyone.  It requires the Patience of a Saint sometimes.  Every cut you make, every piece made by hand invites the ultimate screw-up.  You can make a beautiful part, and glue it to something else, and realize it's off kilter a bit.  Guess what ... the whole instrument is trash.  You cut 20+ fret slots.  Miss one by a hair ... trash!  I'm amazed at how many points there are to screw up on these.  Fortunately I've got lot's of patience.  That doesn't mean I don't screw up!

Sometimes I toss the piece.  Sometimes I can make a design change and make it work.  One thing I won't do with this is patch it up and make it work.  When you are selling something to someone you don't want stuff swept under the carpet.

Bloopers?  I had one this week.  This pic is a Three String Tuna Can resonator I've been working on.  I was just finishing up a few things before glueing everything down and getting ready for final assembly.  I finished up slotting the 3 string slots in the nut.  Notice anything odd in the pic?

When I finished slotting the nut, I looked down and realized the cool tailpiece I had crafted by hand was for a 4 String Guitar.  It has Brass inserts for the strings, and is cut perfectly to fit into a slot I cut in the Cigar Box.  Fortunately I hadn't glued the tailpiece in yet (I've learned from experience!).  So, you see a new tailpiece I started, and the original will find a new home in a 4 String Guitar in the future!  Got Lucky.


Yes ... I do make mistakes ... don't we all?

What's on your Christmas List ??

Vintage Bed Pan Resonator

Making some progress on this guitar made from a vintage bed pan.  I'm sure we could come up with some unique names for this one (Crap-O-Caster, etc.).  Anyway should be interesting.  Stay tuned.  I'll likely post a video on this one when it's done.

Rainbow of Colors for Fretboards

Now that's what I call a Rainbow of Colors!!  These are different Fretboard stock in various stages.  I've got Rosewood, Wenge, Bobinga, Padauk, Purple Heart, and Black Walnut.

Uke #61 on it's way to a new home!

#61 has left the building, bound for Louisiana.  Check out the Slideshow of the build!

Commission Uke #61 Almost Done

Just finished up the final coat of lacquer this morning on this Uke.  Next Weekend I'll string it up and give it a test drive before sending it on it's way to a new home.  Twin Piezo pickups in this one.

New Uke Commissioned

I'm working on a new Uke.  Enclosing a few pics.  This uses a Rocky Patel Box, Maple Neck, and Purple Heart Fretboard.  Much to do yet, but it's taking shape.

Vintage Bed Pan

What do you see in this pic ... a Vintage Bed Pan?

I see a one of a kind Guitar!

Call it a Vintage Bed Pan Resonator Guitar, a Crap-O-Caster, or a Barefoot Boogie Guitars Special Edition!

Not sure when I'll get to it, but it's on "The List"!

Twin Neck Ukulele - Almost Done!

What's better than a Cigar Box Uke?  A twin Necker!  I'm finishing this up for a customer.  I've been very busy lately.  This one is made from a Camacho box (still opens).  The Necks are made of Maple, and the Fret boards and accents are made from Purple Heart.  Imperial Style Tuners set off the headstocks.  The sound hole on this one was the perfect spot for my Barefoot Boogie Guitars signed Logo.  Sweet!

Sweet!

Twin Neck Ukulele

Have a customer in California that wants me to do something really different in a Uke.  So ... thought I'd make a Twin Neck Uke.  This is just a dry fit for now, but it will have both a Concert Uke and a Baritone Uke.  Looking forward to this one!

New Ukes - Vintage Boxes

These are a pair of new Ukes I just finished.  The Red Harvester (Sold) is made from a 1940 Cigar Box. has an Oak/Purpleheart Neck with Rosewood Fretboard, and a Purpleheart Tailpiece.  The La Palina is a 1930 Box.  It has an Oak Neck and Bobinga Fretboard and Tailpiece.

Video of 4 String Fleur De Lis

This guitar turned out really nice.  Had to post a Vid !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWr0ACDAhuY

Fleur De Lis - 4 String Guitar

This 4 String Guitar is made from a very large Fleur De Lis Cigar Box.  This makes a really nice guitar.  The neck is made of Black Walnut, and has a Rosewood fret board.  It has a Bone Nut, and Abalone fret markers.  The Pickup is a hand wound Ted Crocker 4 String Pickup.  Also has Volume and Tone Controls.  Another one of a kind Guitar from Barefoot Boogie Guitars!

Black Beauty - 4 String Guitar

This is a very large Cigar Box, and makes a great Guitar.  I have installed a hand wound Ted Crocker Pickup, and the electronics will have both Volume and Tone Controls.  It has a Black Walnut Neck, and Rosewood Fretboard.  The Tuners are Vintage Gibson Style Tuners with Mint Green Tuning Pegs.

It looks nearly done, but I've still got a lot of work to do.

Wish I could hold on to this one for a while, but it's a commission job, so finish and ship it is!

Vengeance Uke #55 Done!

Finished up #55 today for a customer in L.A.  Gold all around on this one.  Has a Maple Neck, Bobinga Fretboard, and a crazy headstock made from Maple, Bobinga, and Black Walnut.

Vintage Boxes

Picked up a few vintage cigar boxes, and have been getting them ready.  Have reseated the paper, and lacquered them to seal in everything.  Should make some really cool instruments.  The La Palina is a 1930 box, and will become a Uke with time.  The Harvester is a 1940 box, and will make a nice Guitar or Uke.

New Builds Underway

These are 2 new builds I've been working on for a customer.  We're going all out on these.  The dark one is Black Walnut with a Rosewood Fretboard.  The other is Maple with a Bobinga Fretboard.  The headstock also has Bobinga and Walnut laminated together.  Bone nuts, upgraded vintage tuners, etc.  Stay tuned for more pics in the coming weeks!

Another Guitar shipped out

Just shipped this Black Punch 3 String out.  It has a Maple Neck with Purpleheart Fretboard.  Is a sweet guitar.  Hopefully another Happy Customer !

Uke with an Attitude

Working on a Uke with an Attitude for a customer.  I'm pushing my envelope a bit on this one.  Upgrading all the hardware, using some exotic woods, etc.

New 3 Stringers Getting Close

Just strung these up today.  Not quite done yet (have a little bridge adjustment to do), but these are looking really nice.  The Wooden Partagas box still opens up.  It has an Oak Neck with Black Walnut Fretboard.  The Black Punch has a Maple Neck with a Purpleheart Fretboard.  I'd like to hold on to one of these for awhile, but my inventory for sale is quite low, so I may be posting these soon for sale on my Artfire and Etsy shops for $210 a piece.

Cigar Box Uke Headed to Vegas

Was contacted by Sosa Family Cigars to build a Ukulele from a Sosa Cigar Box for the International Premium Cigar Convention next weekend in Vegas. Should finish just in time!   Good times!!

New Partagas 3 String

This 3 String Partagas is nearing completion. Has an Oak Neck with Black Walnut Fretboard. Not sure what the wood is on this, but it has a really nice grain. The rounded edges really make it distinctive. Should have a sound check soon on this one.

Couple of Necks in the Works

I've got 2 Necks in the works for 3 String Guitars. The one on the left is Maple, and the right is Oak. Maple is smooth ... real smooth!

Baritone Uke #51 - Alameda

Finished up another Uke today. This is a Baritone Uke made from a Yellow Alameda Box with a tropical theme. Works very well with a Uke I think!

New Instruments in the works