Cigar Box Guitars #82 & 83

Finished these up today.  Will do some tweaking on the string height over the next couple of weeks, and then they will hit my ETSY site for sale!

Tuna Can Reso Guitar

Somewhere underneath all those clamps is a Tuna Can Resonator guitar.  I'll probably need to make some Tuna Salad tomorrow to get the can!

Tuna Can Resonator Guitar

Have been working on this Tuna Can Resonator, and wanted to figure out how to attach the neck without visible screws on the front or back.  Came up with this idea, similar to a truss rod cover, except it's on the body instead.  Underneath will be 3 screws securing the neck to an oak block in the body.  Should be functional and good looking I think!

Muriel Cigar Box Uke

Just finished up #81 today, a Tenor Uke made from an Antique Muriel Senators Cigar Box.  It has an Oak Neck and Bobinga Fretboard.  The nut and bridge pieces are made of bone.  The fret markers are abalone.  Bridge has a piezo rod in it for hooking up to an amp!  Should hit my Etsy site next weekend.

Time to get back to these two Ukes I started awhile ago.  Got busy with other things.  They are old vintage boxes that I've been working on.  Necks (Bobinga Fret boards) are getting close as well.  I've got some Rod Piezo's on order which will find a home in these.

Hub Cap Guitar

Finally finished, and strung it up.  What a unique guitar!  Check out my Facebook page and ETSY site for Barefoot Boogie Guitars for more info.

Hub Cap Guitar

Still working on my Hub Cap Guitar. I got the controls and pickups positioned and set. I also got the nut shaped and installed, as well as the bridge. Using my Godin Hybrid guitar on the right as a guide to set the string distance at the nut, and the heights of the nut and bridge. Next weekend, I'll probably get the electronics wired up ... my least favorite part. But then I should be about ready to do the final assembly and give it a test drive!

Hub Cap Guitar

Making some good progress on my 6 String Hub Cap Guitar.  I've got the neck shaped and sanded.  Just finished oiling the fretboard and installing the frets.  I got the Piezo Pickup installed in the bridge, and the cutout's all in place for the lipstick magnetic pickup in the neck position.  Hopefully will be able to string it up in 3-4 weeks!

Hub Cap Guitar - Progress for the week

Been working on the neck mostly over the weekend, shaping the back of it.  It takes a lot of work when you do it by hand.  I've got much more work to do.  Anyway, several parts came in, so I got to work on the Bridge, which has a Piezo Rod in it.  The Tuners are also here.  Can't figure out which knobs I want to use ... the Red Dice, or the Chicken head knobs.  Any thoughts, let me know!

Hub Cap Guitar

Making some more progress on the 6 String Hub Cap Guitar.  I've got to order a radiused sanding block to set up the fretboard properly as well as some other hardware.  We're getting there!

Hub Cap Guitar

Progress pic of my Hub Cap Guitar build.  That's it for this weekend!

Hubcap Guitar

Making Progress on the Hubcap Guitar!

Hub Cap Reso Guitar

Whew ... done for the weekend.  I've got the ring all glued up and cut.  Have a little sanding yet to do, and with time will need to notch it for the neck (not looking forward to cutting the notch in the steel hubcap, but it will get done).  Have to order some thin stock Cherry to make the soundboard on top.

Should make a very interesting guitar!

Thinking of starting a new project using a Ford Hubcap.  Still playing with the wooden ring to get it right.  The Hub Cap was very deep (off large truck), so I cut id down a bit.  I may make this into a 6 string guitar.  The hubcap will be the back, and I may do Cherry for the sound board.  We'll see ... still figuring out what I want to do.

Vintage Reso Guitar and Uke - #77 & 78

Just finished up this pair.  The Reso Guitar is made from an old Cedar Cigar Box, and an old Thrift Store metal bowl.  It has a Piezo Pickup embedded in the bridge, and a Mag pickup in the body.  Bi-colored Pauduck fretboard.  The Uke is made from a vintage Cigar box (likely 40's) and has a great color.  Uke should go up for sale soon on my ETSY site.

Love the way these turned out ...

Still working on this Vintage 4 String Reso Guitar.  I'm excited to see how it sounds. I used an old Vintage Cedar Cigar box ... a thrift store metal bowl for the Reso ... and a very cool dual colored piece of Padauk for the Fretboard.  Definitely one of a kind.  It has a Piezo Pickup embedded in the disk on the reso bowl, and will have a borrowed Mag pickup from a Fender Strat.

Definitely a Barefoot Boogie Guitars original !!!

Vintage Box Builds

I've got a couple of Vintage box builds underway.  There's an old Cedar Cigar box that is going to be a tricked out Resonator 4 String guitar.  The other Vintage box is destined for a Tenor Uke.  I'm excited about both!

Pics from the Jake Shimabukuro Concert in Virginia

Here's some pics from the Jake Shimabukuro concert in Virginia in April as part of the Virginia Arts Festival 2012.  Was a great time, and Jake loved his new Uke!

Vintage Resonator

Whenever I start a project, I play a bit with what the possibilities could be. After staring at this old vintage cedar cigar box (courtesy of my father), I've decided to put this thrift store metal bowl inside the guitar (sitting on a platform to let it ring), and make a 4 string resonator guitar out of it. Not quite sure how I'll secure the neck yet, but I'll figure it out. 
Follow along ... more pics in a few weeks.

The Coleman Special

Here's a short video of a recent build called "The Coleman Special".  Just sent off to Virginia to a new home.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NFY7DkKe_I

Striped Padauk

Picked this piece of Padauk recently, and was struck by the 2 toned color.  This is going to make a very unique fretboard!  Had to buy it...

Matchbox Blues

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTCvf07QKPA&list=UUrddmKXh0_btJj-j5eOE8mQ&index=1&feature=plcp

Two new Ukes

Just finished stringing up these 2 Ukes, and we'll let them rest a bit before any final tweaking.  Really like the way they turned out.

Test drive of the Crap-O-Caster

 http://youtu.be/mNTv3

Couple of Ukes Underway

Here's 2 necks that I'm making good progress on for a pair of Ukes.  In the pic, you'll see a Maple Neck and Padauk Fretboard, as well as an Oak Neck with Walnut Skunk-stripe and a Bobinga Fretboard.

Pretty cool.

Cigar Box Guitar - 4 String Rocky Patel Aged 12 Years

Starting the New Year with a Black Rocky Patel.  It has an Oak Neck and a Bobinga Fretboard.  The hard tail has brass inserts and a strap button.  Has a Piezo pickup inside, so can be played acoustically, or plugged into an amp.  Will go on Sale in a few weeks