Monday, May 13, 2013

Absinthe Cigar Box Guitar

I made it (with some help)!
I styled the box, stained and finished the neck and fashioned the knobs.
My husband installed the electronics, tuners and strings.
I wanted an old world feel...
Like you found this instrument in the bows of an old pirate ship,
docking in a New Orleans bayou circa 1890.
(Don't tell me there weren't pirates then...)
 
 This is truly a guitar of the world.
There are parts from Turkey, Hong Kong, and Honduras.
This is my first attempt at making a guitar and I'm very pleased with the results!
So is my husband, as he gets to keep it.
Plus, it sounds GREAT!!!

I'm going to make another one.
Of course it's going to be unique.
One of a kind.
I'm also planning a Cabernet guitar... see a theme here?

For this one, I used:
Escudero Double Maduro Sancho Panza wooden cigar box,
Henriod absinthe spoons,
Swarovski olivine crystals,
Danddukes77 four string pre-fretted maple guitar neck
with Sapele Epiphone style headstock,
Wilkinson Vintage Style tuners,
Twin bar black neck hot rail pickup,
handmade 4 string bridge,
large volume and tone knobs covered with embossed PaperClay,
bronze box corners,
Ernie Ball strings,
old absinthe art,
black, gold, and green paint and pencils,
and Mod Podge.

The inspiration for this project came about from
 Of course, where Paul McCartney is involved - my husband MUST follow suit.
Because now it's cool.
Paul's is a Baratto Cigfiddle with Resonator.
A beauty.
The Daddy Mojo Resonator models aren't too shabby, either.
But, they are built to order and take a few months.

These are really fun to make!
I bought a couple books for research:
Of course, my husband has already built several six string electric
guitars so he knew the nuts and bolts already.
I was clueless but learned a lot.
Keep strummin' and creatin'...
Carmen

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Mothers' Day Part Two

I thought I'd share some old photos of my mother,
grandmothers, and great grandmothers.
 This is my mom taking me and my little sister (in stroller)
to the Los Angeles Arboretum in 1973.
The Arboretum remains one of my favorite places to spend a day!
 My mom with use three girls in front of our house on Grand Avenue.
Check out those fancy shoes!
 This beautiful lady is my Grandma Dorothy!
She was such a wonderful grandma.
I spent as much time as I could with her.
We'd play Yahtzee, Skat, Crazy Eights, Kings Corners,
War and sip lemonade in the summer.
Everybody loved her.
She loved country western and ragtime music.
Every time she took us to Disneyland,
she'd let us ride the roller coasters while she'd sit (and dance)
and listen to Rod Miller play ragtime on Main Street.
We danced to her Elvis records the day before she died.
 My Great Grandmothers.
Dad's grandma on the left.
Mom's grandma on the right.
 My mom's family - the Millers.
 My mom and her mom standing in front of some fancy car.
My mom and her mom posing in their beautiful dresses.
I hope you were able to honor your mother(s) today!
Whether bloodline or adopted... it doesn't matter.
Have a wonderful day!
Carmen