About Lane Cigar Box Guitars
Introduction...
Let's start out by acknowledging that I am not a "luthier". Those guys are trained, experienced and skilled at doing fine finish-work, building instruments from raw materials, and creating premium/boutique instruments for the most discerning players. Don't insult them by referring to me as a "luthier". I am more of a mad-scientist who takes a mix of raw materials, aftermarket parts, "pull-offs" (parts/components removed from decommissioned pre-existing instruments) and my "just knowledgeable enough to be dangerous" woodworking/finishing skills to take "upcycling" to the next level.
I've been a "guitar tech" for almost as long as I've been a musician, and I implement some of my resourcefulness and know-how to make playable art. Cigar Box Guitars have been around in the USA since the 1800's, inspired by Celtic, African and other cultures' ingenuity to create instruments from a myriad of materials. Most CBG aficionados stick to the tried-and-true 3- or 4-stringed guitars made by tooling a wooden rod (usually something akin to a 2"x2") through an empty cigar box, often with a combination of existing parts/hardware and DIY design, with varying degrees of acoustic and/or electric capabilities. Those are fun, inspiring and can create some awesome music. But what if it could do...MORE?
I'm by no means the first cat who's ever pulled a neck off an inexpensive electric guitar, bolted it to a plank of lumber, attached it to an old wooden cigar box and strung it up, and years ago I saw where some guys were even making pre-made kits to let someone make their own instrument in a similar (if not entirely authentic) configuration. We full-6-string CBG creators are the minority, for sure, and I'm good with that, because I do appreciate what some builders are doing with the more "traditional" 3-/4-stringers. But what about us weirdos? So that's where I started having bizarre ideas about how far we could push this "box-o-caster" style, and how to make it something that could be appreciated as much by the indie artist looking for something kitschy/ironic/lo-fi to add to their arsenal as the delta-blues fan wanting to pull out his bottleneck slide for some raunchy, raw blues, or the Americana player seeking something "rootsy" in appearance or sound.
My instruments cover all the bases. Do you want that more traditional piezo-under-the-lid tone---or multiple piezos for blending/strange-phasing/etc? You got it! Want the full-electric experience with a single-coil or humbucking magnetic pickup? You got it! Want a fully adjustable contemporary bridge to get the best action you can on your instrument? Check! How about a special rubber-bridge for those plunky, deadened lo-fi indie tones? A ultra-short-scale tuned to an open-G for some wicked slide playing? Or a full-scale BASS? Whether you're a folkie, a shoegazer or a metalhead, I've got it covered. You can pick the "dealer's choice" with a standard 25.5" scale neck and a toploading "Strat-style" bridge with either humbucking or single-coil pickups, or you can special-order the other popular 24.75" scale for "Les-tension" and a slinkier feel. Maybe you even want a long-scale "baritone" style neck or some other off-the-wall combination rarely (or never) seen in CBG Land. Or what about a portable cigar box amp to sling over the other shoulder to go busking in the park with???
Go ahead and take a look at other builders on Etsy and beyond, and see what comparable (or not-so-comparable) instruments are selling for, and you'll see the occasional nicely-built model or two, but you'll see a LOT of rough-looking, thrown-together basic CBG's offering less versatility costing as much as or much more than what I'm charging. Why should I charge $700 or more for a simply-designed pre-built CBG? For something totally "custom" or featuring premium parts/electronics, sure. But by keeping my own costs low, I can crank these out and get one in your hands for about the same as a good quality "entry level" name brand instrument. Check out my photo albums regularly for available pre-built creations and feel free to message me with any questions you may have. Or reach out and tell me what you'd like to see in your own personalized CBG and let's see if we can make it happen. My CBG's are a great combination of rustic/raw and refined, with a priority on playability to the point where you can feel as comfortable performing onstage with one of these as you would your nice factory-made "real" electric.
Scroll through the posts on my Facebook page (facebook.com/LaneCBGs), or go over to the photo albums to see the guitars available (as well as ones which have been sold). If you're a fellow guitarist who appreciates something a little quirky and different in your arsenal, there will be something for you---or something that will inspire you to want one of your own. You can contact me through the Facebook page or directly at LaneCBGs@gmail.com and let me know what kind of features you want in your own personal build.
Remember, I am not just the maker, but I'm also a user myself, and most of my prototypes that have already been re-homed to other players have been praised for the quirkiness, playability and surprisingly-nice tone from my "experiments". By thinking "outside the box", I can make what goes on/into the "box" into something you can be inspired by. So...let's do this.
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