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This guitar is made from a century-old cigar box

Crafted with woods over a hundred years old, this two-stringer produces tones reminiscent of the cigar box guitars of the early 20th century.

Cigar Box Guitar The Standard
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The first cigar box guitars appeared around 1890, and went on to play a crucial part in the rise of jug bands and blues. But you don’t need to hop onto a time machine just to put your fingerprints on one of these. Instrument builder Shane Speal’s latest release, “The Standard,” is a lightweight two-stringer designed to be as historically accurate and authentic-sounding as possible.

And he’s confident that you’ll be pleased with his results. “The Standard” cigar box guitar is handcrafted from a combination of two century-old cigar boxes, and, according to Speal, boasts a sound quality good enough to be used for both concerts and recordings.

This unit features designs that augment playability and tonal quality. For example, the action has been intentionally left high, which Speal says is better suited for slide guitar playing. The bridge has been widened in order to protect the fragile top of the guitar, while corner and side bracings improve durability.

This unit can be amplified, too. A piezo rod pickup comes installed right under the bridge, while an external preamp is included with each purchase.

Check out the video below to hear this piece out for yourself:

“The Standard” lists for $435. For more information, check out shanespeal.com.

cigar box the standard

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