The CBG Builder Podcast

Well this episode is a few weeks old but , as happens in life, things got hectic. There is a you Tube version of this episode available at 'The Cigar Box Guitar Builder' You Tube channel.  Geoff can be reached via his You Tube channel where he teaches how to play popular songs on 3 string box guitars. He is building a fantastic following and has a great catalogue of songs to learn. A HUGE thank yo...

In this episode the team and I talk about being a grandparent (not me), me being the oldest team member (I know right!!!) and we answer your group questions. We also discuss being a full time, professional builder and why it can be difficult.  A HUGE thank you to all those people who are continuing to support the audio podcast. It's something I started in 2016 and I am having a ball working with D...

Oh my gosh! So much happened today! I promise I tried to do the video casting today but it didn't work. My WIFI is too slow for me to connect with Messenger. We are going to try a ZOOM meeting next. However the screen recorder worked but I had the audio OFF! It's a learning process. I'll see if i can put the audio and the video together some how.  Today Alex and Jessie took us through all the expe...

I don't like license plate guitars. I've never been happy with the sound of them when I've built them. The team and I have a chat about the problems associated with building license plate guitars (LPGs). Chickenbone John had some great comments regarding LPGs on one of my videos on 'The CBG Builder' You Tube channel recently that shed some light on some of the issues. We also discuss such diverse...

In this episode your Four Amigos discuss our latest builds and whether or not it is fair to compare piezo pickups to magnetic pickups. What do you think?  Do you know that we have our own website where you can purchase T shirts and CBGs to help support the show.  www.thecbgbuilder.com Joe Oltean, Darren Macdonald and Jesse Thomas can be reached via the Facebook group You can see what I have been u...

Make no bones about it, Burt Philbrick is a VERY busy man. He builds an amazing array of 3 and 4 string guitars and CBGs, records amazing doom metal songs and videos and also has time to help people on our Facebook Group.  This is the first time that we have had five people on the podcast at one time and I want to say thank you to the team for being so awesome. You guys make this so much fun.  In...

Thank you for tuning in to this week's episode with Brayden Finchum from American Heritage Guitars. Brayden is an inspiring builder who makes one of a kind creations including some amazing washboard instruments. You can see Brayden's amazing work at; https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanHeritageGuitars You can see what I have been up to on the Facebook group and at www.birdwoodguitars.com Thank you fo...

Welcome back! It's 2025 and I can't believe how quickly last year flew past. It's been a hectic time for everyone and I hope this year brings all of you much happiness and prosperity.  In this episode Jessie, Darren and I discuss such things as a possible group contest, YouTube influencers, website options for people who want to sell their instruments and workshops. As usual we tend to go well off...

For the first time the Four Horsemen of the Rockapocalypse are together to spread Christmas cheer and shoot the breeze about all things CBG. We don't promise a high brow conversation but we do promise a fun time:) You can contact Jesse at Hummingbird Guitars at https://www.facebook.com/HummingBirdGuitarsbyJesseThomas Joe can be contacted at Clutch Creations at https://www.facebook.com/guitarsbyclu...

This week we have a catch up with moderator and all round good guy, Jesse Thomas. Jesse has been a constantly busy group member who specialises in building a whole range of incredible solid body guitars and cigar box guitars. Dazza has found a lifelong buddy in ply-wood crime! We have now got a dedicated website for The Cigar Box Guitar Builder, where you can buy cigar box guitars, t-shirts and ot...

Blues Boy Jag, AKA Bill Jagitsch is an elder statesman of the CBG movement. I've followed his builds and videos for years. He has some fantastic advice for players and builders and some great build tips. We have now got a dedicated website for The Cigar Box Guitar Builder, where you can buy cigar box guitars, t-shirts and other merch to help support and advertise the channel.  www.thecbgbuilder.co...

I don't use the term 'master builder' often but it perfectly suits today's guest. Joe Oltean is as humble as he is talented. His use of laminating, fine Japanese style crafting and an eye for the finer aspects of woodwork truly elevate the CBG to atmospheric levels. Joe also builds extremely playable instruments and can tear up a fretboard like a beast. He's a great bloke and we are very lucky to...

There are days when I really think that I should never have started selling my guitars. I look at my Facebook group friends and marvel at the work they are doing. I'm often very envious of those builders (like our friend Darren Mac) who build for themselves purely for the love of it. TBH though, it's been a saving grace over the years (financially) to be able to sell them. So, spend some time with...

Rusty Taylor is one of my go to guys for great ideas and awesome builds. He builds for the love of it and does so with a great deal of gusto! He is humble and always happy to offer advice when needed and has been doing so for much longer than me! We seriously could have talked for a heck of a lot longer!!  The best place to listen to podcasts is in your workshop or on long drives. You can download...

We had so much fun talking to Alex. He is the genuine article, a builder who builds using whatever he can get his hands onto. His traditional building style provides him the opportunity to build truly unique instruments ranging from watering can diddly bows to twin neck and triple neck instruments. We hope this episode provides you with the inspiration to build something individual and personal. T...

This week, Darren and I had a conversation with Loui La MAnna CBG builder and all round good guy. Louie lives and breathes music and loves to share his passion for building and playing with friends and strangers alike. He is happy to travel for hours to organise and attend festivals and promote our amazing craft.  Thanks again to my friend Darren for joining me on this CBG extravaganza.  We have n...

This week, Darren and I had the pleasure of speaking with the very cool 8 Ball Aitken. 8 Ball is one of the hardest working musicians to sling a CBG and he is full of helpful tips for builders and players alike! He has had an awesome career playing and recording the music he loves, rocked fans around the world and he knows what makes a good CBG.  You can find his work at www.8ballaitken.com as wel...

Cindy Morris has to be one of the busiest people in our cigar box guitar community. She and her partner Steve Arvey are tireless advocates and ambassadors for CBG music for both players and builders. Darren and I are so thankful for her help and support while we figure out how to promote our cause here in Australia. Hopefully you will be inspired to consider putting on your own events, whether the...

This week we were meant to be joined by Cindy Morris. However a scheduling problem arose so we will reschedule for next week. Thank you for your patience this month as a few issues arrose that prevented me from uploading an episode. But, we are back!  On this scintillating and extravagant episode, Darren and I talk about building CBGs (SHOCK HORROR!!), building a work shed, Shane Speal's new Youtu...

This week Darren and I had the pleasure of speaking with Steve Arvey. Steve has been a tireless advocate and ambassador for the cigar box guitar community. He is a player, occasional builder and organisor of cigar box guitar festivals in the States and has travelled to Europe and Australia playing and promoting all things cigar box guitar. Darren and I were blown away by Steve's positivity and gre...

Darren and I were blown away by the awesome videos that the group put up on the CBG Cover Band Challenge. This week was AC/DC and the winner was George Huston. Well done mate! This week is CCR. I would like to compile all the videos into an archive for reference for group members so get those videos in! Please consider joining THE CIGAR BOX GUITAR BUILDER group https://www.facebook.com/groups/1293...

I have been a big fan of Michael Pinkerton and his Facebook group, 'Fretless Cigar Box Guitars'. He is what I would refer to as an inspiring and humble master builder. He uses hand tools to craft the most wonderful menagerie of incredible exotic and blues 'n' roots instruments. Darren and I were both gob smacked by his builds, some of which I have uploaded to the group.  Please consider joining TH...

What do you do when you hit the doldrums? When inspiration dies? When everything just sucks??? That is what has afflicted both Darren and myself over the last few months. There are things you can do. Most importantly, we are here to listen to you. Post your worries in the group. There are literally thousands of wonderful people here who are more than willing to help you up.  Another question I pos...

Today, Darren and I discuss the ins and outs of building a cigar box guitar business. Of course, our points of view are just that. Please feel free to comment in the group or here. Darren and I love building CBGs and we thank you for listening to the podcast.  You can see what I have been up to on the Facebook group and at www.birdwoodguitars.com Thank you for supporting the show and an enormous T...

Today, I got the opportunity to interview another one of my CBG heroes! William 'Bill' Jehle is an author and CBG enthusiast who is also a physicist! He is the author of, 'One Man's Trash',2010 and 'Cigar box Ukulele' 2016. If you are interested in cigar box guitars you NEED to buy 'One Man's Trash' A history of the cigar box guitar.  He has just released a new book 'The Cigar Box Guitar Amplifier...