Let’s Get Weird- The Art of the Cigar Box Guitar- Part 1

Katy Ganaway and Marsha Arends take listeners inside the world of cigar box guitar building in this special edition of Let’s Get Weird with Katy and Marsha on Tennessee Valley Mornings. Recorded at the Cigar Box Guitar Store, the episode gives a behind-the-scenes look at how handcrafted cigar box guitars come to life just ahead of the 22nd annual Cigar Box Guitar Festival.

Store owner and builder Jeff Mello walks the hosts through every step of the process, from selecting the perfect cigar box out of more than 3,000 collected boxes to cutting lumber, shaping guitar necks, laser-marking fretboards, and fitting each instrument by hand. Along the way, listeners learn how the size, depth, and even the “hollow knock” of a cigar box can affect the sound of the finished guitar.

Listeners can also look forward to part two of the conversation, where Jeff dives into the surprising history of cigar box guitars dating back to the late 1800s and explains how the Boy Scouts of America played a role in popularizing the instruments.