Let’s Get Weird- The Art of the Cigar Box Guitar- Part 2

Katy Ganaway and Marsha Arends continue their visit to the Cigar Box Guitar Store for part two of their conversation with cigar box guitar builder Jeff Mello ahead of the 22nd annual Cigar Box Guitar Festival.

This time, the focus shifts from construction to sound, history, and performance. Jeff explains how factors like pickup placement, scale length, capacitors, and wood resonance all contribute to the signature tone of a cigar box guitar. He also introduces listeners to piezo pickups, which capture not only the strings, but the vibrations and percussion of the guitar body itself, creating a gritty and expressive sound.

The episode also explores the deep roots of cigar box guitars in American history. According to Jeff, homemade instruments crafted from discarded cigar boxes date back to the 1850s, shortly after cigars were required to be sold in boxes. By the late 1800s, cigar box instrument instructions were even published by Daniel Carter Beard, helping popularize the instruments through early youth publications connected to the Boy Scouts of America.

The Cigar Box Guitar Store is located in Studio 106 at Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment. More information, store hours, and custom instrument inquiries can be found through the store’s website and social media pages.