2 String Fretless Bass Cigar Box Guitar - Demo.

[@TheScreamingFrog916]

You are the queen of cigar box looping ❤ Long live the queen!

[@bemuzic]

ha, cheers!

[@airgunbubba2505]

Woah!!! I love the sound it makes with the slide. Dark and swampy blues sound. Congrats on the build!

[@bemuzic]

Cheers, it was a fun and easy build :-)

[@boden_gamerboy6139]

@@bemuzic is it accoustic electric? or do i need to use my amp for it?

[@shepherdcrow9971]

3 years later and I am still watching this clip !

[@sublime88sublime]

This is really awesome indeed. I was really feeling that jam you had. Take a look into a man by the name of Mark Sandman from the band Morphine. He is very well known for his application of the 2 stringed slide bass. Cheers from Boston!

[@saabriety]

Just starting out on bass & followed a link from some guy playing Ravel on a 7 string bass, yours is so much more inspirational, thank you.

[@mikestaples9044]

Ha!! LOVED this. This was posted 11 years ago but it found a new listener today. Thank you.

[@bemuzic]

cheers..it amazes me that so many people have watched this video?!

[@rickhenry1833]

Amazing job Lass ! ! I'm glad you went your own direction and didn't follow the other builders advice. All the Best !

[@bemuzic]

Cheers ☺️

[@pipercub45]

Stumbled across this video after watching a three string build. Fascinating! Thanks.

[@trackie1957]

Love it! That creative journey is pretty much what I go through - one of the parts doesn't fit the original concept, change the concept! Nobody will know what you intended when you started, they only care how it looks and sounds in the end.

[@bemuzic]

Ha yes, that applies to both instruments and songs!

[@zarroncello1]

you're a genius! just for the amazing jam! 2 chords, a little bit of eletronic, and it seems like a group!

[@bemuzic]

ha, thanks, yeah that loop pedal is great!

[@dummyguava]

I liked your rambling. I like how your plans and ideas changed - I've built a few cigar box guitars myself and enjoyed how I was never quite sure how they were going to end up. I might have to do a CBG bass now!

[@D.E.Middleton]

Outstanding! Thank you.

[@bemuzic]

Cheers :-)

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

It's basically a Rectangular Bodied version of Mark Sandman's Slide Bass.

[@chrisosh9574]

I love the sound of that, and the sink plug is genius. I found a nice wine box at a market over the weekend, I am thinking about trying a bass so thanks for posting this.

[@bemuzic]

Cheers, good luck with yours!

[@alleyjagger7184]

Hanx! I'm a new builder, (i built the ripoff of a vox in the photo) i toyed with the possibilty of a cigar box bass- and discovered your video! it sounds really cool!!! by the way, you don't ramble at all; it's quite nice to hear what someone is actually thinking without any pretense... cheers!

[@keving4081]

WOW! So talented and way to modest. Thank you.

[@bemuzic]

Cheers

[@TheMrdhyde]

Great build. Don't let anyone tell you how you should build your instrument . You learn from each build and get better with your very own style of creating. Your's will have a unique sound and life of it's own.

[@bemuzic]

Thanks, and yes I agree it's best to try things out for yourself. Even if it goes wrong you learn from it...

[@wardone5]

Excellent execution. Design thought. Simplicity and talent. Great job. Especially the looping effects. Brilliant.

[@bemuzic]

thanks!

[@danielpecheny]

Congratulations for all your work from building the instrument to playing it, showing how you make the loop adding sound, it shows how much you enjoy it, thanks for sharing it!

[@charlesmarquardt4420]

I have built 6 CBG's , a lap steel and a ukulele . You have inspired me to build a CBG bass next !

[@bemuzic]

thanks, I now have a Boss RC-30, but used to have an RC-20 XL which I was using for this.

[@buddytedesco9502]

You are solid core.....that was so awesome a demo....I'm duck taped to an aluminum pole spinning around backwards like a water wheel...and loving it....that was so awesome....

[@bemuzic]

lol, thanks for your great comment : -)

[@MaladyKayjo]

The finger methods is used to mute the strings above, the thumb method doesn’t do that so you have mute the strings in some other way

[@alfaomegaenergia]

it's always nice to see someone to play the music, and to play with the music. thanks for sharing your creations...

[@jdubya7139]

"I don't know anything about playing bass" And then proceeds to rock the house. I wish I didn't know how to play bass the same way you don't.

[@bemuzic]

Ha, thanks

[@brarunasunburn7794]

Sound really nice,and looks same,is the first video that i saw with the advertising at the beginnig to skip the talk part but i really enjoy your talk :D good luck with your neck without truss rod,the sound is very distinctive and unique

[@ProfessorZaitsev]

I have to say, as soon as you got out the slide and played a couple notes... my face lit up....sounded amazing!

[@bemuzic]

thanks : -)

[@h7oslo]

Always good to see you, and hear you play, B ! rc

[@bemuzic]

+Rusty Case cheers : -)

[@Photo4Corners]

Impressive, and it has a good tone too! I like the way you create background rhythm and lead bass tones into your composition, using a slide as well. Excellent!

[@E5Bobby]

You, young lady, can do more with two strings than many people could do with six or more strings. Your little ditty stuck in my head like the one done by tampbaybutterfly. Have you heard him play? Reminds me of you in that he's deeply talented. Thank you for sharing your talents with the rest of the world. Oh, by the way, what you played wasn't rubbish without the frets; it was very cool music!

[@CowboyX1000]

Nice job. In making these guitars there are no rules but plenty of advice. Great use of a loop pedal. I gotta get one of those. And cool discovery about feedback. The plug is simple and effective!

[@WhatIsTheWheel]

Sounds great. I have been wanting to do a bass and hearing this one really helped motivate me. I like the feed back demo at the end. I always do a sound hole, but I am going to give a try without one after seeing this as feed back with the piezo can be trouble.

[@bemuzic]

thanks. I was using a Boss RC-20 XL and the amp was a Roland Bass Cube 30

[@sherree10]

That's so cool. I love the way you make and play your instruments. Just watching you gives me a little hope. Thank you for sharing with us.

[@bemuzic]

thanks..I used to have the Boss RC-20, but now have the Boss RC-30. Can't remember which I had when I made this vid, but one of those!

[@WastelandSeven]

Very cool! And as to quote one fellow I heard in a tutorial say, "This is a cigar box guitar.../don't over think it!" And I think you do know what you're doing too ;) Good bass work, and good use of a loop pedal. And a nice tip on killing feedback! :D

[@ianainsworth7]

A bassline within a bassline. I like it.

[@bemuzic]

thanks, yeah a lot of the old blues guys did stuff with very few chords, but if it has the right feeling it works!

[@jpomalay3367]

you rock Miss ,I'm totally amazed your way of playing and style ,respect,and also want to tell you just did a good job ,

[@bemuzic]

thanks a lot JP : -)

[@truelokos]

The sound is awesome of your 2 string bass and the whole compass is outstanding. Great job!

[@djmaur]

I haven't made mine yet, but I found these strings which require are shorter scale, but require less tension than the strings most people are familiar with. Classical Bass Guitar strings, 6 string (70cm). Tuned 4 notes lower than standard classical guitar. Silverplated copper on nylon wound strings La Bella

[@trailkeeper]

Even though the strings are high off the fretboard, you can still continue the design with an angled wedge of wood glued onto the fretboard to even out the action.

[@gushutchinson8758]

4th time I have listened .... i really like the style ... bit Mark E Smith , bit CAN , bit mirror man , Kandy kORN , BIT- TRUST US ,,,, BEST YOU TUBE VIDEO FOR YONKS... sick of the average axe shredding blokes ! ... FRESH AIR ... TA !!!!

[@trackie1957]

Funny, I thought I was the only one who used the bottom of the box as the top of my guitars! There are several advantages, not the least is access to the inside. Often the more ornate boxes have paper/MDF tops but wooden bottoms, so using the bottom can sound better. I like to put a nice finish on it, but you have to be careful with sanding. The cedar veneer is usually pretty thin.

[@bemuzic]

Yeah, easy access to the inside is certainly handy...

[@positivity5307]

Not rubbish at all! Brilliant instrument and demo! You should have sold the sound hole as a clever, deliberate effects generator for Hendrix feedback prodigies. It's the first thing I'd play with! Great job!

[@bemuzic]

ha, thanks...maybe I should patent that plug idea???

[@jorjevillafan]

Awesome video!! Great playing and your rambling was sexayy!! Glad I didn't skip ahead :). I built a 4 string bass 17 years ago with a bolt on maple neck and NO truss rod and it hasn't bowed at all. I'll be making some cigar box style instruments here shortly!

[@JaxonRamblers]

Very cool. I've built five cigar box guitars and may try a bass next. The whole works cost me about 15 bucks a guitar. Be sure and use red oak for the neck, otherwise you're just building a bow & arrow set! I use a Dean Markley acoustic pickup to amplify. It works great.

[@mrtambourineman6107]

I always wantd to get a 'cigar box' band together, i still do truth be told. Surprised you only used 2 strings - but still super cool. You could try slide bass on that i recon well

[@FelinousPUnCoolest]

Hey, i just got around to listening to your album on Bandcamp. Keep at it, and be proud of what you'd done - it's lovely stuff :D

[@MrDaraghkinch]

Hey, thanks for sharing. If you're still not sure about why long scale strings can't just be trimmed to fit a shorter scale bass: The heavy windings of bass strings can make the strings too fat to be bent and wound around the machine heads without detrimental strain on the strings. The heavier, the worse it is. The D and G strings would be just fine. Really heavy strings like a low B may not even fit in the slot. So, ideally the windings taper just beyond the nut. PS: I love the "undo button"!

[@WastelandSeven]

Actually it was Kevin Sprague aka knotlenny the title of the video was "3-string CBG 101" if you're curious. And enjoyed your playing. :)

[@Zebsachillin]

Currently I have 2 necks with slotted head stocks scratch made. Need to build them into something. I recently glued a single acting truss rod in one. Next comes a fret board. Its a lot of work. To cold in the garage just now.

[@belindawilliams504]

I really enjoyed this entire video. Guitar is the coolest! Loved the info regarding strings...leaves me with that groovy..gotta grab my violin feeling...thanks guitar Bob for sharing it with me!

[@FelinousPUnCoolest]

Well, I guess that makes it another good example of how a simple build can last - if you do the essential bits right, it works and lasts if taken care of (and that's true of any instrument regardless of build and ability)

[@bemuzic]

cheers. The scale is 30" and it has a rod piezo which is in the saddle, sandwiched between two pieces of wood. They seem to work well compared to the disc ones, but need some downward pressure on them to work best..

[@krazywally5685]

Fab

[@74dartman13]

I never thought about building a cigar box bass before! I really like yours! You're pretty good with that looper too! I just got one and tried it once. For me, it's harder than it looks! Gonna take some practice to get it right. Thanks for the video. Sounded cool!👍😎🎸🎶

[@bemuzic]

cheers, yeah I use the looper a lot. Very useful when busking on your own...It does take a bit of practice. I did this video about getting started with looping kzbin.info/www/bejne/b4irnWp7a910n8U

[@74dartman13]

@@bemuzic I'll have to check it out...thanks a lot! I need all the help I can get!😂

[@joseislanio8910]

great job! the high action on the neck would be solved by gluing a thin board to the neck, just like a normal scale, and maybe installing some frets. but it's already sounding amazing!

[@bemuzic]

+José Islanio thanks...it'd need more than a thin board. The neck is about 2.5 cm for the strings where it meets the box!

[@joseislanio8910]

Oh, I understand. Still, it would make a good difference, specially in the end of the neck. A very thick neck would be uncomfortable to play.

[@charlesmarquardt4420]

I like your creative thinking and approach and your fixes to problems encountered . I would love to work and record with you if I lived near you or had the wherewithall to travel to you . I Love your work !

[@bemuzic]

cheers : -)

[@garthnewman5859]

That's cool. I also love T-Rex, 20th Century Boy.

[@Goatmanreturns]

The reason bassists use their index and middle (and sometimes ring) fingers is really just because you can play faster than just with your thumb. Great video by the way.

[@marcthacker4walls]

Good stuff! Especially being almost 7 yrs ago! Wow

[@bemuzic]

thanks....blimey, can't believe it was that long ago!!

[@BottleneckJohnBlues]

Ultra cool!! I'm gonna try out this type of repeat recorder too!

[@krazywally5685]

Awesome

[@bemuzic]

thanks

[@doedesjel]

i don't know what to say girl.... you're a trip!!! keep up with your own soul and go! you rock girl!!

[@gushutchinson8758]

TOUCH OF THE SLITS ... LOVE IT !

[@capnskustomworks]

That is awesome as heck!!! I was intending to build a "bass diddley bow" soon for a buddy, but the box he chose I don't think is suitable, so he's probably just gonna get a "standard" diddley bow instead. I really like that two-string setup, though! More things I need to put on my "to build" list now... Thanks so much for sharing it!!!

[@bemuzic]

thanks, yes I also have a long list of things to build, lol!

[@toeknee7422]

Sweet jam. Makes me want to go into the garage right now!

[@bemuzic]

+Toe knee cheers...do it!!

[@ThisIsMeOnYoutube]

Hi bemuzic, I just found your channel and as a fellow CBG player I want to tell you that I love your cool CBG music and build info. Suggestion: I'm sure you know that everybody has to turn the volume way up to hear you speak and then we get blasted out when you play. You might want to get a wireless lapel mic to help even out your audio.

[@bemuzic]

thanks Fred...and yes people have mentioned that and in more recent videos I try to speak into a mic (I don't always remember!)

[@depenthene]

Really nice distinctive sound.

[@bemuzic]

thanks

[@edperry4235]

Your bass looks great and has a nice tone. I think the piezo was a good choice - I fitted one that cost pennies in a diddley bow and was pretty surprised at the sound I got from it. Well done! Imagine what you'd pay for that feedback buster in a music shop..!👍

[@bemuzic]

thanks : -)

[@mickyboy1955]

Bloody great,you lovely woman,you!.I love the fact you made the thing and had fun playing it.More power to your finger picking elbow..

[@bemuzic]

cheers : -)

[@bemuzic]

cool...roll on Spring and warmer weather! I braved the garage for a bit today to finish a 3 stringer I've been making : -)

[@bemuzic]

I used a rod piezo (it's sandwiched between two bits of wood.You can see near the start of the vid) which is wired straight to a jack...will send you a link to a site that has lots of wiring diagrams

[@neverchk]

That's very cool. I'm going to build one with a broom pole I have downstairs. There's no threat of breaking the wood really, IMHO. You're only dealing with 15-25 lbs of force depending on the pitch you tune to. Most of that is compressing the neck and only some of that force is left to warp or twist it over time. All the best!

[@bemuzic]

thanks, good luck with yours : -)

[@dangerbarry]

Nice work! Definitely reminds me of Morphine and makes me want to build one of these. Need to finish putting my fretless jazz bass back together first though!

[@bemuzic]

thanks, lol, good luck if you make one ...

[@jenniferzielie3591]

I really like the bass sound. I may have to try and make one!

[@bemuzic]

+Jennifer Zielie go for it!

[@FelinousPUnCoolest]

Given how old it must be now, this project, probably there's nothing worth commenting on it now - except to say that it sounds pretty damn good, and if it feels right and sounds great and aint fallen apart, then leave well alone. Totally agree with the sentiment about it being worth the time to build it, even if it doesn't/hasn't lasted the distance. You've always gained and learnt from the doing bit, and if the end result works... it's a double win :D

[@RCAvhstape]

Very cool! Love that twangy sound and thet Delta blues vibe, too. Doesn't have that annoying nasally mwah sound most fretless electrics have, either. Plus it even looks cool. Great job.

[@bemuzic]

thanks : -)

[@RCAvhstape]

If you've never heard of a now-defunct band called "Morphine", look them up on youtube. The singer played a 2-string bass with a slide, similar idea to what you're doing here.

[@bemuzic]

RCAvhstape yep, I really like Morpine

[@JohnnyNatrium]

Are you kidding? That nasally sound is what makes Fretless electric bass sound so great.

[@Lappu1984]

Wow that sounds amazing. Your instrument have a great soul, congratulations

[@greggjohnson305]

sounds really cool. Thanks for all the background info too.

[@bemuzic]

cheers

[@bemuzic]

thanks, I was using a Boss RC-20 XL

[@bemuzic]

ah cool! I don't have any fancy tools. I just got two strips of wood and filed a groove in one, put the piezo in (having drilled a hole for the wires to come though) and stuck the other bit to it with hot glue..piezo sandwich! Make sure to leave it so it's a tight fit as downward pressure on a rod piezo is important. Good luck!

[@johnmitchelljr]

Great project. Well done. Thank you.

[@bemuzic]

cheers, it was a fun build :-)

[@piercedarrow57]

I WISH I had just a 10th of your talent Belinda....damn that sounds NICE!!!!!!!! Doesn't sound 'Dodgy' at all....just sounds great!!!!!!

[@MultiTakeDown]

You should put a chain onto the "undo" button :-), Only just got my first 3 string slide Guitar and never played a guitar with no frets before, Nice loop by the way,it got me tapping my foot !

[@bnolsen]

Definitely yes. Just gathering all the parts, etc. What tools did you have for embedding the piezo in the saddle? I assume you did something like routing out a slot ? (I don't have a router or drill press).

[@bobhunt1253]

Glad I found this, very nice.

[@bemuzic]

cheers

[@DrRodCullen]

Reminds me of Joy Division - great sound.

[@bemuzic]

Ooh, thanks :-)

[@sidneiribeiro3883]

Great ! I'm going to remove the frets to see If the noises go away 🤔

[@artmaze]

I've made a bunch of instruments like this but never experimented with loops and layers,,,very inspiring! Can you share your effects box or thing you use for making and layering tracks?

[@bemuzic]

Hi, at the time I was using a Boss RC-20 XL Loop Station. Now I use an Electroharmonix 22500. There are so many loop pedals now and if you don't need to do vocals a well you don't need to spend to much. Have fun if you get one!

[@artmaze]

cool! I decided to experiment with the Lekato 9 loop station@@bemuzic

[@profwaldo]

Great, informative and well spoken intro-scription. I'm gonna' hafta' get me a few of those rod piezos from CB Gitty. Great sound you're gettin' outa' that thing, Wow ! You are the RC-20 Queen ! hhehehe This is Fantastic !!! Nice work Belinda. :-))

[@goldplatted45]

I've always loved the Bass and this Chic knows how to bang it. I think I' m gonna give it a try and build my own. You are fantastic !

[@Joehle1]

Awesome i was gifted a 2 string and well no nothing. Are you using the slide all the way thru. Not much for lessons for 2 string on yutube just 3 string.

[@bemuzic]

cheers, yes I have to play this one with a slide as the action is so high!

[@waynedavies3185]

You did okay... Well done.

[@arieswaters]

Yes looper looper whoa baby we got to play now

[@gushutchinson8758]

i EXPECT YOU DONT WATCH COMMENTS ON THIS OLD VIDEO... but if you do , I fancy making a 2 string double bass in a similar way ... any advice ? Think an old acoustic guitar could make the sound box? i was thinking of trying to get a good bit of wood from a sleeper .... oak or other dense grained timber was used in the past... a lot of rainforest hardwood ended up making mille after mile of track here. Strange kind of waste , then Beeching lifted a lot up.. I know tar may be quite deep inside , gotta be lucky . GREEN OAK sleepers I use making gardens although they may move and split , but if its fretless couldn't I just go with the flow over the years?! Change the action with a staffordshire billhook!! A trussrod means drilling a very long hole or routing out a channel ? i have been given a bass amp but does it HAVE to be a special acoustic BASS amp for PIZZA pick ups ? J ust in case you read this , be grateful of your experience ... it sounds really cool the bass I'm hearing now.. and you're good at it NOT rubbish... your simple driving style works perfick

[@bemuzic]

Thanks for all the kind comments! Your curiosity and enthusiasm, re making one mean that you should go for it I reckon! My advice having only made of of these is to check out the Cigar Box Nation website, if you haven't already come across it. There are loads of friendly helpful people on there and there's a group for Cigar Box Basses here cigarboxnation.com/group/cigarboxbasses?commentId=2592684%3AComment%3A873224 I bet one of those sleepers would be really strong! and using up something old is always good. I play mine through a bass amp that's not an acoustic one....

[@londonemski]

Inspired. And inspiring. I'm going to try and make a cigar box bass! Really excellent stuff - and the looping is great. Thanks!

[@bunskilabonskiwashtubfun9841]

Any recommendations to add piezo to a washtub bass? I amplify with a mic underneath at the present time....I like your 2 stringer, fun sound, fun to watch you play!

[@bemuzic]

Thanks...I've never made a washtub bass, so no idea. They are cheap so maybe just get one and try it in different places and see what happens.

[@BazzSelby]

Excellent! I was going to ask, what you used to create the loop (as I'm a beginner), but, I just noticed you've done a video with a loop pedal, so... I'm guessing it's that? :o)

[@bemuzic]

Thanks. On this video I think it would have been a Boss RC 20, but now I use an Electroharmonix 22500

[@diteamiciedentrate]

cool :) I'll try to make my own CBB then...and also a Leveller, what a sound it has!