Everthing you know about fretless cigar box guitars is wrong.

[@FredFranklin-b4e]

I build fretless cigar box guitars and you play that better than anyone I've ever heard.

[@tunnel7]

Still the best CBG Man in UK thanks John loved it..

[@Liesl_Cigarboxguitar]

Glad to hear you dispelling the myths Chicken Bone John. You taught me everything I know about building and playing CBGs. Thanks for the tips! fantastic 🙂

[@chris-terrell-liveactive]

Well said, I never understand why people set up these rigid ideas.. it's music... experiment! Thanks.

[@alwayslearning8365]

I built a fretless guitar for a friend of mine, and was surprised how easy it was to play with or without a slide. Great video John. 👍

[@writehandman2833]

Great video! I reall love the sound of the exagerated vibrato. Super mellow!

[@ericshaffer9823]

Just when the penny dropped about lower action making it easier to play finger, chords there you go stating just that. Cheers! And thanks for the lessons.

[@Rod58]

Great lesson thanks very much. Keep up the great work

[@doodlespachesco7306]

You have it👍😎😎 Built one sounds good.

[@Krizrax]

Really cool! I always wondered about this, will def try to build one like this, and try to learn to play it! :)

[@Liesl_Cigarboxguitar]

Go for it my friend! You'll love it, and you'll never look back 😉!

[@RevvyTone]

It was your original video on string action height was where I first learned this, and I've shared that video countless times. I build all my fretless this way now thanks to you.

[@ChickenboneJohn]

Thanks!

[@-davidolivares]

I found this out by accident, bought a six string cbg on EBay, this was a while back. Strings were pretty thin and I could get a little sitarish tone out of pressing down to the neck and vibrato sliding. After seeing your video, I’m going to lower the action and play it fretless. Hope I didn’t hurt anybody’s feelings either. Jeesh.

[@ian-lo8fb]

was that a little bit of the theme from Get Carter from around 2:20?

[@ChickenboneJohn]

It was Roy Budd's "Carter Takes a Train"..well spotted.

[@MrTodd2000]

that is what I would think ! As long as the frets are marked and you push down properly .......

[@JonathanClark66]

Hello John, have a question, where did you get that headstock badge made? Also, this lesson was fantastic.

[@ChickenboneJohn]

Its a regular enamel badge manufacturer, there are plenty of them around..but we do buy several hundred at a time.

[@douglashaner6802]

Great to know. I have a fretless kit coming in a day or two. Look forward to putting it together and tinkering around with it.

[@mulekickhandmadeguitars8465]

As for me, I think the slightly "muted" sound of his fretless gitty sounds super cool and it makes me wonder what some effects pedals might be like with it. Afterall, what are we CBG builders best known for? Defying convention!

[@frank7611]

Great as always John and very sound advice...🤗🤗

[@ontovictory-alacumba]

Love it!😊

[@UliKuder]

Hello John, I was very impressed by the video. I've never seen my fretless CBG like that before. I was actually of the opinion that the fretless is only played with slide. Greetings from Germany Uli

[@ChickenboneJohn]

I think that's perhaps many people who make cigar box guitars build them with unplayably high action, and that a lot of makers aren't particularly accomplished players themselves, so never discover the potential of the instrument. It's all about experimenting, exploring and discovering. It's easy to take a few steps and then not go any further, but the cigar box guitar has a lot to offer, you just have to work a little harder and free your mind.

[@UliKuder]

And that's exactly what you've done for me with your video. A new perspective! Thank you very much@@ChickenboneJohn

[@roseericson3828]

Thanks for this I love it

[@steveatthews3472]

Hi john. Interesting video. Thanks! What was your cbg tuned to?

[@ChickenboneJohn]

Should be GDG, but to be honest, I just tuned it until the strings felt around the right tension!

[@icebob8555]

No rules friend thank you

[@doctorvox]

Nice edge fret markers there John....how are they done?

[@ChickenboneJohn]

We slot the edge of the fretboard and glue in some thin plastic.

[@johnaustin1825]

Many thanks again

[@johnaustin1825]

Many thanks

[@larzhillbot1443]

what kind of pickup are you using that fits across the sound hole ??

[@ChickenboneJohn]

A standard Strat pickup with a plain cover

[@johnaustin1825]

What is the ideal gap between strings? 12mm??

[@ChickenboneJohn]

It's very much a personal thing - I prefer around 13mm spacing at the bridge, 11mm at the nut.

[@eeclass20]

That middle piece sounded suspiciously like the theme from Get Carter!

[@johnwormald7178]

Well spotted.

[@johnaustin1825]

Hi John. Is there any point in having frets? Does a fretless obviate the clattering when using a slide as it hits the string?

[@ChickenboneJohn]

Having frets makes playing in tune accurately much easier than fretless, and has a crisper, clearer tone, with more sustain when using the fingers rather than a slide. Preventing slide clatter is down to practice!

[@castle5711]

Time to lower the action on my #001 fretless and give it a go!

[@hurdygurdyguy1]

When you think about it you don't see violin, viola and cello players using slides!

[@johnfleming3422]

YUCKO NEVER BRING THAT CIGAR BOX GUITAR TO ME AGAIN!

[@stevenpostans5444]

Yes I was very upset at what you had to say, you've hurt my feelings CBJ 🤣🤣🤣