"Double Three" octave strung cigar box guitar by Chickenbone John

[@mulekickhandmadeguitars8465]

Hey John, just finished a "Double Three" and took it down to our local guitar store. The guys can't believe the amazing sound!

[@johnaustin1825]

Thanks again John - very useful

[@billndj23]

Sounds incredible! Thanks for the time you take to turn out videos.

[@Coopdog1911]

I LOVE that. I have a double 3 but not in octaves. I normally play a 12 string most of the time, now I am gonna have to look into one of these.

[@JoeKyser]

Right on, thats different. Seems like a cool little piece to groove to.

[@londonemski]

Really beautiful sound.

[@lukejohnston5566]

I've gotta make me one of these!!! Incredible instrument.

[@generalzod7959]

Saw a vid a while back of a guy who made a bamboo electric guitar. It sounded great. That thing does too! 👍

[@thecigarboxguitarbuilder1860]

sounds fantastic John.

[@bramklinkhamer8732]

thank you for the inspiration

[@CigarBoxBroGuitars]

Cool Cbg!!!!

[@mulekickhandmadeguitars8465]

Hello John, last year I built a six string license plate guitar exactly this same way with paired, or "coursed" strings, that has a beautiful distinctive chorus sound. Love this one.

[@stevepayne3660]

I've just made one inspired. By this and I love it, thanks for the inspiration

[@slimsantilli4476]

The toaster pickup is cool.

[@Pillowpetlover]

cool

[@baabaabaa2293]

Love it mate!! Is it easier to play slide on the thinner neck? I've just started (on an old accoustic, lve raised the action on). Sounds great!

[@ChickenboneJohn]

When you say thinner, are you referring to the width or the depth of the neck? To me it makes little difference, as I'm used to playing slide on everything from wide 12 string necks to narrow 3 string necks, so I've learned to adapt to things.

[@baabaabaa2293]

@@ChickenboneJohn Sorry mate, l shdve been clearer...yeah the width of the fretboard... for some reason I imagined vibrato wd be a bit easier on a narrower board... I got an old Yamaha from an op shop, put a cheap as Aldi soundhole pup on it. It sounds as tinny as youd imagine, but in a gd way! I'm new to slide & lm finding it easier to hit 2 or 3 strings, rather than 6.. hate to think about a 12 string, but l bet they sound good. I've subbed so I'll keep tuning in ..& thanks for the reply.

[@ChickenboneJohn]

@@baabaabaa2293 For playing 6 string you very rarely need to hit all 6 strings. Playing slide is really all about keeping the rhythm going and dropping the slide part on the top of it. I taught myself to play slide after watching Ry Cooder on the TV, but I really learned most from direct personal tuition form people like Kevin Brown, Jim Crawford and Catfish Keith. Kevin learned from Son House, and one of my favourite quotes is (to paraphrase) "It's all about the rhythm boy, you gotta get your rhythm right, any no point in playing any kind of shit if you haven't got the rhythm...".

[@baabaabaa2293]

@@ChickenboneJohn haha! John lm definitely not gd at getting my point across in txts mate! I shdve just asked if you thought me being a beginner at slide, wd a thinner fretboard (like the cigar boxes you've got) or a normal 6 string (like lve already got) would be better (easier to learn on)? It's ok for me to pick strings 1, 2 & 3 than the bass strings.. lm not muting them properly & yes sometimes nearly all 6 are ringing like a chord! I'll keep persevering tho!

[@ChickenboneJohn]

@@baabaabaa2293 I find that just having 3 strings is a lot easier than 6, but I learned slide on an open tuned 6 string, so I'd already got a lot of the basics down.

[@antonkulic1885]

Great sound. What string gauges do you use on that tuning? Also do you use a trussrod in this application. Keep up the great work you do. Cheers

[@ChickenboneJohn]

No trussed on these guitars, String gauges are (approx) 022/042, 016/032, 009/022.

[@antonkulic1885]

Thanks for the info 👍

[@roughcutguitars]

@@ChickenboneJohn Great idea and great sounding build! So on the 'top' / treble G course, is the 9-gauge an octave above the 22 meaning 9=G3 octave and the 22=G2 octave?

[@ChickenboneJohn]

@@roughcutguitars Sorry, I've no idea what the G3 and G 2 refers to! The .022 is tuned to G like you'll find on the 3rd string of a regularly tuned 6 string, with the 009 an active above that.

[@johnaustin1825]

Great sound. Are the strings the same? ie: GG DD gg?

[@ChickenboneJohn]

HI, they are octave pairs.

[@altepost3805]

Nice instrument, but the Gain knob is in the wrong place - one could see you touching (and misregulating) it several times...

[@ChickenboneJohn]

I just need to get used to the guitar...I think a regular round knob would probably work better in that position. By the way, that's a volume knob - gain is used on amps, not guitars and operates in a different way. It's easy to get confused between the two.

[@JoeKyser]

Shoot I could say the same thing about about a lot of guitars. I always flip switches and turn knobs on accodent. I can safely say I have never turned a gain knob on a guitar though 😄

[@ChickenboneJohn]

@@JoeKyser I'm sure if I changed the volume knob to a round one it would be less susceptible to me flipping it round accidentally. These pots are also fairly low friction, and a pot with stiffer turning action would help reduce that problem too.

[@JoeKyser]

@@ChickenboneJohn your right, I bet a round knob and high friction would help a lot. Hey are you interested in some pickups? I can send them to you to keep and use. I have a great track record but can always use help. I am starting to reach out to youtubers with the offer. I will have guitars to send out too. I have 80 in stock right now. I have humbuckers or whatever you want. I have a 3d printer and can prototype and create any kind of custom pickup as well. Just looking to scratch backs thats all I dont expext anything but your honest opinion.

[@ChickenboneJohn]

@@JoeKyser We're always interested in new suppliers.

[@johnaustin1825]

That is to say - 42 42 34 34 24 24 Thanks