Episodes
Well I'm alone today. Our interview fell through this week due to unforeseen circumstances and Darren is out of action due to the dreaded man-flu. I thought I'd take the opportunity to answer some of the questions that had been posed during this last week by you, our group members.  I have been building CBGs and guitars for the last 12 years and playing and setting up guitars since 1987.....Oh crap that is a long time!! Anyway, the way I do things may be different than the way other builders...
Published 04/28/24
Welcome back to another episode of the world's numkber one, most favorite CBG podcast!!  Darren and I are joining you today to chat about all the interesting things that are happening in the group. New builds, new members and some incredible group contributions.  Adam gets super excited about the proper place to put piezo pickups and proves his point with a really cruddy demonstration with a beaten up, 8 year old, rusty CBG. Only the best content ladies and gentlemen. Darren shows his...
Published 04/19/24
I've known Pete for about ten years now. He is an incredibly kind and generous person who always gave excellent feedback on my builds and helped me to develop my craft in my early days. He also gave me a car load of old timber to help me get started. Some of which I am still using today! He is a master builder who builds CBGs, electric and acoustic 6 strings and even makes his own pickups. He has a HUGE wealth of knowledge. He is an active member of the Cigar Box Guitar Builder FB group.  You...
Published 04/08/24
Join me, Adam Harrison and Darren McDonald as we talk about recent activity in the cigar box guitar world. The conversation ranges from appreciating supportive community members, acknowledging the negative aspect of group dynamics, to the importance of maintaining a positive and respectful atmosphere in every community, especially in artistic domains such as cigar box guitar building. We not only discusses community dynamics but also acknowledge the incredible work of guitar creators who’ve...
Published 04/01/24
Welcome to a fascinating episode of the Cigarbox Guitar Builder podcast. In this episode, we jump back into the world of Cigar Box Guitar Building by resuming our usual insanity. I’m here with Darren McDonald, co-admin of the passionate Cigar box Guitar Builder and Facebook group admin. We are discussing build tips, share insights and experiences about some of the group’s recent builds. Whether it's exploring unique aspects of guitar building, discussing different playing techniques, or...
Published 03/23/24
It feels so good to be back in the interviers seat. Talk about rusty!! A huge thank you to Jason Heskins from JLee Guitars for agreeing to be interviewed. He has such a wonderful approach to building guitars and I hope you enjoy the show. Please consider supporting the show. The easiest way is to simply tell a friend or you could support us over at patreon. You can also give us 5 stars and leave a comment on whichever podcasting outlet you use.  Thanks again, Adam Harrison
Published 07/16/23
Ok, in all honesty, I have to admit that I am a HUGE Del Puckett fan! I always wait eagerly for his Youtube channel uploads and I have learnt heaps from him. His enthusiasm is totally infectious and his guitars always sound great. So, it only makes sense that I would eventually choose to build a few guitars using his techniques. I did videos of these builds at the beginning of this year and recorded this audio around the same time. Ive just re-booted the podcast and thought it would be cool...
Published 06/24/23
It's been a while but Darren and I are back with another fun filled episode of cbg building. There are many more episodes in the pipeline so thank you for checking in and please don't forget to subscribe. Also, please check out ' The Cigar Box Guitar Podcast'  instagram profile.  Big thanks from Adam and Darren
Published 01/01/23
Ok, the resonating vibrator is a guitar that Darren made using a spring and a milo tin lid on the inside as a natural reverb. I'm just being cheeky. It's actually a Jack Daniels styled guitar which looks amazing.  In this episode we chat about the rediculous price of cigar boxes here in Australia and in other (non USA) countries. We discuss alternatives.  Also please check out two incredibly tallented bands; Cigar Box Serenaders and Cigarbox Man. Two incredibly tallented bands.  We will be...
Published 07/31/22
OK, this is a contentious statement. However, I've been lucky to have had the chance to build CBGs as a full time job. I certainly haven't done everything correct. In fact, I'm still dealing with certain issues as I run my business down to a hobby again. I'm not stopping but I have decided to get back to building guitars from the heart. I'm over doing made to order instruments as they became 'work'. Don't get me wrong I'm very proud of my work but it really was sucking the creativity out of...
Published 04/16/22
Ok, doing this podcast was more important to me than I realised. It's back. This first episode is with John Nickel. John taught me more in one episode that I knew in 2 years of building. A great musician and a very giving person.  We have a Facebook group called 'The Cigar Box Guitar Builder', please consider joining us for all the fun.  If you'd like to view my range of CBGs please pop over to www.birdwoodguitars.com Thanks for listening Adam (Birdwood) Harrison
Published 03/12/22
In this episode Darren and I discuss whether handmade pickups are a financially viable alternative to ready made pups, the passing of Ted Crocker and some cool builds and builders we noticed this week.
Published 12/19/21
I've known Darren McDonald for a couple of years. He builds roots instruments from reclaimed timbers and recycled boxes with an integrity that totally inspires me. He is a builder who isn't afraid of a challenge and always has time to say, "Hi" and give a helping hand. So when he agreed to co-host the show with me I was thrilled. I hope you enjoy the new format of the show and we would appreciate any constructive feedback.  Don't forget to check out www.birdwoodguitars.com as well as the...
Published 12/11/21
Jesse is a guitar and cigar box guitar builder from Randolph Nebraska. He builds a variety of awesome instruments ranging from ukuleles to 6 string heavy metal inspired solid body guitars. Jesse is happy to use whatever materials come his way and relies on his main trade as a carpenter to craft these cool instruments. You can find Jesse Thomas on Facebook and via our group. Please consider becoming a patron of our little show via our Patreon account at  https://www.patreon.com/TCBGB You...
Published 10/30/21
Today I got to interview Mella Miante from Barreldawg Band. These guys have been ripping it up on the central coast of NSW and really pushing the cigar box guitar as their go to instrument. Mella and I chatted about what her band is up to, building her first CBG and a plethora of other cool topics. Sit back, relax and enjoy. You can check out Barreldog Band's music on Youtube, iTunes and Bandcamp. Also please follow them on instagram @barreldawgband.  Be sure to follow us here and give us...
Published 10/24/21
I've known Mick ever since I started building CBGs back in 2012. He has always been a positive voice urging people to build and enjoy cigar box guitars and handmade instruments. This was a fun episode and once again, I found myself heading to the workshop to find an old box to work into a guitar. Thanks Mick.  Please follow us on your chosen podcast provider and leave a review. If you have a cbg story to tell please contact me at [email protected]  Thanks for all the...
Published 10/17/21
Thanks for tuning in again. This week I was able to catch up with the wonderful Mike Snowden. Mike has been doing a weekly You tube show called Three String Thursday. On that show he shows off his awesome guitars and often plays very cool tunes. Pop vert to www.snowdenguitars.com to see his guitars. I hope you enjoy the show and please consider becoming a patron of the show. You are also able to hear this episode on iTunes and Spotify. Have fun and keep building Adam Harrison Birdwood Guitars
Published 02/13/21
This episode is part of our 'business talk' episodes. After having a chat with a guitar building friend of mine who had a less than perfect experience with a customer, I thought it prudent to discuss how to positively deal with refunds and exchanges. Please take the information in the friendly way it was meant. The information contained herein is based on the refund policies from here in Australia and from my own experiences. Please check with your own region's refund policies. However, I...
Published 02/06/21
Firstly, thanks for tuning in to the show. Secondly, please excuse the very ordinary recording of this episode. I am struggling with a mixture of ageing tech Vs new tech and a total lack of skill. There are some lags and drag at the very end of the show. Thank you to Joe or his patience. Having said that, what a great interview this was. Lots of fun and very informative. Joe is the owner of Clutch Creations and he is such a fantastically talented builder. He truly takes bespoke building to a...
Published 02/02/21
Hi it’s been a little while. This episode is in response to a customer question about how best to clean a cbg. I thought it might also be a good topic for beginner or intermediate builders as well.
Published 11/24/20
We are back for 2020!  This week I am interviewing Keith Crumbly of Crumblycaster CBGs. There is no intro music this week as I have had to switch to a windows computer and I have to find a mixer as I can't use Garage Band any more. Thanks for listening. Regards Adam Harrison 
Published 02/16/20
In this episode I talk with Darren Pizel about his experiences building a cbg for a worthy charity. Darren is a new builder with a huge amount of enthusiasm and a willingness to help people in need.
Published 11/20/19
In this episode Mark and I discuss how cool it is that there are so many different builders out there doing cool things with their builds. Using ideas from a variety of other builders is a great way to develop your own style and create your own masterpiece. However, just be sure to not copy someone's hard work exactly and pass it off as an original. CBGs can look somewhat similar at times but there are so many different things you can do with a CBG to make it your own. Also don't be afraid to...
Published 08/25/19
In this episode Mark and I (Adam) discuss why some CBGs are worth a lot of money. Some CBGs are worth well over the 1K mark and we chat about some reasons for this. Along with the usual craziness that usually happens when we talk shop, we provide a word of warning about shop safety and cool tools. This weeks 'STAR GUITAR' was built by Group Member Tim Henderson.  Apologies if the sound is a bit off this week. I've been having tech issues. A huge thank you to our followers, you guys are...
Published 07/07/19