Modern revival
A modern revival of these instruments (also known as the Cigar Box
Guitar Revolution) has been gathering momentum with an increase in cigar
box guitar builders and performers. A loose-knit tour of underground
musicians tour the East Coast (US) each summer under the banner "Masters
of the Cigar Box Guitar Tour." These musicians include Doctor Oakroot,
Johnny Lowebow, Tomi-O and many others. Also, there is a growing number
of primitive
luthiers adding cigar box guitars to their items for sale.
[citation needed] Of the more noteworthy cigar box guitar makers is
Shane Speal, the so-called "King of the Cigar Box Guitar."
Modern revival is sometimes due to interest in jugband and the
DIY culture,
as a cigar box is relatively inexpensive when considering other
factors, such as strings and construction time. Many modern cigar box
guitar can thus be seen as a type of practice in
lutherie, and implement numerous personal touches, such as the addition of
pick up and resonator cones into it.
The modern revival of cigar box guitars is documented in the 2008
film, "Songs Inside The Box" which was shot primarily at an annual
Huntsville, Alabama event called the Cigar Box Guitar Extravaganza.
[4]
The Cigar Box Guitar Museum, a free-to-the-public display dedicated
to cigar box guitars is located in Speal's Tavern, a small blues club in
New Alexandria, PA. It is curated by cigar box guitarist, Shane Speal
and contains over 60 antique and modern cigar box guitars.
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