Sunday 29 December 2013

'Deidheid' Tenor Resonator CBG

'Deidheid' Tenor Resonator CBG

Made for myself, as I really wanted a tenor resonator. Designed around Stanley Mouse's 'Skull and Roses' poster...The guitar I would have loved to have played in the parking lots at Grateful Dead shows back in the 80s !!





Friday 20 December 2013

Santa Damiana Electro-acoustic Ukulele

Santa Damiana Electro-acoustic Ukulele

Made to order today. A lovely electro-acoustic ukulele, with a distinctive headstock. FYI, the tuners for the outer strings wind inwardly, and the inner two strings wind outwardly...Is that clear? Probably not...!! ha ha !


Tuesday 17 December 2013

HAUFCUT After sales service:

HAUFCUT After-sales service


Huge thanks to all the lovely people who bought instruments this week. - If you bought them for friends, please pass on my website address / facebook address to them. I will repair anything that needs done... (Not strings though ha ha !) - messages for me can be left at either.

Please try other strings and tunings - I tend to pick the middle 4 from a set (classical / ball ended) as I prefer playing through an amp and tune GDAE low to high (mandolin tuning) See the website for other ideas... You may prefer steel acoustic strings... Just watch the tension at the top of the neck ! - 

Bridge (the door key) distance to the twelfth fret should equal the distance from the 12th fret to the nut (The white bit!) - 

The action (height of the strings) can be altered by filing the grooves on the bridge or nut, or by placing something under the key... I like the action high...you may not... lowering the action too much may create buzz / dead frets. This can be fixed.

If a fret is producing a buzz, an out of tune note, or you get the same note at two adjacent frets, then try tapping the fret down with a blunt object !! Nothing is glued, so frets may move, and the eyelets holding the strings at the tail piece may come off when you change strings... Tap them back in, or call me... fret / eyelet replacement free of charge ! 

The pick-up inside the box may become detached from the body. stick it back on with tape or blu-tac. Two wires inside may need re-soldered. Guides for DIY on the website. Search the archives!

Playing the instrument with it resting against your tummy may produce a duller sound than holding it away slightly... try a strap... there is a button for one fitted and a shoelace behind the tuners will work... The waistband from an old pair of jeans makes a great guitar strap... anyway, thanks again, hope you have fun trying strings, tunings and amplification. (mrjonthehat)

Monday 9 December 2013

Cohiba Cigar box, electro-acoustic, mini Ukulele

Cohiba Cigar Box, Electro-acoustic, Mini Ukulele

FOR SALE - Electro-acoustic ukulele. Cohiba cigar box, oak neck, mahogany fingerboard, brass frets and fittings, bead markers, piezo pick-up, 1/4 inch mono chassis socket. - SOUNDS EXCELLENT !






Wednesday 4 December 2013

Electro-acoustic, Gimanez Cigar Box Ukulele

Electro-acoustic, Gimanez Cigar Box Ukulele

Looking and sounding lovely (I reckon), tuned GDAE, Gimanez box, from the phillipines, oak neck, mahogany fingerboard, brass frets and fittings, piezo pick-up, bead dots. - Send a message if you'd like it.



The Clutha Bar

The Clutha Bar

I work in WASPS studios, in The Briggait, and when I finish work, I often go next door to The Clutha. When I finish an instrument, I like to go and sit in the beer garden and try it out, through a wee amp. I've even played some of my creations through the P.A. in the bar, (as you'll see on this blog) - It's a great place, The bar staff are all friendly and have a blether, The customers are all there for the atmosphere, the great jukebox, the live music, the warm fire in the winter and a welcome unlike many pubs in Glasgow (No football team allegiances, no pretentiousness, no gangs of youngsters out to get trashed, no sexist drunks) a safe, friendly place. 
So for me, the events of Friday, November 29th 2013 are all the more upsetting. - At 10:25pm, when the bar was packed with people enjoying a weekend drink, and the ska band, Esparanza, a police helicopter hit the roof of the Clutha, killing the 3 crew, and 6 people in the bar...with many others injured. Incredibly there was no explosion or fire, and even more incredibly (according to the media at least), people passing by rushed to help. - It is now Wednesday, and the scale of the tragedy is starting to sink in. People who I know are dead, Others are still in hospital, The shock and sadness has spread around the world. Such a random, awful, sad and unthinkable thing to happen. It's hard to talk about.
I was in the bar on Friday afternoon, and left to go and see a band on Renfield Street. Other friends who were there went to see Jerry Dammers at the O2. Some friends stayed. - Saturday (and Sunday) were spent answering and sending messages to reassure people that I was OK, and trying to find out if everyone I knew was OK... 9 dead (update - now 10) is awful. I feel terrible sadness and sympathy for everyone affected
They can rebuild The Clutha, but it will be impossible to rebuild what it was. - A happy place.


Wednesday 20 November 2013

Vintage Box Ukulele

Vintage Box Ukulele

Here's a photo of a quick build. It;s an electro-acoustic ukulele, made for Becky Robb.


Wine Box Bass

WINE BOX BASS

Can a bass guitar be made using the cigar box guitar making technique? If you have a big enough box, a good piece of hardwood for the neck, and maybe a resonator perhaps? Here's what I built...


Basics taken care of


Tone and volume pots wired and fitted


Clamped and glued...with improvised counterweight !


The finished bass

- Here's a short video, made just after I strung it... 





























Saturday 26 October 2013

A Guitar Amp - Made From A Tape Deck!

A Guitar Amp - Made From A Tape Deck!


Mine is a 40 Watt Philips ghetto blasting beast from the 80s. Stereo, with twin tape decks, treble, bass and balance controls, a standard phono socket, great lines -out and cool LED level indicators...It's actually BETTER than some guitar amps on the market...and... it TAKES BATTERIES too... great for al-fresco gigs!

Here is a great guide to building one: With an instructional video too. It can be adapted to conversions of old games systems and home speaker systems.

Sunday 6 October 2013

Fan Mail

Fan Mail

A very funny letter arrived from someone who heard me play some slide guitar on a haufcut 4-string CBG. "Sad Hawaiian Angels" is the nicest description I've had!

Thursday 12 September 2013

Bizzy Bee Contact Mic.

Bizzy Bee Contact Mic.


If you want to add amplification to an instrument, and don't want to make a pick-up, try a contact microphone. Bizzy Bee make these wonderful items in Scotland, they are attached with a ball of bee's wax, and produce a great sound. Sold for less than £30. I love them!

Tuesday 27 August 2013

Monday 26 August 2013

Make Your Own Effects Pedals

Make Your Own Effects Pedals

There are lots of ways you can make your guitar sound the way you want it. Effects pedals can let you control volume, tone, distortion, reverb, echo...and lots more. AND YOU CAN MAKE YOUR OWN !


Have a go, and let me know how you get on. Cheers.

Tuesday 23 July 2013

Demolishing Buildings With A Haufcut CBG

Demolishing Buildings With A Hufcut CBG

This seemed like a good idea at the time !




and we made it to TV in the U.S.A. !!!


Friday 28 June 2013

Rocking Chair, Shotgun, Claymore CBG Boogie Video


Rocking Chair, Shotgun, Claymore CBG Boogie Video

Another quick video - This time a CBG tuned to A


Mini Uke Video

Mini Uke Video

A little clip of the haufcut mini electro-acoustic ukulele


The Tartan Tin Canjo Video

The Tartan Tin Canjo Video

mrjonthehat tries to get his head around an open A tuning:


To Buy A Haufcut Instrument: Cheers! xxx

For A Bespoke Instrument, Made To Your Specifications, e-mail : mrjonthehat@yahoo.com Or Message The Facebook Page: ...

click here for haufcut on facebook

For An 'Off The Peg' Instrument, That You've Seen Here And Liked, Leave A Message In The Box Below ...

Tartan Twins

Tartan Twins

The two 'Peek Freans', West Highland, Shortbread Tin Canjos Together.


Thursday 27 June 2013

4 String Tartan Canjo

4 String Tartan Canjo

Just Completed...A second Canjo using a Tartan Peek Freans Shortbread tin:


Specs::

Peak Freans Shortbread Tin Resonator
White Oak Neck
Mahogany Fingerboard
24 Brass Frets
Tartan Markers & Headstock
4 Geared Tuners
Key Bridge
Brass Nut
Piezo Transducer Pick-up / Mono Jack
4 Strings (Tuned DGBD low to high)

£80 (£75 to gig-ing musicians!)

Monday 24 June 2013

Star Player - Dale Reno

Star Player - Dale Reno

Honoured to have the mini electro-acoustic, cigar box uke played by Dale Reno of Hayseed Dixie


Friday 21 June 2013

Tenor Uke goes to Glastonbury

Tenor Uke Goes To Glastonbury

This Electro-acoustic, Cigar Box, Tenor Uke was finished today... It's destined to travel to this year's Glastonbury festival:



Saturday 15 June 2013

Tartan Tin Bouzouki

Tartan Tin Bouzouki


Electro-acoustic, 8 string bouzouki, tuned in pairs GDAE (Irish Tenot) 
Peak Freans shortbread tin resonator
White oak neck
Mahogany fingerboard
24 frets
Mother of pearl tuners
Piezo pickup / mono jack socket
Tartan Inlays, headstock and strap
Key bridge
Bone nut

HERE'S A VIDEO:



Saturday 11 May 2013

Stompy Boxxx and CBG Video

Stompy Boxxx & CBG

A video featuring the haufcut Stompy boxxx and a 4 string CBG
ON SALE NOW


Friday 10 May 2013

STOMPY Stomp Boxxx

STOMPY Stomp Boxxx

Wooden boxes for packaging wine bottles aren't great for making CBGs, but they are great for 
STOMP BOXES. (An electric bass/ kick drum). 

Here's a step by step guide to building a stomp box: 

Step 1. You'll need:
A wooden wine box with a lid (mine was hinged, with a catch.)
A metal plate, box lid or tray (not vital, but it makes a nice noise.)

Electrics: (Available from guitar shop / electronics store.) £1-£3
A mono instrument jack socket
A piezo transducer pick up
2 potentiometers (pots) - One Volume, One Tone.
2 knobs that fit the pots 
A capacitor (I used 0.33 ohms)
Wire
Solder

Tools
Drill,
File,
Pliers,
Screwdriver,
Soldering Iron


Step 2
Take the biscuit tin lid and snip at the corners so it folds flat.

Step 3:
Cut a metal section from the lid, fold it over the corner of your box and screw it in place, leaving one edge unscrewed, to allow it to slap against the box when stomped.

Step 4
Open up the box, 

Step 5:
File, chisel or sand down the area where the pots and jack will go. Drill 3 holes and secure the components with their supplied nuts and washers, tighten with pliers.

Step 6:
Solder the wires to the components. Sorry that my sketch is  rough. I hadn't intended for it to be online. Search the internet for a better one if you can! 


 Step 7:
Fit the knobs to the pots on the outside of the box.

Step 8:
Plug in a lead and try it through an amp. (Not this close though, or it'll probably cause feedback!)

Step 9:
Decorate it, smooth down ANY SHARP CORNERS ! and add a carry handle - {Belt section held with screws and washers on mine.)


video



Tuesday 7 May 2013

Bringing Down A Building With A Haufcut CBG

Bringing Down A Building With A Haufcut CBG

Honoured to join Glasgow music legends, Colonel Mustard & The Dijon 5, on resonator CBG, as mrdijonthehat of the Dijon 5 Demolition Band, to play 'Ginger Girl'...at the Red Road Flats, Springburn, Glasgow...Don't try and look for it, it's not there now !

Here's the video: Edited by 21st century haufcut!


Sunday 5 May 2013

Star Player #3

Star Player #3

Crawford Smith, organizer of Glasgow's Southside Festival Fringe 2013, with his haufcut, 3 string electro-acoustic CBG


Friday 3 May 2013

Star Player #2

Star Player #2

Colin 'Kozmik' Irons tries out the electro-acoustic, 4 string, 'Gran Corona' CBG unplugged.
The first time he'd tried the CBG, and the GDgB tuning...and he's left handed! Star player!


Wednesday 24 April 2013

Great Tuning - DGBd

Great Tuning - DGBd

The 'Mini Spanish' tuning. Great sound on the little 'fish' CBG
Robert Johnson style Slide Blues


Fret-less, Tennis Racquet Banjo - 'Broken Hearted Fairytale'

Fret-less, Tennis Racquet Banjo - 'Broken Hearted Fairytale'

Video - With Construction photos.
'Broken Hearted Fairytale' by Alex Harvey


Tuesday 23 April 2013

Deano Dinosaur's Diddley Bow

Deano Dinosaur's Diddley Bow

A single string, Cremola Foam Tin, Electric Diddley Bow. Piezo transducer pick-up, mono jack.


Here's How it sounds:


Saturday 20 April 2013

Big Cremola Electric Diddley Bow


Big Cremola Electric Diddley Bow


3 ft 1X1 American white oak neck
1 piece of fretwire
Cremola Foam tin
1 tuning peg
1 string
1 mono jack socket
1 piezo transducer pickup
solder
4 screws
marker stickers

YOURS FOR £10 !!!

Video:



Tuesday 9 April 2013

Native American Fish Design CBG

Native American Fish Design CBG


When I saw this box, I knew it would make a great looking CBG, and I'm really pleased with the finished item. - Brass key bridge, 24 brass frets, White Oak neck, Mahogany Fretboard. Piezo transducer pick-up. - ON SALE NOW ! - Leave a comment, or contact via Facebook.

Saturday 6 April 2013

Gran Corona CBG

Gran Corona CBG



Pretty looking and sounding great. Electro acoustic 4 string, mahogany neck and fingerboard. 24 brass fretd, abalone marker dots, piezo transducer pickup.

It sounds like this :


Monday 18 March 2013

Coca Cola Canjo: Electro-acoustic Tenor Canjo

Electro-acoustic, Tenor, Coca Cola Canjo


Tenor, Electro-acoustic Canjo, using a Coca Cola Can as a resonator.


24 brass frets, abalone dots, mahogany neck & separate fretboard

 


Key bridge, brass nut, 2 brass tuners, 2 chrome, piezo pick up, mono jack.


Leave a message for price and further details. (Also at 'haufcut instruments' on facebook)

Here's How It Sounds, Tuned GDAE- (Sorry about the singing !!!)






Thursday 14 March 2013

Tuesday 12 March 2013

New 4-String, Electric CBG, With Bolt Lock Bridge

NEW 4-String, Electro-acoustic CBG, With Bolt Lock Bridge

Completed today, This CBG is made from a Montecristo Box, with an American white oak neck, mahogany fingerboard, white marker dots, 24 steel frets, 4 chrome tuners, bone nut, brass bolt lock bridge and 11 brass sound hole grommets. It is tuned GDgB using the middle 4 strings from a Martin acoustic Set. I've fitted a piezo transducer pick up and a standard, mono jack socket.


Here's a video of me trying it out.
Apologies for the singing and playing!


TO BUY THIS GUITAR
(at non-gallery-commission price)

Leave me a message, here or on the facebook page, or e-mail mrjonthehat@yahoo.com before March 21st 2013. CHEERS !

**DISCOUNT RATES FOR GIGGING MUSICIANS IN RETURN FOR AN ENDORSEMENT!!**