Monday 8 December 2014

Haufcut Instruments SALE

Haufcut Instruments SALE

RIO CAFE - PARTICK, GLASGOW

Wed 10th / 17th - 2:30pm - 4:30pm

SEE PICTURE FOR INSTRUMENTS ON SALE:




1- electro-acoustic canjo dulcimer

2- electro-acoustic cigar box dulcimer 

3- electro-acoustic cigar box 3 string w/volume pot  

4- electro-acoustic cigar box 4 string w/volume pot 

5- electric 8 string ukulele / mandolin / bouzouki

6- electric hollow body tenor guitar w/ pick-up, vol / tone

7- electro-acoustic canjo ukulele 

8- electro-acoustic cigar box ukulele 

9- electro-acoustic cigar box 4 string w/ volume & tone pot  

10- electro-acoustic cigar box 3 string resonator w/volume pot

(Prices negotiable within reason!)

Monday 24 November 2014

'Hank' Hang Drum

'Hank' Hang Drum


I made two of these drums, from emptied helium gas tanks for the North Glasgow Skiffle Orchestra project. Drilling them was fairly easy using a metalwork drill. - Cutting the ellipses to size, with a sabre-saw was trickier. I suggest drilling sets of 3 joined holes at the top of the drum, then cutting down the side, Cut about a centimetre at a time, until tapping the elipse produces the note you want. Dennis Havlena invented this drum, and there is a useful template on his website... 





The RUBBACHICKITARTAR

The RUBBACHICKITARTAR

Back in August, Antony at SHonKy Musical Instruments
held a competition to design a guitar: - I sent him the following picture:
To my amazement, it made it to the final five entries, and following a public vote, it won!

Antony set to work building an electric, tenor RUBBACHICKITARTAR, and created a masterpiece:


It sounds fantastic, and I will be playing it with Colonel Mustard & The Dijon 5 at The famous Glasgow Barrowlands on December 13th


Antony is a real artist, and his guitars are brilliant. Please check out his site.


Tuesday 28 October 2014

Georgia Peach 3 String CBG

Georgia peach 3 String CBG

After a month of intense instrument making for the North Glasgow Skiffle Orchestra project, I took a long break from guitar building...But now I'm back!

Here's a nice 3 string CBG, which looked pretty boring, but sounded good... I had an old Georgia license plate on my wall...so...

Blah blah - Oak neck, pine box, 17 brass frets on a mahogany fretboard, 3 strings, piezo pick-up, Georgia License Plate Resonator, Brass Fittings, Volume Pot, Abalone Dots, 2 vintage tuners, 1 chrome tuner, bolt thread nut, key bridge.

The videos are cool though: With electricity first, but minus the license plate:



Unplugged and completed:

Tuesday 26 August 2014

Side-Tom Drum Bass - For North Glasgow Skiffle Orchestra

Side-Tom Drum Bass

For North Glasgow Skiffle Orchestra

It's a drum on a stick. - Oak straight-through neck. - 3 strings and tuners from a broken bass.



IF ANYONE CAN SUGGEST HOW TO 'FAKE' A TAPERED, CURVED FINGERBOARD...OR A BOW FROM JUNK, PLEASE LET ME KNOW - CHEERS !

Here's a video: 


North Glasgow Skiffle Orchestra

North Glasgow Skiffle Orchestra

Delighted to be working for Depot Arts on the North Glasgow Skiffle Orchestra project.
We will be making instruments from scrap material, over the next couple of months.
If anyone can donate timber, boxes, metal drums, plumbing pipes, metal, or other junk, please get in touch.

I am now based at the Ardoch Complex, Possilpark, Glasgow.

Here are a few pictures...






Friday 4 July 2014

3 string CBG

3 String CBG

Don't let the silly hat and coat put you off. This is a simple, 3 string CBG, sounding pretty good !

Saturday 28 June 2014

Prototype Electric Fiddle

Prototype Electric Fiddle

Well...It was worth a try...Back to the drawing board with this...
To Be Continued...


Haufcut Stompification - Stomp Box #7

Haufcut Stompification - Stomp Box #7

Here's a stomp box, made from a nice jewellery box I got for 50p. - Fitted with a piezo pick up, tone and volume pot, mono chassis socket, and a snare plate. Made in 15 minutes. Less than £8. - Sounding good.

and here's a video:



Playing a CBG with Colonel Mustard & The Dijon 5

Playing a CBG With Colonel Mustard & The Dijon 5

A few people have asked to see clips of me playing with the band, so here is a full gig from the Solas Fest: 


Wednesday 4 June 2014

Colonel Mustard & The Dijon 5 - 'Black Box' CBG

Colonel Mustard & The Dijon 5 - 'Black Box' CBG

Built to play at this summer's music festivals with Colonel Mustard & The Dijon 5
The latest haufcut instruments electro-acoustic Cigar Box Guitar, made from a Rocky Patel cigar box, an oak neck, mahogany fingerboard, 21 brass frets, abalone markers, black machine heads, key bridge, bone nut, piezo pick-up with tone and volume controls... Featuring a COLONEL MUSTARD & THE DIJON 5 logo. - Can be seen at Eden Fest, Solus Fest, Wicker Man Fest, Loch Lomond Boat Party, Kelburn Garden Party.

After I did some scribbles on it !!





Monday 26 May 2014

Glasgow GFT - Documentary / Talk - June 1st

Glasgow GFT - Documentary / Talk - June 1st

Just completed the 50 minute documentary on Haufcut Instruments, which I will be presenting at Glasgow's GFT film theatre on June 1st as part of The National Green Film Festival, (plus a ten minute Q & A session.)...and hopefully we will be launching the Depot Arts Glasgow Skiffle Orchestra Project... Now I'm aff tae ma bed !!

A clip !

Friday 23 May 2014

haufcut talk / workshop - Glasgow GFT - 1st June

haufcut talk - workshop - glasgow GFT - Sun June 1st.

I will be talking about the instruments I have made, and promoting the DEPOT ARTS' Glasgow Skiffle Orchestra Project at Glasgow's GFT on Sunday June 1st. - As part of the UK Green Film Festival, which includes this excellent documentary - MUSICWOOD

On Saturday 24th May, as a wee taster,  Colin Syme and I will be making noises on some haufcut instruments in the GFT at 11am, before the screening of  THE KING OF MASKS - Come along and join in! - We haven't a clue what we will play, but will have electro-acoustic bass, ukulele, CBG, tenor guitar and stomp box, so it'll be noisy !!


Colonel Mustard & The Dijon 5 - Album

Colonel Mustard & The Dijon 5 - Album

I'm very proud to have been involved in the recording and pledgemusic funding of this album. Available on CD in a cool tin, or on vinyl with the superb, comic strip, double gatefold sleeve by Adam Smith.

Party To Make Music To Party To Make Music To Party To - 1
Available from June 10th everywhere - advance copies from LOVE MUSIC, Glasgow, or via

Wednesday 21 May 2014

Spoons!

Spoons!

Twenty six years ago, I found myself busking in Seattle, with Artis, the spoonman (made famous by Soundgarden not long after!) He's still playing, and making music from cutlery. He is the master... Watch and enjoy. 


Tuesday 20 May 2014

Plastic Tubing, 'Double Reed' Sax / Oboe / Duduk / Xaphoon

Plastic Tubing, 'Double Reed' Sax / Oboe / Duduk / Xaphoon

An attempt to make a woodwind instrument, which actually turned out better than I was expecting!
 1. Cut a length of plastic tubing... The longer the length, the lower the key.

 2. Soften one end in hot water.

 3. Flatten the end in a vice, taking care not to crack the sides.

4. Sand the mouthpiece thin enough to produce a note when blown through... with a 1/2 mm gap

5. Drill finger holes, and tape on a funnel,,, Practice !!!

VIDEO

Tuesday 22 April 2014

Mustard Chicken Tenor Canjo

Mustard Chicken Tenor Canjo

Another canjo for Colonel Mustard & The Dijon 5, to support our Pledge Music album fund 
CLICK HERE FOR INFO

Oak neck, tin body, pro piezo pick-up, 21 brass frets, chrome tuners, blah-blah...








Tuesday 1 April 2014

Mustard Canjo - For Colonel Mustard & The Dijon 5 - Pledge Music Exclusive

Mustard Canjo 

For Colonel Mustard & The Dijon 5

Pledge Music Exclusive

This 17 brass fretted, electro-acoustic canjo, made from a mustard tin, oak neck, mahogany fingerboard and chrome tuners, is EXCLUSIVELY available through www.pledgemusic.com - CLICK HERE



Tuesday 18 March 2014

SALE / Gig - 21st March - The Bike Station, Glasgow

SALE & Gig - 21st March 

The Bike Station 65 Haugh Road, Glasgow - 8pm

I will be showing off a couple of Haufcut Instruments at this event, and playing with the Dijon 5... Come along early and have a jam... Maybe even buy an instrument! 10% off if you name the rubber chicken superstar who appears on this blog, and provides security for Colonel Mustard and The Dijon 5


Tuesday 18 February 2014

Redundancy, One Day Build, '50 Outrageous Scams & Hustles', Electro-acoustic Ukulele

Redundancy, One Day Build, '50 Outrageous Scams & Hustles', Electro-acoustic Ukulele

As today was the first day that I haven't been in 'full time employment', and since I have lost the use of the studio, at WASPS, I decided to try and make an instrument at home, with just a Black & Decker workbench, and basic tools...

Surprise, surprise! - I managed to make a pretty cool tin box uke, in about six hours (OK, the glue is still drying, and I will probably change the strings from mandolin, to classical guitar strings, but I managed it.) - Obviously I will never make a full time career out of cigar box guitars, and I spent some of the time editing a video, and filling out an application for a stage management job, but if I must be stuck at home, I want to be busy. It's not as good as a workshop, but it's a use for a spare room...

I WISH I HAD A SHED !!!



The dinosaurs show scale ! (Ha ha!) 

The tin was a Xmas present, containing some pretty cool items for street magic and con tricks !
It made a unique instrument, with the usual haufcut key bridge, piezo pick-up, oak neck, mahogany fingerboard, chrome tuners, black dot markers... 4 mandolin strings on it for now... - On sale to anyone who offers me a new job!






AND NOW HOW IT SOUNDS ELECTRIFIED:


Thursday 16 January 2014

Instrument Making Workshops

Instrument Making Workshops

I would be very interested in leading 'Instrument Making' workshops in schools, clubs, hospitals, or anywhere else it might be of interest. Everything from simple cigar box / biscuit tin instruments, made in a few minutes, to more detailed, electrical instruments can be demonstrated. I think there is a lot of fun to be had in making music from junk, and there is a genuine thrill in playing something you have built. - Please get in touch if you would be interested. Cheers.

Wednesday 8 January 2014

Haufcut Broons Braw Biscuit Banjo

Haufcut Broons Braw Biscuit Banjo

Very Scottish, very cool, and sounding excellent. A canjo made from a Shortbread tin, featuring 'The Broons' clan. Oak neck, mahogany fingerboard, piezo pick-up, 14 brass frets, chrome tuners.

ON SALE NOW !!!



Saturday 4 January 2014

'Romeo Y Julieta' Cigar Box Ukulele

'Romeo Y Julieta' Cigar Box Ukulele

The first build of 2014, a standard electro-acoustic ukulele, with a 'Romeo Y Julieta Cuban cigar box, piezo pick-up,oak neck, mahogany fingerboard 14 frets, a key bridge, dot markers and chrome tuners.

Tuned 'd' (ADF#B low to high)