Cigar Box Guitar (Banjo?)

After circuit bending, I'm spending most of my time on cigar box guitars. Another fixation introduced by the oddly addictive Make Magazine, they come in assorted flavors. This is my third. The body is a nice, large, cedar cigar box. I stripped most of the paper from inside, then notched both ends for the neck. It's a 3 foot oak 3x1, as recommended. I cut a notch in the head and stuck in steel-string acoustic tuners. The tail is a little piece of brass, the bridge and nut are brass screws. I also glued in a piezo buzzer from Radioshack for a pickup. It works great. But I'm planning to make more, with proper frets. And maybe slightly lower action. Smaller screws, I guess...
Here's a closeup of the body. I used a 1/2" spade for the soundholes. I'm not a whiz with the drill, hence the messy results.

Another Circuit Bend

So, here's another circuit bend. You can hear a sample here. I think this one is rather more successful. The guts are a toy cellphone from the Dollar Tree. I wired in four body contacts, a better speaker with an on/off, level led, and an RCA out. It works great. And makes some really crazy noises. I gave a Mark I version to my friend Rob at Last Word Books.

My First Circuit Bend

This is my first "successful" circuit bend. You can hear a sample here. It's a Playskool "radio" I bought at the Goodwill in Centralia, WA. It's very simple. I just wired a 1M potentiometer and a resistor into the circuit. But it was really exciting to hear it work. And now I'm hooked.

Winter in Olympia (& Elsewhere) - Part 5

Carrie, dressed for her first day at her new job at the Westside Athletic Center. I found her outfit quite charming.







Carrie and I played Monopoly late one night. She's a big fan, and very competitive.







An illustration of my crushing defeat. I sat to the right. Note that each and every one of my properties is mortgaged.

Winter in Olympia (& Elsewhere) - Part 4

Another rainy afternoon, another rally on the capitol steps. G-g only knows what the event'll be. Sometimes I'm utterly mystified as to what they're shilling for. My favorite slogan to date: "OMV Use Builds Strong Families." It had something to do with little cars. We had snowmobile day, too. But this one is an anti-abortion event.

Grandpa got an excellent photo op.








And the windup.

Winter in Olympia (& Elsewhere) - Part 3

Kim mixing me an old-fashioned, rendered in ectoplasm.








Carrie having a drink after her shift at the Mark.








Taking a break from the action at the Sunday night Skate Jam. Carrie's got an Icee and a fresh photomat strip.







When the strip dried, the results were rather unexpected. It's no wonder Photomats are so entertaining.










Lunchtime at Old School pizzeria, circa January. Carrie and I played Dig Dug on the console in the corner. And Kirk Cameron watched over my shoulder.

Winter in Olympia (& Elsewhere) - Part 2

Ethan at the pancake restaurant. I think he wanted my biscuits.








Carrie modeling for a de Chirico, on the grounds of the same museum.







Carrie & Ed at the Ft. Worth art museum. She preferred Anselm Kiefer upstairs. I say you get Heaven & Earth here too. If a bit more prosaically.






Carrie's sister-in-law Fanasy with Ethan at the cowboy store. That cowboy's just a stuffed shirt...










Carrie modeling Buddha's Hands at the Dallas megasupermarket. I wonder what they taste like?







Me & Ethan & the Christmas presents. He kept looking for more to open.










Carrie and her nephew Ethan, at her brother's house in Dallas. She's trying to explain why he doesn't get any turkey.

Winter in Olympia (& Elsewhere) - Part 1

Our new house.








The Golden Gavel is open for business.








Me, sick.








Lindsay and her balloon.











Melanie Valera of Tender Forever at her record release party at the Art House.

Hop, Skip, Jump...

Ok, so after a couple months of dormancy at my typepad address, I've decided to make the leap to a blogspot address. Despite its alleged demerits, I happen to like the format better. Or maybe I just covet the ad revenue? In any case, I've republished all the old posts. So this new address can become your one-stop-shop for whiggish leisure and commentary. I'll begin with photo-essay on events to date...

Introduction to the Waste-Book

So, I've finally committed to making videos as well as films. Not exclusively. And not for the first time, either. Anyway, for a couple months now I've been posting occasional videos at www.waste-book.blogspot.com, which you can reach here. Starts with web-friendly video-transfers of 16mm films. Continues with brand-new videos I've made on my Vidster. Expect more movies soon.