The CBG Builder Podcast

Building a CBG neck

I was scanning Facebook this morning and came upon a post about building a CBG neck with an integrated fretboard.

Here is the post (name withheld) "Question for the brains trust I normally make my necks from a piece of timber with another thin piece with pre rounded edge glued to the top as a fret board. My question is, is it really necessary our can I simply round off the single piece then cut in and fit frets."

What a great question. 

I had some thoughts about ways to do it and where you can see videos about it to help if you have the same question.

Here is Del doing what he does best.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdnUk7CvMag

The incredible Mike Snowden at 13:34

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDrCtp7c118&list=WL&index=29

Check out CBGs AUS here 

https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1GTSMAVqop/

You can see what I'm up to at www.birdwoodguitars.com

Order KILLER STRINGS at 

Australia - www.killerstringsaustralia.com

USA - www.killerstrings.com

Thanks to all who are supporting the podcast and The CBG Builder Group

https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1LQ5ffdhw3/

See you next time

Adam.

 

 

Changes are afoot.

Welcome to The CBG Builder Podcast!

There will be some changes happening over the next few weeks. The team and I will be getting together to talk about CBGs and other fun stuff as usual, but I'll be returning to the original way of interviewing builders and players as well as  uploading build tips along the way. This is how I started the podcast ten years ago.

We have stopped our sponsorship and affiliate link from the wonderful team at C.B.Gitty because I wanted to feel free to interview anyone I liked and it was difficult for me to do that as I was worried that it may offend our sponsor. I appreciate all the help that Ben and the team have provided over the last couple of years and I wish them well. 

Moving forward the show is sponsored by..... Me. Just me, Birdwood Guitars and KILLER STRINGS Australia. The show has cost upwards of $500 a year to run with hosting fees and the rental of the recording software. Having said that, I'll be switching over to Garage Band to record the show from now on so hopefully that will cut costs down dramatically. There are still some wrinkles to iron out as is evident with today's episode. 

Please bare with us as we make these changes and please support the show by telling your friends about it and sharing it on FB with your build buddies. 

You can find me at www.birdwoodguitars.com

You can order KILLER STRINGS in Australia at www.killerstringsaustralia.com

and in the USA at www.killerstrings.com

I'm truly pumped to produce a killer show that informs, entertains and excites:)

Best regards, Adam Harrison

 

Three Tools Talking About Their Tools

In this rip roaring episode, Joe, Darren and Adam discuss their choice of tools and the pro's and con's of building cubby houses, cigar box guitars and running a CBG business. 

Thank you to all our listeners for all your support. The best way that you can support the show is to share it with your friends. 

Otherwise you can use our C.B.Gitty affiliate link where yiou can get 10% off your first 3 orders and they help us with affording the hosting bills! 

https://www.cbgitty.com/?ref=birdwood

BIRDWOOD

THANK YOU to those supporters who are continuing to use the affiliate link

Joe Oltean 'Clutch Creations' , Adam Harrison 'Birdwood Guitars' and Darren 'Grumpy Guitars' can be reached via the facebook group https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1PLz2g4iSj/

Check out Birdwood Guitars and Killer strings Australia at www.birdwoodguitars.com

Otherwise, Killer Strings Australia www.killerstringsaustralia.com

Don't bite your friends!

Adam, Darren, Joe and Alex

 

 

David Sutton. Builder, photographer and author.

David Sutton is the author of one of the most beautiful books about the cigar box guitar, 'An Obsession with Cigar Box Guitars'. It's 120 pages are beautifully illustrated with his own photographs of his and other CBG builders. Some builders in the spotlight include, Shane Speal, Diane Suttlif and Bill Jehle among other influential builders. 

Our thanks to CBGitty for supporting our show. If you would like to support the channel please consider using the CBGitty affiliate link below. You will receive 10% off the price of your first 3 orders and we are provided a helping hand to support the show.

https://www.cbgitty.com/?ref=birdwood

Our thanks for supporting the show go to Steve Arvey and Cindy Morris of www.killerstrings.com

You can order your KILLER STRINGS in Australia from www.killerstringsaustralia.com - more stock arriving soon.

To check out what I've been up to go to www.birdwoodguitars.com

Joe Oltean can be contacted via the Facebook group and at Clutch Creations via Facebook

Happy Building!

Is There a place for AI and CNC in CBG Building?

Welcome to the show! 

Thank you for supporting the show by listening and sharing it with your friends.

This week Joe Oltean from Clutch Creations and I (Adam Harrison) discuss our feelings about the use of AI as a tool for promoting and building cigar box guitars. Does AI have a place in CBG building or does it go against the ethos of everything we do. 

We also talk about the use of CNC machines to mass produce parts and even instruments. Is there a place for these tools in our hobby? Obviously this is a divisive issue. CNC has been around for a very long time and is used widely in the production of musical instruments at a commercial level. Joe makes a good point that the level of accuracy and consistency is wholly dependant upon the skill of the operator whereas AI is 'dumbing down' society as a whole. 

Our thanks to CBGitty for supporting our show. If you would like to support the channel please consider using the CBGitty affiliate link below. You will receive 10% off the price of your first 3 orders and we are provided a helping hand to support the show.

https://www.cbgitty.com/?ref=birdwood

Our thanks for supporting the show go to Steve Arvey and Cindy Morris of www.killerstrings.com

You can order your KILLER STRINGS in Australia from www.killerstringsaustralia.com - more stock arriving soon.

To check out what I've been up to go to www.birdwoodguitars.com

Joe Oltean can be contacted via the Facebook group and at Clutch Creations via Facebook

Happy Building!

Adam Harrison

Jason London and Billiboxfest 2026

Jason London is the organisor of this year's Billiboxfest which highlights some of Australia's best performers and cigar box guitar builders. Jason is also a very talented CBG builder in his own right with Primal Tones. 

You can check out the festival at www.billiboxfest.com

Please share this episode with a friend. We need your support!

Thank you to CBGitty and KILLER STRINGS for supporting the podcast and You Tube channel. Thank you also, to all those builders who have been supporting the show by telling their friends and using the CBGitty affiliate link which helps us out immensely and allows me to keep it going!

You can use the attached affiliate link to receive 10% off the price of your first 3 orders with CBGitty.

https://www.cbgitty.com/?ref=birdwood

Darren 'Grumpy' McDonald and Joe Oltean from CLUTCH CREATIONS can be contacted via the Facebook Group and Jesse Thomas from HUMMINGBIRD GUITARS can be found at

www.hummingbirdguitarsbyjessethomas.myshopify.com

You can order KILLER STRINGS in Australia and see what I've been building at..

www.birdwoodguitars.com

www.killerstrings.com.au

 

Thanks for listening!

Adam Harrison

Why Don't We Like AI? Are we just a bunch of old farts?!

It seems we don't like AI. WHO KNEW!

Please share this episode with a friend. We need your support!

Thank you to CBGitty and KILLER STRINGS for supporting the podcast and You Tube channel. Thank you also, to all those builders who have been supporting the show by telling their friends and using the CBGitty affiliate link which helps us out immensely and allows me to keep it going!

You can use the attached affiliate link to receive 10% off the price of your first 3 orders with CBGitty.

https://www.cbgitty.com/?ref=birdwood

Darren 'Grumpy' McDonald and Joe Oltean from CLUTCH CREATIONS can be contacted via the Facebook Group and Jesse Thomas from HUMMINGBIRD GUITARS can be found at

www.hummingbirdguitarsbyjessethomas.myshopify.com

You can order KILLER STRINGS in Australia and see what I've been building at..

www.birdwoodguitars.com

www.killerstrings.com.au

 

Thanks for listening!

Adam Harrison

Why does Adam not like bolt on necks and less controversial stuff.

Ok, I don't like ready made, bolt on necks. I may be wrong but it's my opinion and I can't be silenced :) I welcome your feedback friends. This week we all get together and talk about CBGs whick is what we love doing the most.

Thank you to CBGitty and KILLER STRINGS for supporting the podcast and You Tube channel. Thank you also, to all those builders who have been supporting the show by telling their friends and using the CBGitty affiliate link which helps us out immensely and allows me to keep it going!

You can use the attached affiliate link to receive 10% off the price of your first 3 orders with CBGitty.

https://www.cbgitty.com/?ref=birdwood

Darren 'Grumpy' McDonald and Joe Oltean from CLUTCH CREATIONS can be contacted via the Facebook Group and Jesse Thomas from HUMMINGBIRD GUITARS can be found at

www.hummingbirdguitarsbyjessethomas.myshopify.com

You can order KILLER STRINGS in Australia and see what I've been building at..

www.birdwoodguitars.com

www.killerstrings.com.au

 

Thanks for listening!

Adam Harrison

The 4 Horsemen of the Rockapocalypse Return!

We are back! Joe, Jesse, Dazza and I discuss what we would like to achieve in this coming year.

Thank you to CBGitty and KILLER STRINGS for supporting the podcast and You Tube channel. Thank you also, to all those builders who have been supporting the show by telling their friends and using the CBGitty affiliate link which helps us out immensely and allows me to keep it going!

You can use the attached affiliate link to receive 10% off the price of your first 3 orders with CBGitty.

https://www.cbgitty.com/?ref=birdwood

Darren 'Grumpy' McDonald and Joe Oltean from CLUTCH CREATIONS can be contacted via the Facebook Group and Jesse Thomas from HUMMINGBIRD GUITARS can be found at

www.hummingbirdguitarsbyjessethomas.myshopify.com

You can order KILLER STRINGS in Australia and see what I've been building at..

www.birdwoodguitars.com

www.killerstrings.com.au

 

Thanks for listening!

Adam Harrison

What you need to start your first build.

This week Darren and Adam discuss the ins and outs of starting your first cigar box guitar builds. What do you need? Where can you build? What boxes are the best. We hope you enjoy the show and appreciate your support. 

Thank you to CBGitty and KILLER STRINGS for supporting the podcast and You Tube channel. Thank you also, to all those builders who have been supporting the show by telling their friends and using the CBGitty affiliate link which helps us out immensely and allows me to keep it going!

You can use the attached affiliate link to receive 10% off the price of your first 3 orders with CBGitty.

https://www.cbgitty.com/?ref=birdwood

Darren 'Grumpy' McDonald and Joe Oltean from CLUTCH CREATIONS can be contacted via the Facebook Group and Jesse Thomas from HUMMINGBIRD GUITARS can be found at

www.hummingbirdguitarsbyjessethomas.myshopify.com

You can order KILLER STRINGS in Australia and see what I've been building at..

www.birdwoodguitars.com

www.killerstrings.com.au

www.retro-electro-effects.com.au

Thanks for listening!

Adam Harrison