--- title: The Dudevan Guitars Blog | Shawn McCadden description: Hand made primitive musical instruments by Dudevan Guitars, custom made in the USA! image: https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hubfs/dudevanguitarslogo.png --- ## The Dudevan Guitars Blog ![Frustrated playing a cigar box guitar](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hubfs/Messy%20string%20on%20Tuning%20Machine-WR.jpg) [Learning to Play a CBG](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/dudevanguitars/blog/tag/learning-to-play-a-cbg), [Buying a Cigar Box Guitar](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/dudevanguitars/blog/tag/buying-a-cigar-box-guitar) ### [Three Things to Know Before You Buy Your First Cigar Box Guitar](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/dudevanguitars/blog/three-things-to-know-before-you-buy-your-first-cigar-box-guitar) December 28, 2022 If you are considering buying a cigar box guitar (CBG) I suggest before you buy you really think about your true purpose for buying. To summarize things, are you looking for a piece of art, a playable instrument, or a combination of both? [Read More](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/dudevanguitars/blog/three-things-to-know-before-you-buy-your-first-cigar-box-guitar) ![Cigar Box Guitar Building Class 2022](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hubfs/CBG%20Class%20Group%20Photo%20%234%206-30-22-WR.jpg) [Learning to Play a CBG](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/dudevanguitars/blog/tag/learning-to-play-a-cbg), [Cigar Box Guitar Musicians](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/dudevanguitars/blog/tag/cigar-box-guitar-musicians) ### [Cigar Box Guitar Mayhem at Townsend Senior Center Christmas Party](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/dudevanguitars/blog/cigar-box-guitar-mayhem-at-townsend-senior-center-christmas-party) December 19, 2022 Back in March I wrote about the [Cigar Box Guitar Building and playing  classes](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/dudevanguitars/blog/learning-how-to-build-and-play-a-cigar-box-guitar) I was planning to teach at the Townsend, MA Senior Center.  In the building class we built 11 new cigar box guitars.  Everyone who participated put in their time and effort to make it happen.  [Read More](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/dudevanguitars/blog/cigar-box-guitar-mayhem-at-townsend-senior-center-christmas-party) ![Diagram of cigar box guitar parts](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hubfs/Cigar%20Box%20Guitar%20Parts-WR.jpg) [CBG Terms and Definitions](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/dudevanguitars/blog/tag/cbg-terms-and-definitions), [Learning How to Build a CBG](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/dudevanguitars/blog/tag/learning-how-to-build-a-cbg) ### [Cigar Box Guitar Parts and Their Functions](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/dudevanguitars/blog/cigar-box-guitar-parts-and-their-functions) April 26, 2022 **Cigar Box Guitar Parts and Their Functions** [Read More](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/dudevanguitars/blog/cigar-box-guitar-parts-and-their-functions) ![](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hubfs/Mark%20in%20Mother%20Ship.jpg) [Cigar Box Guitar Interviews](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/dudevanguitars/blog/tag/cigar-box-guitar-interviews) ### [Interview with Cigar Box Guitar Wizard Mark Piper; AKA Uncle Mark](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/dudevanguitars/blog/interview-with-cigar-box-guitar-wizard-mark-piper-aka-uncle-mark) April 6, 2022 I had the pleasure to interview Uncle Mark of [Uncle Mark’s Music](https://unclemarksmusic.com/), live from “The Mother Ship”. He is a busy guy, so I was glad he gave me the time and was willing to share. Below are some of the highlights from our 30-minute Zoom call. [Read More](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/dudevanguitars/blog/interview-with-cigar-box-guitar-wizard-mark-piper-aka-uncle-mark) ![Electrical Box Cigar Box Guiar](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hubfs/Back.jpg) [Custom Guitars](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/dudevanguitars/blog/tag/custom-guitars), [Interesting CBG Builds](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/dudevanguitars/blog/tag/interesting-cbg-builds) ### [Interesting CBG Builds by Others: The 240 Volt Deluxe](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/dudevanguitars/blog/interesting-cbg-builds-by-others-the-240-volt-deluxe) March 28, 2022 I’m always poking around the internet to find interesting Cigar Box Guitar builds.  I am constantly amazed at the creative ways people use and reuse common materials to create unique looking and sounding Cigar Box Guitars and similar primitive instruments.  It’s not just the creative use of materials either that amazes me, it’s also the creativity of the people building them.  So many are truly artists. [Read More](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/dudevanguitars/blog/interesting-cbg-builds-by-others-the-240-volt-deluxe) ![Copper wire frets on cigar box guitar](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hubfs/Placing%20the%20frets.jpg) [Learning How to Build a CBG](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/dudevanguitars/blog/tag/learning-how-to-build-a-cbg) ### [Making and Installing Copper Wire Frets on a Cigar Box Guitar.](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/dudevanguitars/blog/making-and-installing-copper-wire-frets-on-a-cigar-box-guitar) March 26, 2022 When I build Cigar Box Guitars I like to find interesting and unique ways of building them so they’re not just like everyone else’s CBGs. With this in mind I decided to try using copper wire as the frets. In this blog and the included videos below I’ll share how I made and installed the frets. [Read More](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/dudevanguitars/blog/making-and-installing-copper-wire-frets-on-a-cigar-box-guitar) ### Subscribe to the Dudevan Guitars Blog