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"King of the Cigar Box Guitar" 

"The best way to describe [Speal's music] is to take blues and gospel and country and Hawaiian and ragtime and put it through a meat grinder that's missing some teeth."
-York Daily Record

It all started with an empty cigar box, a plank of wood from the family barn and three used guitar strings. That was back in 1993 when Shane Speal build his first cigar box guitar. Music hasn't been the same since.

Shane Speal is blues rock songwriter who plays a primitive guitar made from an empty cigar box and a stick. He is also the leader of the modern Cigar Box Guitar Revolution, a growing fanbase of cigar box guitar builders and players who are dominating blues stages worldwide. Speal has performed concerts throughout the country and has been featured in many TV, newspaper and national magazine features. He is also the central figure in the Max Shores' documentary on cigar box guitars, Songs Inside the Box.

"[Shane Speal] is universally recognized as the prime mover of the Cigar Box Guitar cult, a man who has made it his life’s crusade to spread the word and promote the popularity of CBGs."
- Premier Guitar Magazine, August 2009

[Speal says,] “a Cigar Box Guitar is quirky and appears ‘broken’ from the start. They just don’t look like they should play any music. I love to see jaws hit the floor when I shove a socket on my finger and wail away.” When questioned why he named himself the “King of the Cigar Box Guitar,” Shane replies, “It’s a celebration of absurdity. Who would ever want to call himself the king of such a shitty instrument?”
-Premier Guitar Magazine, August 2009

“Shane sounds like Motörhead in a jug band!”
-Bill Jehle, Curator of the Cigar Box Guitar Museum 


 
LATEST NEWS

Doughnuts and Cigar Box Guitars

A big ol' hello!

When I worked as a forklift operator, there was a little tradition in the factory to treat your coworkers with doughnuts on the day of your own birthday.  That's right...you would buy your own treats and give them to everyone else in your warehouse.  

I always liked that idea because it seemed to make the person say "I'm glad I was born and I'm glad I met you."  It was the person celebrating his or her own birth because the people around them made their life better. 

Today is my birthday.  I brought "doughnuts."

I turned 43 this morning and I don't think I've ever been happier in my life.  I play music for a living, I have an incredible family and you guys are the biggest blessing to me.  So, if you don't mind, I've prepared a little treat for you.  (It ain't much.)

I've just uploaded three new "How to Play Cigar Box Guitar" videos for you:

How to Play Mid-Eastern Ragas On a Cigar Box Guitar (pt. 1)

A pretty little riff to learn on a 3-string cigar box.

New tuning: EBF# !!!

Like I said, it ain't much...but I just thought a lot of you could use a few new tricks to use in your playing.

Thank you for making my life awesome.  You guys rock.

- Shane


Pulp Fiction

From the "I didn't know Shane did that" files..
Here’s the latest ad I’ve designed for the almighty Musicvox Guitar Co. No…not a cigar box guitar thing, but this is my absolute FAVORITE “normal” guitar company. I started designing these ads for them simply as a fan homage. Eventually, they asked me to create their national advertising! LOL

Shane's Free Youtube Series


New Cigar Box Guitars Added to Online Store


I just several more cigar box guitars to the online store including some artistic 3-stringers.  Prices start at just $49 for the diddley bows.  I'm shipping next day now, so you can expect to get yours ASAP.  Thanks!  - shane
©2010 Shane Speal