Binghamton Musician Ships Cigar-box Guitars Around the World

                             Pinecone Fletcher talks about why he likes cigar-box guitars and what drew him to the craft. Andrew Thayer / Staff Video

Bluesman Pinecone Fletcher finds joy in re-creating instrument for 21st century

Back when cigars were plentiful and money was not — especially during the Civil War, for example, or the Great Depression — some musicians decided to work with what they had close at hand and built their own cigar-box guitars.

The concept was pretty simple: Cobble together a box, a stick and some strings, then tune it up and start playing. The raw, organic sound proved to be much different than what a store-bought instrument would deliver, giving a different twist to blues, country and folk tunes.

As Americana and roots music have undergone a revival in the last 15 years, led by the 2000 film “O Brother Where Are Thou?” and bands like Mumford & Sons, the interest in cigar-box guitars has grown, too. Ambitious do-it-yourselfers still prefer to put together their own, but a few companies have sprung up to fill the need.

Gallows Bound Release New Video For The Song, "Sink In The Soil"

Gallows Bound Release New Video For The Song, "Sink In The Soil"

There are a plethora of bands in the Alt Country, Americana and Roots underground that are churning up the waters, but one of the great ones to see live is Gallows Bound. With well written songs, superb musicianship and energetic live show, this is a band to keep your eyes and ears on.

The Story Of American Folk Music Part 1

What is Americana? What is truly being "American"? For those of you whose grandparents or parents are first generation American, or second generation, how about this, take a step back and think on why your family emigrated here. For those of us whose families have been here for hundreds or thousands of of years, we need to step back and analyze why and who we are in the midst of this new history, for which we are our own guides. Our brick and mortar familial foundations, have become the binder to build upon these great shores, but it is within all of us to become something bigger.

To become something bigger, I believe is the tenement of Americana Folk Music. The notion that the greater good or the vast amount of folks want to create a change that is for the benefit of society as a whole. Was Bob Dylan wrong in saying "There's no black and white, left and right to me anymore; there's only up and down and down is very close to the ground. And I'm trying to go up without thinking about anything trivial such as politics. They has got nothing to do with it. I'm thinking about the general people and when they get hurt." 

It is these notions which drive change. The type of change which is felt within music, within creativity and within politics. So ya wanna make change, dig within yourself to start.

This type of change defined what we know now as the American movement