I AM SO BUST-ed!

I wrote a DIY Cigar Box Ukulele article for the Music Edition of BUST Magazine and it's finally out. Woohoo! I haven't actually seen it but i do have these images from the sneak-peek edition on Issuu.

To any BUST readers visiting my website...WELCOME! Oh, and should you actually make the ukulele in the article, I would absolutely love to see it so be sure to tell me about it. Many Thanks to Lisa Butterworth for asking me to write the article. It was truly an ever-lovin', pain-in-the-ass to write, (you ever tried to write instructions?...DANG.) but worth every cussing minute of it!

The 'Castella Matic' Amp, 1 Watt of Awesomeness!

This is Marko and i's first building collaboration. I designed it, he built it. I'm pretty sure this is the cutest damn amplifier in the history of amplifiers. I love it! Which is a problem. I love the Amps and the Slide Guitars which we are building so much that i don't want to sell them, which is what we built them for. CRAP! Video coming soon of the 'Maritza' and the 'Hugin' Lassie' being played through the 'Castella Matic' Amp!

The 'Hugin' Lassie'

This is my latest 3-string Cigarbox Slide Guitar. It actually got off to a real bad start when i was cutting the headstock. Look at that cut (picture to the right). Pathetic. But in the end, the 'bad cut' actually resulted in a great headstock with an unusual but wonderful organic form. The 'mistake' actually gave it a lot of character.

Like my other instruments, i tried to assemble this guitar with found or reclaimed materials. The cigarbox was picked up at the Cigar Store for free & the hardwood for the neck was found on the street. The 'Lassie' figure at the top as well as the 'Hugin' emblem on the neck and the skeleton key at the bridge were bought at the flea market for a few cents a piece. My buddy Tjeert who works at a music store close by gave me a bunch of used tuners. (Thanks Tjeert!)

Lastly, this guitar, like the 'Maritza', can be plugged in thanks to Marko's wiring abilities. Video coming soon!

Come See THE BIG DAMN UKULELE BAND!!!

ON SUNDAY the 22nd May
in Café HalfWatt at the Nivon Center
on the DirkSmitsstraat 76, 3031 XE Rotterdam Crooswijk
THE BIG DAMN UKULELE BAND
begins at 8pm
With supporting act
'The Uke Box'
And, starting at 5pm
Good Eats from Andre for just 5- euro
WOW, See You There!