Sean Kochel Guitars (and Ukuleles!)

I've been meaning to post something about Sean Kochel for quite some time. I'll be honest, the holidays make me incredibly lazy. But now I am, officially, off my ass so here goes.

About 3-4 years ago, I was at the People's Market here in Missoula. The People's Market is sorta like the Farmer's Market (and it happens on the same day) except it's more about crafts and whatnot. Anyway, I was drawn to a little tent that had about a half dozen cigar box guitars. I spent some time talking with the craftsman involved in their creation (Sean Kochel) and I got pretty excited. The fret markets used 22 caliber shell casings and the nut and bridge of the guitar were made with elk bone. I pretty much had to have one and I'm pretty sure I paid less than $100 for it. This was my first cigar box guitar purchase and I was already addicted. That first cigar box guitar had 4 strings and it was tuned to an open G. But, it didn't take much thinking for me to realize that I needed a Cigar Box Ukulele!

So, shortly thereafter I asked Sean to make me a ukulele. It was made from reclaimed barn wood and this one actually used a hand-wound pickup instead of a piezo. Oh wait... maybe I didn't mention that before. The original cigar box guitar I bought from Sean was electric! It sounds pretty rad out of an amp. Here, check out this video:

Well, here it is, several years later and Sean is making all sorts of stuff now. Here's some pictures:

Sean Kochel - Juniper Ukulele
Sean Kochel - Juniper Ukulele
Kochel Guitars - Bluebird Ukulele
Kochel Guitars - Bluebird Ukulele
Kochel Guitars - Stompbox
Kochel Guitars - Stompbox

As you can see, Sean isn't just making cigar box guitars or cigar box ukuleles anymore.  He's also making Stompboxes and cigar box amplifiers!  If you want to learn more then just check out the Kochel Guitars Facebook Page or the Kochel Guitars website.

Cigar Box Ukuleles (WTF?)

So, I got a tweet from PedroFFerrai asking, "Cigar box uke? Wtf?"  WTF, indeed, my friend.  I hadn't heard about cigar box guitars or ukuleles until I read it in this issue of Make Magazine (which is an incredible magazine, by the way).

Make, Volume 4: Technology on Your Time (Make: Technology on Your Time) (Paperback)
Make, Volume 4: Technology on Your Time (Make: Technology on Your Time) (Paperback)

Then, just a few weeks later I see a guy selling them at the local farmer's market.  I bought my first one for $99 and it's a real beauty.  Here's some pictures of  her:

Cigar Box Guitar
Cigar Box Guitar
Cigar Box Guitar
Cigar Box Guitar
Cigar Box Guitar
Cigar Box Guitar

The details are my favorite thing about this guitar.  For example, both the bridge and the nut are made from elk bone.  The fret markers are 22 shell casings.  Oh shoot!  I didn't take a picture of the input jack.  Yup, that's right.  There is a piezo in there so you can plug it into your amp.  It's not an awesome sound, but you can still make it pretty fun.  I'll upload a video of it soon.

So, some weeks later I'm at a show and I see a guy playing a cigar box guitar that's similar to mine by the amplified sound is really great!  I talk to him and it turns out that the fella that made my first cigar box guitar has taken it up a notch.  He's getting pickups hand wound for him now.  So, of course, I had to get another one commissioned.  I think it was like $250 and here's some pictures of it:

Cigar Box Guitar (version 2)
Cigar Box Guitar (version 2)
Cigar Box Guitar (version 2)
Cigar Box Guitar (version 2)
Cigar Box Guitar (version 2)
Cigar Box Guitar (version 2)

This one isn't technically a cigar box guitar because it's made of old barn wood.  The tuners are recycled from some old broken guitar I think.  All in all, it's a real beauty, but I'm still working on the tuning for it.  It has a floating bridge that I can never seem to get where I want it.  Also, the guy that makes these guitars is more of an outdoorsman type and not so much of a luthier.  So, they are pretty rugged and rustic.  But, I like the challenge of playing them.  It makes you feel like you should be in the Mississippi Delta and also blind (possibly considering selling your soul at the crossroads and whatnot).

So, you want one of these buy you don't want to buy the Make Magazine.  Well, for heaven's sake, don't just buy the magazine to learn how to make the guitar (although, if you like fun projects and general nerdiness, then you really should subscribe, it's my favorite magazine!).

Check out some of these links:

Get building!

Video: Gus & Fin’s cover of Joy Division’s “Transmission”

I'm not sure if I've ever seen any other videos of Gus & Fin, but I can tell you that I'm going to search for it now.  They do a freaking great version of Joy Division's "Transmission" (note: remind me to tell you about the steel drum band cover of the same song).  I love the cigar box guitar, what a great tone!  Apparently, the cigar box guitar guy is Gus and the fella on the Ukulele is Fin.  Something tells me I'm going to start stalking these guys.