So, Why only 3 strings on a guitar???

If you are reading this and wondering just "What's all the Hub Bub Bub with a Three string guitar???"... I could ramble for days and show you countless photos that would dazzle your senses, but like they say "If a photo is worth a 1000 words" than surely video is worth a million???

If you only ever see one video of a 3-string cigar box guitar in action, watch this one , watch it till the end WITH AN OPEN MIND before you decide if you like the type of sound a primitive 3 stringer will produce. I promise it will change everything you thought you knew and explain the truth about the Origin of the Delta Blues.

Like most people I am sure your first thought is "Why use only 3 strings, isn't adding a 6 string neck better???....You're going through all the effort of building a guitar, why not just put on 6 strings??" Well when you add a 6 string neck, it sounds like a regular guitar no matter what you do or how you play. You'll never achieve that dirty south raunchy Delta sound on a 6 string guitar or with a 6 string neck.

I once heard that as consumers we are constantly bombarded with advertising unconsciously all day no matter where you go...billboards, product labels, fliers and TV adds....IT IS NOT MY GOAL TO SALE ANYTHING TO YOU, yes some people buy guitars from my site "RedDogGuitars.com", but I only build a few guitars a month.....I could never supply the demand for these fun guitars to everyone who visits this site. I hope that it inspires you to make your own, if you feel you might not be up to the task of making one, there is many great builders out there who make them, look around and I know you can find one really well made...just google "Cigar Box Guitar."

My main goal with this website is to share this wonderful form and lost art of playing guitar, to invite you to take a step back in time and if you are bored with playing a regular guitar or tired of the continued invasion of Chinese made products and just can't seem to have fun making music then what you need is to go back to the roots of how music is made. Try something simpler. This form of guitar will take you back to the lost early days of Blues and Folk music...still confused about how easy and fun a three string guitar is???

I will just cut-copy-and paste this strait from the "horse's website"

If you would like to play Delta Blues it's "airiness" that you hear comes from the music's simplicity, it is STRIPED DOWN, I am sure you have heard you only need 3 notes in a chord???? well, that's not true for Blues, you only need 2 notes! ...they only need to blend well (such as A and E) and most Blues music is based off one note at a time (most often slide guitar is one note ringing, everything else dampened)... folk music is not suppose to be complicated, over refined, lickity split fretted notes, complicated jazz chords and scales, beefed up high power, or masked with computer effects...it's just strum'n acoustic slide or plug n' play with lite power on a small amp....plus, for the guitarist, what more could be easier than playing simple slide guitar with a pluck here and there??? It's basically one finger guitar!...Just connect the dots in your mind up and down the strings as you play, add slide and you've got that sound you've been after all those years but just couldn't never find it no matter what 6 string guitar you've played.

That is the key and link to the Delta Blues that has long been forgotten in the mass market guitar world.

~ Early American Folk & Blues music~

There is a long forgotten fact in America that in the 1880's this type of music was NEVER played on Resonators, Fender, Gibson or any of those store bought guitars, not only did they not exist, but at that time there was no way to buy a nice guitar so most people made there own. If you want to see that absolute most authentic Delta Blues & Slide guitar, watch this complete video....It is played with simple home made 3 string guitars , these are the real thing....there is no mass market music store guitars, this is Primal Americana, this is the Delta Blues!

A few words about this site

My Name is John McNair. I love American History and Folk Music. I really enjoy learning about not only the music but the instruments the people made it on. One thing I noticed in my research of the 3 string guitar is that there is a rich and long history in America, it has come in many forms... but there is not much information out there on these guitars. For many years now I have struggled to obtain all my curious answers and then I soon realized, most of the time I was answering my own questions....for in fact, I was the one who knew the most about the 3 string guitar.

Since there is no other person other than I who is even interested in recording the history of these wonderful and often quirky instruments and its players, I have taken the title of

"John McNair; The foremost authority of the 3 string guitar"

I have a large collection of media with over 2200 photos of 3 string guitars, I also have many old magazines and newspapers and, many of these dating back well over a 100 years, I have old newspapers and photos of all types ...this interest of mine originaly started with my fascination with the history of the "cigar box guitar" and has lead me down this road to finding my true life passion, the "Three String Guitar." I will be posting over the next few months, this is but a tiny tip of the surface. So, Bookmark this site and check back often.....as you know a blog runs backwards so when you visit be sure to scroll past the Intro Photos and videos to see the new stuff!
Lastly, a quick heads up...I am the worst speller and far to busy in life to double check grammer and spelling on everything I post...also I end just about everything with an exclamtion point like this!!!!...the reason is becuse I don't even waste my time posting unless I think it's absolutly cool, therefor I will usualy be so stoked I'll be like..."hey check out what I found!!!! Wow!!!"

Contact Me by phone or email

If you want to see more guitar photos or the Cigar Box Guitar & Instrument museum, visit reddogguitars.com or just Google "Red Dog Guitars"


you can email me at



john@reddogguitars.com




or call 1-787-671-9790 daytime till 8p.m.











B.B King's Cigar Box Guitar


I mean come on???? If It's good enough for BB than a three string cigar box guitar is totally good enough for you...what are you waiting on????
Many Of the Legends Play them....

Yes, in those small towns deep in the South, Juke Joints are still open and doin' well....a ruckus good time, dancin', drinkin' and the Blues....sometimes they put ol' 45's on them crank driven record players, sometimes Bluesmen just hop up on a stool and play away the night...check out "Sonny Boy" playing his cigar box guitar 3-stringer. Grab a beer and enjoy the night!


Now that is good Old' fashioned Americana!




Hey speaking of good Old fashioned Americana, How about the coolest thing ever made by an American craftsman, yes I am talking about the Liberty Bell! ....well both Bells???? amazing, a 3 string pickup for a cigar box guitar as "The Liberty Bell" ARRRROOOO !!!!!! That is so cool!
The Craftsman is Bob Harrison, he makes the FINEST 3 string and cigar box guitar pickups on PLANET EARTH!!!!!!!!!
contact him here http://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/BobHarrison

I bet he could make you something special!

Check out his latest
1937 Stars And Bars



Authentic Delta Blues Music

 This Summer (2010) I feel like I achieved my greatest triumph yet, I recored an all 3 string Delta Blues guitar album. In this album I set out to record only authentic Delta Blues music, no high powered electric or amped up guitar, no backing tracks or electronica, NO MODERN music, if you listen to this album you will believe you have been transported back to the 1920's and 30's...each and every song I recorded to sound and feel like times of the past...no overdrive pedals or rock riffs (I like them) but in this album I wanted it to be a snapshot of American Life long ago. I wanted to capture a long forgotten part of America and I believe this is my biggest accomplishment to date, it sure was alot of work.
   If you love three string guitars and cigar box guitars in general this is a MUST LISTEN to CD...it will change your life and take you back to a time long ago. Great to study to absorb and get that vintage sound in your own playing...all new tracks, and it is an amazing album. watch this video and enjoy



click here to get a copy in the mail

-Seasick Steve and the Three-String Trance Wonder -

 Where would the three string be without Ol' SeaSick???? He is perhaps the most revered player who still graces the stage with his beat up 3 string and always leaves the crowd wanting more.
His sound is super ranchy, ultra primitive and distintly Southen in its flavor . His guitar is a generic unbranded guitar from Japan that has an old Harmony pickup added and is played tuned to G, G and B using an E string in the A position, a D in the G position and a G in the B position.



From Mississppi to Finland Seasick's beat up 3-string Trance Wonder leaves 'em wanting more!
At his gigs, he often tells the story that he bought it for $75 in this condition in Como, Mississippi from a man named Sherman, who later told him he only paid $25 for it the day before. He vowed never to add another string, and that he would tour the world telling his story of how Sherman ripped him off. All in good fun as Sherman Cooper is a good buddy, who gave him the guitar having had it nailed to the wall as a decoration. A lot of the time he also adds (while picking up or putting away the guitar) that it is the "...biggest piece of shit in the world, I swear"....Do yourself a favor and watch this video below...you will love it!

Cigar Box Guitar Fest - Aug 28th

The Pennsylvania Cigar Box Guitar Festival will take place soon at the grounds of the York Emporium bookstore in downtown York, PA.
There is gonna be lots of vendors and musicains playing cigar box guitars,...this is the place to be!

you'll have a blast if you can make it! there is one every year, you have no excuses!

THIER GONNA PARTY LIKE IT'S 1899!!!!!

Blues in Schools program

 many schools are now adopting "Blues in schools" programs in both art and music class and in my opinion this is the greatest thing since bubble gum...holy cow! I was the worse student, I use to skip class all the time and when I was there I did poorly. I just didn't like going....but I can tell you what, if they let me play and have a cigar box guitar at school, I would have so been there!

I think it is a great way to help kids learn about American history and culture!

3 String Blues Legend

Meet Mac Arnold, an American 3 string guitar Icon....In late 1966, at age 24, came the opportunity of a lifetime to join the Muddy Waters Band and help shape the electric blues sound that inspired the rock and roll movement of the late 60’s and early 70’s.
  Regular guests of the band included Eric Clapton, Paul Butterfield, Mike Bloomfield, and Elvin Bishop. The Muddy Waters Band (as a unit) shared the stage with the likes of Howlin’ Wolfe, Elmore James, Jimmy Reed, Junior Wells, Big Joe Williams, and Big Mama Thornton just to name a few. During this time, Mac played on John Lee Hooker’s “live “album, Live at the Café Au Go-Go, as well as Otis Spann’s classic recording “The Blues is Where It’s At”.



More than just Blues,They Are AMERICANA



I can send you this CD in the mail, you will love it...click here to get a copy

The Chief is gonna getcha!


What Kind of Guitar would a cigar store indian play????
.....an Indian Three string!
I found this photo on a music forum...WoW, how cool is that

here is something cool.....

OLDEST KNOW GUITAR

....AND IT'S A THREE STRING!!!!

At 3500 years old, this is the ultimate vintage guitar!

It's called a Tanbur and was found in the tomb of Egyptian singer Har-Mose. It is thought to be about 3500 years old and had three strings and suspended from the neck by cords.
 It belonged to the Egyptian singer Har-Mose. He was buried with his tanbur close to the tomb of his employer, Sen-Mut, architect to Queen Hatshepsut, who was crowned in 1503 BCE. Sen-Mut built Hatshepsuts beautiful mortuary temple, which stands on the banks of the Nile to this day.

Written in "A Brief History of the Guitar", the first, primitive guitar appeared on clay plaques unearthed in Babylonia circa, 1850 B.C. The plaques show figures playing guitar like instruments that have a distinct body and neck.
The oval shaped, sound box was made of polished cedar wood with a rawhide soundboard stretched over it.  The neck passes through slits in the soundboard and the guitar strings, usually made of gut or silk, pass through three other holes to the neck. This ancient three stringed instrument is on display today at the Archaeological Museum in Cairo.

Chariots of FIRE!

Nothing wrong with lovin' your ride and missin' your guitar!..or is that the other way 'round??

Cruzin' with your guitar and missin' your ride!


Hey, what ever the case, This guitar is from Oz, the land of the Tasmanian Devil, digerrredoos and drivin' Hot Rods with steering wheels on the right , man, they sure do have cool three stringers down under....Glenn Reither's Australian 3 string is one cool guitar!

How To Play 3 String Cigar Box Guitar


The most complete Lessons on Playing 3 string guitar
covers Slide and Fingerstlye

Click here to get a DVD copy

The Cat In the Hat




It's a definate 3 stringer, when the photo is full size you can see it's some kind of homemade guitar can-banjo canjo thing or another....OK, you caught me....I wasn't looking at the instrument!



arrrrr...arrrrrrr....... aroooooooooo!!!!!!!


*Ford Model-T horn Blows*

----aaaaaa--uuuuugggggahhhhhhhhh---------

Homemade vintage three string dulcimer



Homemade ingenuity at it's Primal best! WoW...what can I say, Brian Kehn found this old dulcimer or "Tennessee box" dulcimer at a flea market at Aylmer Ontario...3 string history uncovered!.... what amazing craftsman was behind this.....check out those homemade crank tuners!!!!.....if only it could tell us it's story!

3 string cigar box guitar for sale

I finally got around to taking photos of the Clint Eastwood 3 string and it's for sale.....call me at 1-787-671-9790 or email me john@reddogguitars.com ....it could be yours!

Johnny Deep's Guitar!

OK, So it's a 4 string guitar...so sue me!
One thing's for sure is that it's totally cool , Yes that's Johnnny Deep with a Matty Baratto Cigar Box guitar!!!
If you are into cigar box guitar, you might have already seen this photo in some form or another as it was in the New York Post and is now all over the net....But it's so cool, It's not some boring and tired old news 6 string! ...so I just have to post it here too, I mean come on, could this be any cooler????? It's a cigar box guitar and one things for sure, It's Primal Americana





Cigar Box Guitar Pickups



The best of the best...jjb-electronics.com ...ask for Jessie!

2 scoops of sugery tone in every ear bite!



nothing come close to the vintage sound of an original Red Dog 1884.......Now that's good tone Paw-Paw!

Looking for Cigar Box Guitar CDs and DVDs?


The Next 3 String Master




Their starting young....but hey you could always build your own 3 stringer and try to catch up....nothing like learning something new!



This guy is like the Coolest Grandpa ever!.... to build a three string cigar box guitar together, man that's cool!




Sir Charleston Mojowski The 3rd


Sure the Queen has Nighted him, for he is a Legend Of The Royal Court, but some say late at night he roams the street Buskin' n' Blues'n like a pauper of the land!

Check out Charlie Mojo's Poppy Reso, super cool 3 string with a homemade square cover and rusticly royal!

HollowBelly ~The 3 string Delta Punk Prodigy~




3 string Cigar Box Guitars are Fine in Finland


Risto Sipiläinen's 3 stringer is as cool as they come!

3 string Banjo!


This is an old photo with the kid on the right holding what looks like some kind of homemade coffee tin banjo thing???? It's only got three strings...and you know what??? That's all you need!

Snarls In Charge!



Man, this goes to show you can find anything on ebay....In my quest to make guitars as rustic as possible I search thru countless cigar boxes...I only see about 1 out of every 50 boxes that I can use to make a guitar....and of that, only about once or twice a month do I see a box that just defines "Americana" and what Folk music and homemade guitars are all about....this box is one of those rare jewels, you can buy them for about 5 or 10 dollars, but I would put a value of at least 50 dollars due to the fact it's Mahogany ( a killer tone wood, but just so happens used for flavor) you have to look hard for these...I go to all the cigar shops in town and I am always looking online...a great box like this only comes once a month or so and is worth a stack of regular boxes the exact same size and brand....It's all about the snarly and rustic wood patterns and its age,.... some lady was selling it on ebay along with a stack of children's toys and clothes...It's not so old its an antique, but not it's not new either...(probably sold in the 70's or 80's) as it has no smokers warnings on the lower corner ( they brand Govt. warnings in the 90's and up).....Keep your eyes open, these great boxes are out there you just have to have the patience to look.....A great box is the key to a great guitar!...Now, get out there and build your own cigar box guitar!
Looking for the ultimate Box?????...search ebay for "Ashton cigar box" or try "Punch" maduro...if you look around you'll find your own Snarls in Charge!

Here is an example of how cool a Snarly Box can look, it has a big effect on the eye.
It's a Red Dog...I know it's a 4 string : ) now that's a nice guitar paw-paw!

...it's Primal Americana!

1965 Domra Three string Mandolin lute type thing



This is a Three string Mandolin/lute type instrument called the Domra. It is tuned in 4ths.


It is marked inside

"1965 B. USENKO. Highland Park, New Jersey, USA"

check out the craftsmanship!

Black Hair-Hollowbelly-and a 3 String


Bring out the Bad Boy in you...Have 3 string, will play!

Cigar Box Guitar Lessons on Three String

If you are looking for lessons for Three string guitar,
 click this link below


HOW TO PLAY 3 STRING DVD

Delta Blues and the Cigar Box Guitar



Just like McKinley Morganfield, Kevin M. Kraft enjoys a day buskin' his three string guitar outside.

So, your wondering who is McKinley Morganfield?????
OK, I'll give you clue...study the center of the photo and you will see where his name originated.










McKinley Morganfield got his start playing cigar box guitar on the banks of the Mighty Mississippi...he is better know as "Muddy Waters"...try this sometime, build yourself a cigar box guitar and head on out and be with nature, I promise you'll find inner music and enjoyment you could never get on a store bought 6 string guitar....Try it!






Cigar Box Guitar Lady from down Under!


bright smiles and sunny in the land of OZ!
Kate Ceberano on Blind Gee's 3 string


Pushin' tone to the past....




Watch this video of some killer three string guitar action...yes the one with the Nazi plane...you know your dying to see what that's all about????...go ahead, click it....just keep your eyes overhead!


I found the actual cavity covers from a 1934 Victor radio and used them to cover the back of the guitars pots and components. After almost a 100 years The Talking Machine speaks again....Watch the video and relive the tone!!!!
If you want to see more guitars like this just Google "Red Dog Guitars!"

Lady Three String


Make your own three string guitar...it will bring a smile to all that see!

Cigar Box Guitar Contest!

Just about everybody knows about the Daddy Mojo cigar Box guitar contest, It was cool they gave away a free guitar!!!! Wow!!!!

Ok, I wanted to have me a contest...but hey it's little old me over here I can't compete with those guys, there is only one of me over here, and there aint no way I would give a guitar away, they are just to valuable, but I want to drum up some excitement somehow...and it got me to thinkin', I'll have me a contest.... but..... I will give you what you REALY want....a "Fistful of dollars!!!!"

Man, how does that sound????? whelp, It's all up to you, I got Clint "Red Dog" Eastwood to explain all the details of this super fun contest....Go ahead....click n' win!

The Flying Dutchman


Who needs Silver?


Who needs Gold?

Nothing fairs better for cigar box guitar, than Brass be told.

arrrrrggghhh, ye matey


It's the Flying Dutchman...America's most Haunted 3 string guitar!

Rodney's cigar box guitar







...is it just me or are three string guitars really cool????

Roosterman's Trytone Slab-tar

This was a custom ordered three string guitar for a chap in Germany who wanted something that looks like 'It was built out of stuff found in a shed in the 1920s', with a touch of rustic charm.

How To Build the Ultimate Cigar Box Guitar

Hi my name is John, I have spent well over several hundred hours filming and editing the most complete How to Build a cigar box guitar DVD available. If you would like to take your guitar making not only to the next level but far beyond to get the sound you have always wanted in your cigar box guitar, I will show you how and what to do, everything is covered from start to finish, If you would like me to send you a copy in the mail or learn more click here.

No matter if it's your first time or 10th, this is the DVD you need to make a great guitar.
How to build a Cigar Box Guitar DVD

3 string bass Upright history


I read some fascinating stuff in a book this weekend "The evolution of the Double Bass"

A few centuries ago 3-string basses were the norm

Here is what the book said,

"During the 17th and 18th centuries the bass family diverged into two lines the four string and the 3 string with the 4 string version being used in Germany and the 3 string version being used in France, Italy, and England. It was thought that the 3 string version had better tone. Then around 1800 there was a migration away from the three string version and then an abandonment a generation later when the old teachers died off.

An example of this was in the Paris Conservatory where all first year students were required to use the three string version, then when the masters died thier replacements made it optional then as they died thier replacements dropped the three string version all together.
There were several tunning schemes for the three string version while the 4 string version was the EADG we all know today. From 1800 to 1850 English Bass players were looked on with great favor, note that this was during the time Dragonette (sp?) was in England (1795-184?) and the original tone of a 3 string bass was likely the reason."


1919 Fair Maiden on her 3 string thing

Here is a photo that is almost a 100 years old....I can't tell what it is??? some kind of breadbasket box harp thingamajig...I scored it off of ebay from some lady in Iowa. It looks like it has a chello bridge stuck up under the strings???? who knows??? One thing is for sure...It's a three string!




This is a photo of a young woman who immigrated to America, it shows her playing some kind of 3 string instrument???? It looks to be fretless and also have dulcimer string spacing with the top string used as a drone and the bottom 2 as melody lines.....I wonder what this Fair maiden sang????




How to Play Cigar Box Guitar WATCH THIS VIDEO
I finally finished the greatest project I have ever set out to do....How to play 3 string guitar DVD, covering everything from slide to finger plucking to Amp, strings and more.. to get a copy click here I will send you a copy in the mail, Plays on all DVD players....or email john@reddogguitars.com
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