It's March 24th 2023 -  I'm getting the shop ready for the summer guitars and this is the current updated page. I am working on new guitars and several new 3 and 4 string pickup ideas at the moment.

This page constantly changes - updates for the guitars for sale are at the bottom. 

 My name is John McNair. I've been building and selling guitars for about 20 years, but I actually spend most of my time recording music. I just love old time Blues music. It's so captivating! On this webpage you'll find hundreds of songs and videos that I rotate in an out. I try to always keep new stuff posted, I'm a night owl and I'm always working on some new song or idea, or maybe better yet said, some old sounding 1890's soundtrack made late last night a 100 years ago...

Does that make any sense? If you like old school blues music and slide guitar check out some of the albums and videos below.

>>> There are guitars for sale at the bottom of the page

and sometimes guitar pickups and parts...it always changes, you have to just check back every few weeks. 

If you need help or have any issues with any check out buttons.  Just email me      at  john@reddogguitars.com

There are Lessons and music DVDs on this site -  Worldwide Shipping

 - and - if you prefer, these disc are available in instant Download form on this page.

 There's also a book about cigar box guitars, it's called "Box Guitar Blues - The Book" at the bottom of this page

I have the music and video lessons in both forms - classic mail DVD / CD  or onsite download 

***** LOOK for the separate checkout buttons 

If you have questions or need help, email me anytime at  john@reddogguitars.com

 Listening to these old forgotten sounds of the part is like taking a journey back into a time.  Imagine walking through an old ghost town in the 1880's, the suspense, the mystery, the whispers that you can barley hear.

If you like old time blues music I have three different blues music albums that can be downloaded right to your computer or mailed to you. Questions or comments - email me at   john@reddogguitars.com

All of the music and videos on this site are only made with cigar box guitars - No regular guitars were used or recorded.

This is an old school blues album played on homemade guitars.  In these recordings I set out to recreate the 1920's and 30's era. I wanted to capture that sound and tone from long ago. 

 Without singing or using words, these songs tell a story all of their own, Juke Joints, old ghost towns, glass bottleneck slide guitar...and there's a few modern Electric Chicago style twist too. It will keep you on your toes like those old school two tone leather shoes.

  This music was recorded with vintage microphones and recording gear. I like to find and use aged and older analog gear that I can bring back to life. This music is only recordings of cigar box guitars. There is no regular guitars and no band or singing.

A lot can be done with a 3 string guitar, you can record old time blues with little effort, but you can also record modern blues styles too.

These guitars have a naturally vintage sound that doesn't require much effort to play and sound well. You can let the guitar work for you because the tone is so unique.

Three string guitars are fun and easy to play. It's much easier to learn how to play a cigar box guitar than it is to learn how to play a regular 6 string guitar.

  Early Blues music and slide guitar that was played on these homemade instruments was created by people who most often didn't know any form of music theory or what musical chords and keys were. Many of them could not even read the written word.

 If the musicians who played Blues music in the 1880's didn't know music theory or complicated math, then neither do you. You do not need to learn chords or complicated music structure to play great sounding blues music on a 3 string guitar.

 On this DVD I will explain the method of how to play guitar by feeling and ear. These lessons will teach you in a simple and easy manner how to play guitar that sounds like it's from the past. It doesn't matter what your age is or how well you can or can't use your hands or fingers. If you can use a computer keyboard, you too can play a 3 string guitar. 

 Watch this short video below, you will see that these guitars don't require much effort to play. Slide guitar is basically just one finger guitar with a few plucks here and there. You can let the guitar work for you because the tone of the instrument is so unique.

When I was in my teens, I was totally fascinated with learning how to play the guitar. I tried to learn from many teachers. I had a very skilled guitar teacher, but when he spoke it was so confusing to me. He spoke clearly, but it was all just too perplexing for my ears. 

 I was not the type of person who could grasp, "it's a G chord with this note as the root....or it's with a minor 7th,...or it's an F#"...and so on.

 I remember thinking to myself, "How am I ever going to learn?"

 I also found it too hard and frustrating to learn by trying to memorize fretboard maps or layouts with charts and dots from math that I didn't understand in the first place. I just wanted to be able to enjoy learning how to play the guitar. 

 As for me, I love hearing that old time deep southern blues. It makes me feel like I've been transported back into the past to a simpler time long ago. So in the end, I have spent 30 years studying and learning many different guitar techniques and styles. In the process, I've learned how to play guitar by feeling and ear. I can now teach you how to play the same way. 

This DVD is not like the other standard "hard to learn" guitar courses  

On this DVD,

NO math is involved

NO scientific music theory

These lessons are different. I will explain how to play guitar using easy to understand terms and concepts so you can play and create your own music that will sound compelling and moving to hear. 

 These lessons have been broken down into small easy to learn step-by-step building blocks that we will then put together to achieve an authentic old time vintage sound. With just a little patience and practice, you'll be able to create dramatic and captivating music without using difficult math or any music theory.

Imagine a time long ago and a farmer sitting in a rocking chair on the front porch after a long days work in the fields. He's holding in his hands a homemade guitar that was made out of an old used cigar box and some scraps of wood.

 He's just sitting there relaxing and not thinking too hard about how to create music. He didn't have a computer or cell phone to compare himself to others. He's just sitting there playing guitar on a breezy afternoon without a care in the world. He's having fun and entertaining himself playing songs that his heart and ears can enjoy. - If he can do it, so can you. 

These guitars are rewarding to play. Anyone can learn to play one with just a little time and patience.

If you have read this far, Thanks for your time and consideration in allowing me to share with you how to play and if you have any questions email me - john@reddogguitars.com

This is a Delta Blues cigar box guitar music CD disc that was recorded using 3 sting guitars.

  My goal with this album was to take the listener back in time the early 1900's as if you were actually there... to relive those old dust bowl recordings and ghost towns from long ago.

 I set out to record these songs to sound and feel as authentic as possible. The music on this disc was played on several different types of three string guitars. I've also used resonator box guitars and a few different cigar box guitars that had different tunings. There is no singing or band and no regular guitars were used on this album.  

I wanted to create music that sounded like you were walking through an old abandoned town or farmhouse from the 1880's, with suspense, and mystery, whispers that you could barley hear.

 Cigar box guitars are fun and easy to play. These guitars have a naturally vintage tone that sounds like they're from the past. It's also easier to learn how to play a cigar box guitar than it is to learn on a regular guitar - But, just as enjoyable as they are to play, they are also fun and easy to build. 

This video covers several types of guitars, both 3 and 4 string as well as resonator guitars.

 It will show you how and what I do when I build guitars in my shop. Everything is explained from start to finish. It doesn't matter if this is your first time building or your 10th. After you study and watch this dvd you will build a better and more resonate sounding guitar.

  I share what to do about the body of the guitar, the wood for necks, how to fret the neck and homemade fretting like a pro - and yes, fretting a guitar neck is easy, even if it's your first time. All done with only basic hand tools. I also cover headstocks of all types and so much more than you could ever get from a book or watching endless random youtube videos....You will save many hours of trying to learn on your own.

   After watching this dvd you'll be able to build a guitar that sounds vintage or modern, clean or gritty, ring like a bell or bite like a dog!  

When I record, I like the 'tone' of my guitar to land somewhere in between the 1930's and a pair of rusty Hot Rod exhaust pipes :-)

Cigar box guitars are built with just a few basic hand tools that most people already have or can borrow from a friend. The great thing about building these guitars is that you don't need power tools. It's kind of liberating if you think about it, to build regular guitars you would need a whole shop of specialized tools, power saws and carpentry planes.

Here is a short sample list of the basic tools you will need,

•  a small hand saw 

• small hand pliers

• sandpaper and wood glue

•  a small hand drill 

•  pocket knife 

• small hammer / or rubber mallet 

• a few small screwdrivers / Phillips type

• a quality ruler (I prefer Metric) Buy a steel ruler, It's the most important tool you'll own

 As you can see, these guitars don't require many tools. You've already got a head start in this type of construction, the body has been pre-made for you, it's just an old used box. One aspect that I really enjoy about building these guitars, is that they are easy to complete.

- We will also cover all of the parts needed, ideas for homemade bridges, electric pickup types, body hardware, etc. You can use new or used guitar parts or you can get creative and make your own parts with stuff from around your house. It's also exciting to look around your garage or the local hardware store for random items that could be used in a creative way on a guitar. 

 Here below is a rustic looking and road worn 3 string guitar. It has homemade metal body parts. Even the hardtail bridge is made at home from a piece of bent metal. I explain how I make or find parts and how to think ahead when searching for them so that you can create ideas and themes that inspire you. 

Cigar box guitars are built with just a few basic hand tools that most people already have or can borrow from a friend. The great thing about building these guitars is that you don't need power tools. It's kind of liberating if you think about it, to build regular guitars you'll need a whole shop of specialized tools, power saws and carpentry planes.

Here is a short sample list of the basic tools you will need,

•  a small hand saw 

• small hand pliers

• sandpaper and wood glue

•  a small hand drill 

•  pocket knife 

• small hammer / or rubber mallet 

• a few small screwdrivers / Phillips type

• a quality ruler (I prefer Metric) Buy a steel ruler, It's the most important tool you'll own

 As you can see, these guitars don't require many tools. You've already got a head start in this type of construction, the body has been pre made for you, it's just an old used box. That's one aspect that I really enjoy about building these guitars, is that they are easy to complete.

- We also cover all of the parts needed, ideas for homemade bridges, electric pickup types, body hardware, etc.  

You can use new or used guitar parts or you can get creative and make your own parts with stuff from around your house. It's also exciting to look around your garage or the local hardware store for random items that could be used as guitar parts. 

 Resonator guitar construction is also covered on this DVD

 Homemade resonators are fantastic to play and record with. If you're trying to recreate that hair-raising deep slide gritty down home blues from the 1920's and 30's than this is the type of guitar for you. 

 These instruments are a thrill to play, they have a crisp metallic bell like tone with a sound that is full of sustain and volume. The sound they produce is so vivid and incredible. 

...and if you plug one into an overdriven tube amplifier it will turn into a rude little screamer!

 These guitars are super captivating. There are many guitarist who play only this type of guitar and nothing else. The projection of tone that comes out of the front of the guitar is so phenomenal they can become the only guitar you'll ever want to hold in your hands. 

Here's a recording of a homemade resonator this was captured acoustically open air with a microphone set up right in front of me,

Building a resonator is much easier than you may think, the neck is a stick that runs right through the box and the body is cleverly anchored at the end. There are some things that are different from a standard cigar box guitar, but it's not difficult nor any harder to build. It just requires a bit more time to construct. The strings sit on a bridge that pushes down on a cone held upright inside the body of the guitar. When you strum, it vibrates the center of the cone and it provides amplification without electricity.

- The parts to build cigar box resonators are for sale online in many places. The cones are specialty parts designed and made for these guitars, but if you want to build in the Lo-Fi style, I also explain how to use paint can lids and other items that work well as resonator parts. If you live in Europe or the United Kingdom there are makers of these custom parts available for sale in your part of the world. They are also available for sale in Australia.

If you have read this far, thank you for your time. I know this information was a lot to read but I only wanted to be factual and state what this video was about. These easy to follow lessons will save you a lot of time from making mistakes and it will help you build a better sounding guitar.

 Email me anytime with any questions you may have and thanks again, John

This is a southern cigar box guitar music CD called Cigar Box Americana. 

 The music and songs are all sounds that are vintage and southern in flavor. To record this music, I've used both 3 and 4 string guitars.  To add grit and tube tone I recorded with old and vintage 1960's and 70's guitar amplifiers. Some were naturally overdriven to achieve a real primitive Southern gritty sound. 

 Here is a video of an old-time "Cigar Box Jukes" played on a 4 string guitar with a glass slide,

Below are fully built guitars that I have for sale.

These are the current guitars for sale for shipment world wide, they are not custom order. 

These are finished and ready for shipment.

This section of the website is updated weekly, these guitars for sale are the exact ones in the photos.

If you have any questions, my email is  john@reddogguitars.com  I ship world wide anywhere in the world and insured.

*** The shipping is Flat Rate $88.00 anywhere in the world.  same price - $88 anywhere in the world.

--------

One note about these guitars. 

I don't have much of a sales pitch to convince you to buy a guitar. What I can say is this, I am selling these guitars in total belief that any guitar I send to you will be your most prized instrument and that you will cherrish and play it for the remainder of your life. 

If that seems like we would be a good fit, contact me. john@reddogguitars.com

The Old Timer - Hand made guitar from an old used cigar box. This 3 string guitar is painted with a vintage Royal Blue that was on old Ford pickup trucks from the 1960's and 70's. It's made to look worn and weathered but it's satin smooth to the touch and a joy to play. 

This guitar can cover any style of music, from old time slide to primitive rustic Blues...and amped up it will record super gritty Chicago style electric bottleneck guitar.......whatever............ however! - there's a whole world of sounds to explore! 

Los Gatos Callejeros - The Stray Cats

I just wanted to have a little fun with the art for this guitar. I was actually inspired to create this guitar because I saw 2 alley cats in a photo of Rome Italy ...as soon as I saw them I went back to memories in my mind of the gritty streets of Puerto Rico and I thought to myself "los gatos!"

I know it's Spainsh, not Italian, hey hey, I'm just having fun in life.... the translation means "the stray cats"

 ....now if I could just get a chance to see those street cats of Rome in real life...what a city with history!

Sometimes I have several guitars for sale, sometimes there's only a few listed above.....it just depends on what the music scene is like around here during the week. I like to spend my time recording ...actually that's what this hobby is all about in the end, it's about about creating new music.....so, you'll always find me on Spotify and Itunes. For musicians, the times we live in now are really empowering, you don't need to go to a studio or a have "recording contract" to release music. Nowadays you can just make it at home and put it online for direct download to peoples cellphones around the planet within minutes...

 How cool is that!!!! 

Well, time for me to go, how about one more fun photo? This is an antique cigar box guitar from the book "Box Guitar Blues." It's a book that a team of us put together in 2022 about cigar box guitars. This is a photo from the book of one of my all time favorite home made guitars. It turned up for sale on ebay a few years back. Just imagine the effort put into building this instrument. I only wish I could meet the person and hear them play it. 

What a story I bet they could tell! - How about that craftsmanship...now that's dedication : )

 If you like cigar box guitars you'll love this book. Take a journey into the past as we explore cigar box guitars and other homemade stringed instruments that helped to create the music we now call Blues and Rock n' Roll.  

  In this book you'll find lots of old and antique photos, old blues history with homemade guitars, vintage stories and plans of "how to builds" and much more from the past. Many of these images have not been seen or published for over a 100 years. 

There's also lots of cool photos of modern 3 string guitars, 4 string guitars, Resonator guitars and hot rod amplifiers.  This is a fun book for anyone who enjoys learning about the history of cigar box guitars, you'll read it many times. The photos alone are a treasure to view.  

Hey, did you know books are fun to read? Yep, they're filled with facts and photos and they can take you to places and times that you've never been... and best part is, you can just sit confortably and look at the pages over and over.  

This book is for sale on Amazon for 18.50  - shipping is available Worldwide- Click here to order a copy

If you would like see more - visit to the full Red Dog Guitars website at this link

https://www.reddogguitars.com/