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 p retty 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 Th...