The random immediateness of life

I found myself searching the internet, cross-referencing possible names for my newest venture in hopes that no one has used at least one of them and there I am on my latest idea, something relating to Woolly Mammoth which I stretched from my last name being Wohlgemuth which translates to “happy” or “happy soul” my thinking being that wooly is warm, warm is happy, wooly is also hairy, I have a beard, maybe something like Wooly Soul would be cool, oh, darn, someone already has a blog called that, oh, wait, that’s a blog I started a couple of years ago and forgot about, wow, I used to make bread every week, something else I need to get back to, but for now…my latest venture…making musical instruments.

So I started with the basic cigar box guitar formula and got hooked, experimenting with a few other options for bodies (cookie tins, silverware boxes) and neck designs. Now I’m just trying to keep up with my ideas while having limited time in the evenings to try them out. It seems that each build has been very different from the last so I can’t say there is a standard model I necessarily work from. But that has made it more exciting. Even though not everything has worked in the end, it’s been a great learning experience, especially for someone who has little to no woodworking experience.

And here are some of my creations so far…



Cigar Box Guitar #1 and Fretless Cookie Tin Bass



8-string Lute from a silverware box




Unfinished Salad Bowl Tack-Head Banjo with goatskin head.
Dogs love goatskin heads.