After cigar boxes showed up in America in the mid 1800s. musicians began making guitars and fiddles from these thin wood boxes wanting to make noise but not able afford a “real” instrument. In the hands of artists like Blind Willie Johnson, Lightnin Hopkins, and Big Bill Broonzy, Delta Blues laid the groundwork for many forms of contemporary music. A recent resurgence has seen the rise of these mighty instruments once again.

Made from found objects and reclaimed wood, this three-string cigar box guitar has a hand-carved maple and mahogany neck, sculpted bone nut and bridge, and single coil pickup.  The zebrawood fretboard is accented with hand cut abalone inlays.

To fill out the rig, a handmade pine box speaker cabinet houses a 12” Jenson speaker. The whole rig is driven by a Bugera T5 tube amp.

A bottleneck slide ties it all together.

Urban parent and artisan Francis Quinn (Gio '20) has created a real gem that’s the perfect addition to an authentic instrument collection. Rock on!