From all of us here at C. B. Gitty and Cigar Box Nation, we'd like to wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

I personally would like to thank everyone for their support this year. The last several years have presented a host of challenges, and 2022 certainly had its share.

Through them all, we must remember just how many blessings we have to count. I frequently remind myself just how fortunate I am to be a part of this cigar box guitar community and homemade music movement. When I see all of the amazing things created from our kits and parts, and the music made on them, I cannot help but be humbled and inspired.

Now that we are through the shipping rush, and able to draw a breath or two, I wanted to share a few "glad tidings" with you to hopefully help make your Christmas season just a little brighter.

Also, just a reminder: if your own shopping rush isn't quite done, then be sure to remember C. B. Gitty Gift Certificates. They make a great gift for that special builder in your life... even if that builder is you!

Ben "Gitty" Baker

December 21, 2022

Cigar Box Nation Christmas Album Released

Every year Cigar Box Nation members come together under the production leadership of CBN member Slowpaw Steve T to record a holiday-themed album. This year’s album has just been released, and you can freely listen to the tracks or download the full album!

Our thanks go out to Slowpaw Steve and all of the Cigar Box Nation members who submitted songs this year. A song from Christian Rock & Blues legend Glenn Kaiser is even included.

Listen and Download Here!

Gitty Gang Christmas Concert

The evening of Monday, December 19, Ben "Gitty" gathered together a group of his musician friends for a very special live broadcast Christmas concert event.

Watch on Facebook

Watch on YouTube

The two-hour show featured a festive mix of songs and tunes, including some traditional Irish favorites (it is 3/4 of the way to St. Patrick's Day, you know) and nine singers and musicians. We all had a great time, and we hope you do too as you watch and sing along.

CBN Member Donates Ted Crocker "Honeydripper" Guitar to Good Cause

We received a note this week from Cigar Box Nation member John Moore, who a few years back purchased one of the two handmade electric guitars Ted Crocker built for the "Honeydripper" motion picture. Ted sadly passed away earlier this year.

Wanting to do something meaningful with the guitar to honor Ted's legacy, John decided to pass it on to Susan Antone, who is founding a blues museum on the second floor of the famous Antone's blues club in Austin, Texas. She graciously accepted the guitar, which will remain on permanent display there at the museum.

"I never met Ted face to face," John wrote, "But I believe [he] would be happy."

We'd like to think so too.

Above: John Moore presents the Ted Crocker "Honeydripper" guitar to Susan Antone for inclusion in a new blues museum at Antone's Blues Club in Austin, Texas.

Thank You to the Gitty Crew

I want to take a moment to thank the people who work here at C. B. Gitty, for all of their work making the instruments, kits and parts, getting everything packaged, and shipped out.

Kim and Cindy in the shipping department above are the ones who got your orders out each day. Laurel and Dawn "Mrs. Gitty" in the Packing Department made sure all of the different products (over 1000) were properly counted out and packaged. Nick, in addition to running the Customer Support Help Desk, managed the packaging of the many hundreds of instrument kits that we shipped. And out in the Gitty Shop, the team of Dan, Jake and Danny led by Production Manager R. Jay did a great job producing the many American-made items we are proud to craft and sell.

So a big thank you to all the C. B. Gitty team, and here's to a great 2023!

And Now For Something Completely Different...

This is what an Artificial Intelligence image-creation engine came up with when I told it to create a photo of "a Christmas tree made out of cigar box guitars". How do you think it did?

C. B. Gitty Crafter Supply - 1-877-470-5707 - www.CBGitty.com

Cigar Box Nation - www.CigarBoxNation.com