which one of us is crazy
The other day I called at an old fashioned tobacconist to see if they had any cigar boxes. I always feel slightly embarassed for some reason. The usual customers are often connoisseurs of fine tobacco. They are there to buy some of it, and me - I want empty boxes. I usually tell the assistant what I want them for. I think it gives me a bit more street cred and lessens the embarassment. On the other hand, I wonder if they think I'm some kind of crazy nut.
There was a customer already in there, closely examining some Monte Christos. He was taking each one out of it's aluminium tube and carefully squeezing and sniffing at it. The assistant was a friendly young man and started dealing with me whilst the other guy continued with his minute examination. These cigars were obviously something special.
I was looking at various empties and commented that I liked the Bolivar one because it had 'a nice design' on the front. This brought a reaction from the other customer that I could only describe as a snigger. Maybe he hadn't heard my first conversation and thought I was choosing cigars based on the box design. Either way it made me feel a little stupid. He closed the deal agreeing to buy four Montes, handed the assistant £60 and seemed very happy with his purchase. I bought five empty boxes for £5 and walked out of the shop, also happy.
Now the question is this. Which of us is the crazy one and who deserved the snigger? He spent £60 and will stick some rolled up leaves between his lips and set fire to them. I spent £5 and will make five guitars.
I want to add that I don't wish to offend cigar smokers, but you have to admit, it's a weird thing to be doing if you think about it. The young man who served me, was really friendly and helpful and I did promise to add the link to his shop so here it is http://www.thebackyshop.co.uk/
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3 comments:
Hey, great stuff. I'm in the process of building my first cbg. I think I've pretty much nailed down how I want to accomplish most things on my trial run except frets. Any advice? Good materials to use? I've seen skeweres (both stainless steel and bamboo utilized) Leaning towards fretless for the time being as it is going to be a slide rig. How do you mark your frets? Keep up the good work.
Thanks for your comments. All of mine have been fretless. I have seen people use wooden cocktail sticks for frets. If I was going to all the trouble to fit frets I would use the real thing. I'd want them to do the job properly. You can buy sets of frets wires from luthier supplies. I've always thought it too difficult but a CBG buddy of mine has done it and says it's no big deal. For your first guitar though, I would keep it simple and just mark the frets. I have two methods, mark them up with pencil then burn them on with a soldering iron bit that has been shaped like a screwdriver blade. Or if the wood is dark, just use a fine saw and cut a shallow groove.
Hi David,
I'm afraid that cigar smoker gives the breed a bad name....Much like other 'con-o-sewers' he thinks paying £60 for three cigars means he's something special.
Hopefully when the credit crunch hits him he'll end up picking 'Butts' out of the gutter along with the other 'Bankers'.
5 for £5 is a good price! I was charged £2.50 each for mine!
Jeff.
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