One string diddley bow

Posted by Mark Frauenfelder, April 8, 2009 9:13 PM | permalink

I found this video of Wade playing his homemade one-string diddley bow on Cigar Box Nation. Fantastic.

Only the best pallet wood, chicken can and drywall screws money can buy to build this fine instrument. This is an off the cuff song I came up with to go with this mean piece of wood.

Be sure to check out the other videos of one, two, three, and four-stringed homemade musical instruments.

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Discussion

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#1 posted by stuhfoo, April 8, 2009 9:21 PM

creative

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#2 posted by eustace, April 8, 2009 9:57 PM

thats some damn authentic blues there

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#3 posted by Anonymous, April 8, 2009 10:13 PM

That is darn cool. It's like the soundtrack to a drunk hobo that has disappeared a few train station masters in his day. Anyway, I want to make one.

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#4 posted by Anonymous, April 9, 2009 12:03 AM

great work!

Seasick Steve rocks one of these in addition to his 3-string guitar:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zi_0k3hzNS4

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#5 posted by Crispinus211, April 9, 2009 2:40 AM

Now all we need is a CuteGirl Plays RetroSong on the Diddley Bow, where "CuteGirl" = a cute girl and "RetroSong" = a retro song.

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#6 posted by Angstrom, April 9, 2009 7:19 AM

I've made myself a few of these, including a 3-string folding one that uses the string tension to keep it in a straight line when it's set up to play. I took that with me when I went on a 2 month journey without any instruments and it kept me sane.
it folds down to about a foot in length and all the workings (tuning pegs, etc)pack into the soundbox.

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#7 posted by Mark Frauenfelder, April 9, 2009 7:39 AM

Photos, Angstrom, photos!

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#8 posted by dragonfrog, April 9, 2009 9:26 AM

Crispinus - I suspect that the diddly bow, as fine as it is, isn't really a CuteGirl instrument - more of a GrizzledRuffian instrument.

If anything the gentleman above is too cute - unshaven, sure, but the sunglasses and hat only partially conceal the lack of facial scarring, and the fact that his skin isn't tanned to an Eastwoodesque leatheriness.

Not that I'm complaining - I definitely enjoyed the video.

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#9 posted by Anonymous, April 10, 2009 1:24 AM

Reminds me of Morphine.

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#10 posted by Anonymous, April 10, 2009 2:12 PM

holy crap that guy's sound is incredible! the whole thing is great -- the string, the vocals, the amplified growl of it all.

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#11 posted by Anonymous, April 22, 2009 3:14 AM

Why haven't I heard of this Guy? BBBbbbad....!
Also try satan & adam. Street performers from Harlem..