Shane Speal (born May 20, 1970) is an American musician, historian, and instrument builder who is best known for building and promoting

cigar box guitar The cigar box guitar is a simple chordophone that uses an empty cigar box as a resonator. The earliest had one or two strings; modern models typically have three or more. Generally, the strings are connected to the end of a broomstick or a 1×2 i ...

s. He is the author of the D.I.Y. musical instrument book ''Making Poor Man's Guitars'' (2018, Fox Chapel Publishing)] and is a writer for the magazine ''

Guitar World ''Guitar World'' is a monthly music magazine for guitarists – and fans of guitar-based music and trends – that has been published since July 1980. ''Guitar World'', the best-selling guitar magazine in the United States, contains original art ...

''. Speal is the central figure in the Max Shores documentary, ''Songs Inside the Box'', which spotlights the cigar box guitar resurgence.

History

Speal built his first cigar box guitar on July 4, 1993. He used a cardboard Swisher Sweets cigar box and a plank of wood from his barn after reading an article about

Carl Perkins Carl Lee Perkins (April 9, 1932 – January 19, 1998)#nytimesobit, Pareles. was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. A rockabilly great and pioneer of rock and roll, he began his recording career at the Sun Studio, in Memphis, Tennes ...

. cigar box guitar in a 1976 issue of ''Guitar Player magazine''. Speal said that his inspiration was to find an instrument that would give him music "deeper than the Delta blues." In the next six years, Speal built over 200 more cigar box guitars under the brand Catfish Music Works, perfecting a crude poplar stick-thru-wood box design. He received endorsements from

Warren Haynes Warren Haynes (born April 6, 1960) is an American musician, singer and songwriter. He is best known for his work as longtime guitarist with the Allman Brothers Band and as founding member of the jam band Gov't Mule. Early in his career he was a ...

and

Allen Woody Douglas Allen Woody (October 3, 1955 – August 26, 2000) was an American bass guitarist best known for his eight-year tenure in the Allman Brothers Band and as a co-founder of Gov't Mule. Biography After having studied at Vanderbilt's Bla ...

. In addition to promoting the art of cigar box guitars online and supporting other players worldwide (such as Wesseh Freeman), Speal is a full-time musician who performs exclusively with cigar box guitars. He has released over 10 albums. Speal has been featured in '' Premier Guitar Magazine'' and ''Make Magazine''.

References

External links

Cigar Box Nation site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Speal, Shane Living people American folk guitarists American experimental guitarists American male guitarists 1970 births 21st-century American guitarists 21st-century American male musicians