Red Dog Guitars is a small one person craft shop specializing in keeping a truly American
tradition alive of making Dobro, Slide, Folk, Tenor, Acoustic and Electric guitars out of
different types of vintage and antique cigar boxes. This dying form of guitar construction
spans back well over 150 years in our country's history. My Name is John McNair, I have
been building homemade guitars since the mid 90's. I have always worked by myself but
now with the occasional help from my wife. Every guitar I build is built by hand using
only the highest quality and rarest of recycled materials in a pursuit of the richest, most
authentic Blues and Country sound and tone possible. I enjoy using old furniture and
reclaimed old growth American hardwoods for necks and braces, not only are they much
more stable woods, but they are usually much better looking and I believe it adds a
charm and character that you can't get from the "run of the mill" at the local lumber yard.
I build both Left and Right handed guitars and whether you are a Blues, Country,
Bluegrass, or even a Rock guitarist, I'm sure to have the perfect guitar for your style.
tradition alive of making Dobro, Slide, Folk, Tenor, Acoustic and Electric guitars out of
different types of vintage and antique cigar boxes. This dying form of guitar construction
spans back well over 150 years in our country's history. My Name is John McNair, I have
been building homemade guitars since the mid 90's. I have always worked by myself but
now with the occasional help from my wife. Every guitar I build is built by hand using
only the highest quality and rarest of recycled materials in a pursuit of the richest, most
authentic Blues and Country sound and tone possible. I enjoy using old furniture and
reclaimed old growth American hardwoods for necks and braces, not only are they much
more stable woods, but they are usually much better looking and I believe it adds a
charm and character that you can't get from the "run of the mill" at the local lumber yard.
I build both Left and Right handed guitars and whether you are a Blues, Country,
Bluegrass, or even a Rock guitarist, I'm sure to have the perfect guitar for your style.
Music and Photos within Research archives on this site Courtesy of Library Of Congress ©Public Domain. Used for research under Fair Law, unless otherwise stated, i.e Goggle search; copyright holder unknown. Red Dog Guitars © 1997 MADE IN AMERICA. All rights AVAILABLE, feel free to cut, copy and paste any guitars you see on this site...be sure to tell 'em it's a Red Dog!!!! |
| Red Dog Guitars strives to adopt the use of alternative construction techniques that avoid waste and make better use of our planet's valuable and in many cases irreplaceable resources. |
| OK, there is 3 navigation choices below, You can see the guitars I have for sale, visit the Cigar Box Guitar History Museum, or continue reading further below about this site. |
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In todays terms some people call my work "Outsider Art" of "Folk art", some call it
"Tramp Art"...some see a cigar box guitar as a part of American history and an historic
musical instrument. Truthfully, I've never considered myself much an artist, just a
ordinary guy with a passion for music, history and art putting them together for an
original formula for creating guitars. A craftsman so to speak? I love to make them, it's
my passion and they would eventually pile up to the celling if I didn't do something with
them.
So, here I am selling them. Everyone, from many of the most famous of movie stars,
musicians, European royalty, down to the starving artist has pursued me non-stop for one
of my guitars. I never would have imagined my work would spark such a worldwide
phenomena and following.
Even today, many years after posting those first few photos, it still has me speechless.
Whatever you prefer to call my work, or how you interpret it, I greatly appreciate your
interest. I can't begin to say how thankful I am since I started sharing photos of my
homemade cigar box guitars. Back then the Internet was a very different place and new.
Now, like Johnny Appleseed, those photos have spawned a 1000 cigar box guitar builders
and players from coast to coast who realized there was so much more in the world than
Fender or Gibson........there's nothing wrong with those factory guitars.....but since that
change.......many great and talented people are making and selling cigar box
guitars...WOW! That's something unheard of back when I started posting photos many
years ago.
As for me, I have never changed and I am still just one guy stuck in the past, but because
the power of the Internet I am with disbelief at how popular my guitars have become, if
this was still the 90's and without the world wide web, being able to share my work for
this long would be all but IMPOSSIBLE! I remember having to run small classified adds
in a Louisiana newspapers and waiting for a call!!!!... and to now see how information is
now exchanging between person and person is mind bogging......pictures of a house, car
or even cigar box guitar from the other side of the planet at the click of the mouse!
I use to joke with my wife "be careful when you answer the phone, you never know who it
might be"....But never could I have guessed some of the famous or far off people I have
been humbled to meet just by answering the phone in my living room.
Well, since your here, feel free to browse the gallery of guitars for sale and viewing. I've
been making them far longer than I have been selling them, and while it wasn't possible
for me to show you all of the guitars I've built, I've tried to select some interesting and
colorful designs to give you an idea of what I enjoy making.
"Tramp Art"...some see a cigar box guitar as a part of American history and an historic
musical instrument. Truthfully, I've never considered myself much an artist, just a
ordinary guy with a passion for music, history and art putting them together for an
original formula for creating guitars. A craftsman so to speak? I love to make them, it's
my passion and they would eventually pile up to the celling if I didn't do something with
them.
So, here I am selling them. Everyone, from many of the most famous of movie stars,
musicians, European royalty, down to the starving artist has pursued me non-stop for one
of my guitars. I never would have imagined my work would spark such a worldwide
phenomena and following.
Even today, many years after posting those first few photos, it still has me speechless.
Whatever you prefer to call my work, or how you interpret it, I greatly appreciate your
interest. I can't begin to say how thankful I am since I started sharing photos of my
homemade cigar box guitars. Back then the Internet was a very different place and new.
Now, like Johnny Appleseed, those photos have spawned a 1000 cigar box guitar builders
and players from coast to coast who realized there was so much more in the world than
Fender or Gibson........there's nothing wrong with those factory guitars.....but since that
change.......many great and talented people are making and selling cigar box
guitars...WOW! That's something unheard of back when I started posting photos many
years ago.
As for me, I have never changed and I am still just one guy stuck in the past, but because
the power of the Internet I am with disbelief at how popular my guitars have become, if
this was still the 90's and without the world wide web, being able to share my work for
this long would be all but IMPOSSIBLE! I remember having to run small classified adds
in a Louisiana newspapers and waiting for a call!!!!... and to now see how information is
now exchanging between person and person is mind bogging......pictures of a house, car
or even cigar box guitar from the other side of the planet at the click of the mouse!
I use to joke with my wife "be careful when you answer the phone, you never know who it
might be"....But never could I have guessed some of the famous or far off people I have
been humbled to meet just by answering the phone in my living room.
Well, since your here, feel free to browse the gallery of guitars for sale and viewing. I've
been making them far longer than I have been selling them, and while it wasn't possible
for me to show you all of the guitars I've built, I've tried to select some interesting and
colorful designs to give you an idea of what I enjoy making.
As for the guitar Aficionado, check out the History archives of American Folk music
and the Blues. I have spent many years scouring Libraries, the Internet and basically
any and everywhere for the history of the cigar box guitar. It is vast and I have
amassed an array of historical photos not found anywhere else in the world. I have
seen many online art galleries and libraries and I have noticed they all were hard to
navigate because you needed to open many pages just to view one photo after
another.....I found it to be too much clicking and waiting....but....this I set up much
different and it allows you to view many historic photos easily and enjoyably. I
encourage you to visit, especially if you have a child or family member interested in
the history of music. Some of the photos are so memorable and impressionable
you'll never forget them... some will take your breath away....But no matter what, If
you enjoy history, your sure to enjoy them, have a peek. Click here
If you have any questions on something you’ve seen on this site, Pick up the phone,
Don’t be shy!!!!...my wife says I can be a real chatter box sometimes, look how far
you had to read to get to this spot on this page!!!!!...sheeez.. I'm tired of typing
now!....so no worries, if you have a question call me or my wife at,
1-787-671-9790. Or you can email me anytime at john@reddogguitars.com
Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the site!
and the Blues. I have spent many years scouring Libraries, the Internet and basically
any and everywhere for the history of the cigar box guitar. It is vast and I have
amassed an array of historical photos not found anywhere else in the world. I have
seen many online art galleries and libraries and I have noticed they all were hard to
navigate because you needed to open many pages just to view one photo after
another.....I found it to be too much clicking and waiting....but....this I set up much
different and it allows you to view many historic photos easily and enjoyably. I
encourage you to visit, especially if you have a child or family member interested in
the history of music. Some of the photos are so memorable and impressionable
you'll never forget them... some will take your breath away....But no matter what, If
you enjoy history, your sure to enjoy them, have a peek. Click here
If you have any questions on something you’ve seen on this site, Pick up the phone,
Don’t be shy!!!!...my wife says I can be a real chatter box sometimes, look how far
you had to read to get to this spot on this page!!!!!...sheeez.. I'm tired of typing
now!....so no worries, if you have a question call me or my wife at,
1-787-671-9790. Or you can email me anytime at john@reddogguitars.com
Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the site!
Watch this short
video...but be careful, it
will BURN your ear hairs
off!
video...but be careful, it
will BURN your ear hairs
off!
The
Screamin'
Eagle
Cigar Box
Guitar
Screamin'
Eagle
Cigar Box
Guitar
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click here
click here
 |
click here
 |
click here
| EMAIL ME at john@reddogguitars.com OR CALL: JOHN 1-787-671-9790 |
6 string Bo Diddley guitars are really wonderfull to play,
....but I am best known for my 3 and 4 string guitars.
Look for my Trademark and super fun 3 string guitars for sale.
They are my passion to build and play!
....but I am best known for my 3 and 4 string guitars.
Look for my Trademark and super fun 3 string guitars for sale.
They are my passion to build and play!
Made in the USA
I smell singe!!!!!
I guess I'm one of the last people in America who still makes the original and primitive "Homemade"
Bo Diddley guitars out of left over junk and recycled wood. In the many years I have been building
them I have only met a few who have an interest or enjoy making his simple primitive early folk
guitars. Most people are happy with the "industry standard" electric and acoustic body styles.
But, Long before the Gretch Guitar Company machine made and mass produced Bo Diddley's
legendary square guitar...
Bo made his guitars himself! He did it with his bare hands and with some simple hand tools. He
made them in the true spirit of "Americana". He never kept count but it is said that he had made
well between 25 and 30 homemade square wooden guitars.
Bo Diddley guitars out of left over junk and recycled wood. In the many years I have been building
them I have only met a few who have an interest or enjoy making his simple primitive early folk
guitars. Most people are happy with the "industry standard" electric and acoustic body styles.
But, Long before the Gretch Guitar Company machine made and mass produced Bo Diddley's
legendary square guitar...
Bo made his guitars himself! He did it with his bare hands and with some simple hand tools. He
made them in the true spirit of "Americana". He never kept count but it is said that he had made
well between 25 and 30 homemade square wooden guitars.
I try to follow Bo's primitve "original" recipe of the guitars he himself made by hand, I don't make
the Gretch style. His were rustic homemade guitars, he only added one pickup to the body (Gretch
added 2 or sometimes 3 pickups) His guitars were made using recycled wood, whatever he could
find, and he made them most often plain and wooden. The nicer ones he doodled and finger
painted art on them for the individual owners whom he often "gifted" them to. The most famous
one of all is the wooden one he gave to Dick Clark after being invited to "American Bandstand"
which helped launch his career to the next level.
the Gretch style. His were rustic homemade guitars, he only added one pickup to the body (Gretch
added 2 or sometimes 3 pickups) His guitars were made using recycled wood, whatever he could
find, and he made them most often plain and wooden. The nicer ones he doodled and finger
painted art on them for the individual owners whom he often "gifted" them to. The most famous
one of all is the wooden one he gave to Dick Clark after being invited to "American Bandstand"
which helped launch his career to the next level.
The First Bo Diddley guitar circa 1945
now owned by Hard Rock Café
now owned by Hard Rock Café
The Victrola "Delta Tramp" 3 string guitar
Bo with his 50's Gretch guitar, notice
that even though it was Factory made
he still added his own art and chrome
embellishments... Bo was a True Folk
artist and Do-it-Yourself Rocker!!!
that even though it was Factory made
he still added his own art and chrome
embellishments... Bo was a True Folk
artist and Do-it-Yourself Rocker!!!
| I also have many cool 4 string Bottleneck Slide guitars Check them out! |