Rockin the Guitarbige is back!
Water tank action. Tank fills up to provide a constant steady water flow
Water trough making 101. Each one takes a good day to make start to finish
First stages of water tank and lettering done!
This is one of the outside water troughs, careful with the hand carve job
I utilize an old awl and ball peen hammer. Everything done by hand. Go and buy nice lettering sets this is where the fun continues!
Water tank that is fed inside from the bottom, fills up and flow out. Very cool
Here I make the hinges for the removal top piece.
Working on top piece. I had to secure top piece to bottom due to water shooting up and out of open water tank!
Letters are made of steel and routed in nicely into the geetar neck
First I made the letters, then came the router. Piece of cake!
This is the water tank work for top of guitar neck.
When doing this hand carving, you have to be very careful not to poke a hole through copper. After all it has to be water tight.
Here I routed out a water line groove backside of body, each copper bracket labeled appropriately
First attempts at making sure everything is water tight. Scratch your head in frustration? yes
Begin building copper water tank, better make sure your welds are water tight sailor!
Redwood base routed out specifically for this copper water tank
Guitar wall that once stood for years at the Kinetic Lab in Arcata, California
This is called “Guitarbige”. Professional guitars that didn’t make the cut literally. Maybe a flaw such as a check in wood, tree branch mark. Maybe the pattern was from the wrong side.
Early tear down stage, unscrew the screw you screwy dude, cart to the truck
Wildwood Manufacturing Of Arcata was kind enough to gift these pieces, rejects if you will. Either burn them or do something else. Just don’t turn them into playable instruments as per Bruce.
Pack em up, load er up! Truck full of Guitarbige makes a guy very happy!
Stacks and stacks of guitar bodies waiting for artistic homes
Rockin the Guitarbige show first show ever was held in 2019 and was a HUGE hit with the local community. People’s choice award decided who received the bragging rights.
I will pass out two bodies and one neck while supplies last. First come first served.
Conditions of receiving this artist gift is simple.
1) Your piece must be shown during 1 August 2026 Arts Alive show.
2) Guitarbige piece CAN NOT be a functioning guitar. Non playable with strings of any kind.
Those are the two requirements
Upon receiving guitar piece it is up to Artist to do their magic
Artist is free to do whatever they choose artistic wise as long as non playable. You keep piece in the end.
People's choice award for First Place - Micki Montgomery
People's choice award 2nd place
Once again we will let the public decide who is worthy of “Rockin the Guitarbige #2” winner is. I picked up number 2 award. Who will take numero uno?
