Gooday Forum reader..

I'm new to making announcements, but here I go..On the 17 &18th of November2012 , Lazarides Timber agencies are having a weekend of dedicated woodcraft people doing demonstrations and showing woodworking techniques, tools etc..This has been done a number of past years I am led to believe and has been quite successful..After doing a very successful series of workshops at the Ocean Shores art expo this year I decided to be part of this Brisbane weekend, doing workshops on the making of a traditional "Diddly Bow" (a 1 string guitar) and a 3 string "cigar box" guitar.

These instruments go back to the late 1800's, where African slaves brought to America used discarded materials to make musical instruments to accompany voice , helping to find some kind of peace from their most often horrible predicament, in their music.
Some of the world's finest Blue's musicians played these instruments and today is seeing many people worldwide going back to handmade instruments, finding happiness in their handmade creations.
Playing music can look and feel complicated, instruments can look daunting with their mechanical complexity.
I am encouraging visitors to bring any interested children, relatives or friends along and together create a beautiful and musically correct instrument, which, with a little care will last generations and give a lot of satisfaction , possibly even going to help develop a musical "ear".

Over the weekend I will be building a couple of cigar box guitars as well as having a number of kits available there for folk to purchase and build their own.
I will also have a number of pre made Diddly bow kits available and have people , parents and their children build one..These diddly bows will cost $20.00 and when finished be ready to play and decorate...
Most people know me from the wood-shows with the cross cut saw race and making a fair bit of noise, yah hooing and hollering at the poor people in the crowd etc, there will be no yelling or saw racing at Lazarides, but I probably might be a bit loud with the music, especially if someone brings the "Makers mark" or "wild turkey" bourbon, some harmonica , a nice little Roland amp might be conducive to some mighty fine blues...

The address is ...Lazarides Timber agencies, 15 hurricane st, Banyo Brisbane...contact Gareth or Troy Lazarides on phone number:07 32673899 for any inquiries, don't let on about the bourbon or blues....
If you or anybody you may know who may be interested in making musical instruments, you live in Brisbane or SE Queensland, drop by, if the bourbon isn't your thing, we can grab a mug of tea and chew the fat, talk wood stuff, fishing stuff, guitar stuff...just no politics...don't want to get indigestion eh ?

I started making stringed musical instruments when I was 18, 39 years ago and like a rash, has come back with a vengeance...I love woodwork, I love music and playing and singing the blues...but I absolutely love combining all together to make music on my own instruments...come and see for yourself...come feed your soul with some music...hope to see you there !

Ford hubcap tenor guitar

S4.jpg 3 string jewellery box guitar S3.jpg

4 string lap steel diddly bow

S2.jpg Diddly bow (1 string guitar) S1.jpg

Big Stan