Constructing The Diddley Bow

[seasonedtoker]

hey people, I'm just about to build my first diddley and I was wondering if anyone tried winding two strings together into one, double-wound single fat string. I play guitar so I have a bunch of old strings laying around. and I was thinking of putting a pickup on it, what the best way to play it then, picking or hammering?

[sisteralexa]

Thanks for posting. Nicely done.

[fatheadluv]

@curdisszero: Great idea (& use of old guitar parts!). Waste not want not I always say!

[curdisszero]

you can realy make a diddley bow however you want:

i made one using an old broken guitar neck (craked at the heel) a taboco tin which i mounted a nail i'd sawn the head off on, and an old worn out slide.

it was a 2 string i tuned it to D and G

[gunsandammo92]

i made a diddley bow and theres a horrible buzzing that comes out of it. how do i if not get rid of it. at least soften it?

[fatheadluv]

@gunsandammo92: Without more detail, it would be hard to diagnose. Buzzing is commonly due to the string rubbing against something (in this care I imagine the wood, the metal, or maybe an imperfection in the bottle). Give your whole instrument a detailed look and see if you can pinpoint the source of the buzzing. Hope that helps!

[gunsandammo92]

@fatheadluv well everytime i had a buzzing problem on my guitar. it was usually the nut that was the problem. my diddley bow has one bottle instead of two. and one end has guitar tuners so i can tune it easier. the buzzing is coming from that. i didn't have another bottle to work as a nut. so i put a knife to a plastic joke card. and put the strings into that to work as a nut. the buzzing is still there. but not nearly as bad as they were before.

[gunsandammo92]

@fatheadluv nevermind i found it dude. the tuner pegs are vibrating cause not enough pressure is given out. i just need some twine to give each side an equel amount of pressure

[gunsandammo92]

@gunsandammo92 but now i'm sorry to say dude. have another question. what are the best kind of strings to use? thick thin?

[fatheadluv]

@gunsandammo92: Glad you found the root of the buzzing! It's funny because a lot of African tribes actually accentuate the buzzing because they think the buzzing represents dead spirits trying to communicate with them!

As far as strings go, it's your preference. I chose the "G" string because a lot of the blues I like are in G. If I had to lean in one direction, I'd say go thicker. Happy pickin'!

[gunsandammo92]

@fatheadluv i finally got something down. using an A string tuned to D and a G string tuned to A that way playing them both would be a power chord and in different one would be a bass string and the other solo it's working pretty well

[fatheadluv]

@gunsandammo92: Cool!  Let me know if you have any more questions.

[gunsandammo92]

@fatheadluv what is a nice cheap pickup i can use? i bought this five dollar thing at radioshack. it picks up but it's horrible.

[fatheadluv]

@gunsandammo92: I'd say shop craigslist's musical instruments section. Lots of good deals to be had, but test drive/have a guitar tech to check the products before you buy them.

[EnergizinG18]

Hi. I really tried to make a diddley bow. I collected all the materials. I put the two smaller pieces of wood on the big wood. But I couldn't put the string on the wood with the screws. Please describe that part better. Thanks ! :)

[fatheadluv]

@EnergizinG18:

1. Screw one end of the string taut. Bring it over the bottle, or piece of wood, or whatever you use to elevate it and act as the "bridge"

2. Stretch the string to the other end over the other bottle/piece of wood/"nut"

3. Screw that end into the wood taut.

Should be good to go! If there's an issue with attaching the screw to the string, watch the video again. I outline my approach pretty well. If you have any further questions, just send me some more detail! Best!

[sphinkx765]

What i love about diddley bow and others "homemade" or more simple instruments,is that don't matter what you're playing,if it is pretty or ugly or how much it cost. If you're a musician, you can make music with anything.

[aurlis2012]

is that bo diddley at the very start? what is that song anyways?

[jonathon1018]

name of 2nd song? please i cant find it anywhere.

[TommyNegeal]

Hey man this is really cool. Props for taking the time to show us.

[flotch93]

can you show how to make an electric?

[fatheadluv]

@flotch93

Yeah, but I'm finishing up my Masters, so I won't get to it until about 1.5 months from now! Stay tuned. Lots to come!

[RenegadePoliceForce]

what guitar string was used? g string? d string?

[fatheadluv]

G, but any string or wire will do.

[StoneBear1965]

I used a single guitar tuning key on one end of mine. That way you avoid snapping the string when you construct it and you can actually tune it and change strings easier. I plan to electrify it as well. But you get awesome sounds both plucking the string and tapping it with a metal rod like a heavy drill bit. Also experiment using different slides. I used a shot glass and it sounds awesome but a pilsner beer glass sounds great too!

[jjd771]

nicee dudeee questoin thoo dose it matter what string it is an if its nylon or steel??

[fatheadluv]

Either will generate sound, but I have to say, steel seems to project quite a bit better.

[fatheadluv]

Yeah, you can make it so modern it becomes a guitar, can'tcha? The possibilities are endless, for sure!

[BadgerDervy]

have you seen the discussions and free plans for primitive instruments like diddley bows and cigar box guitars at cigarboxnation(.)com - a great site for primitive instrument fans!

[fatheadluv]

Yeah, that's a cool site!  There's all kinds of directions we can take this primitive idea.

[THINLIZZYFANno1]

seastick steve's looks alot simpler than this

[fatheadluv]

Seasick Steve is awesome! However, I'm not sure how his electrified diddley bow is simpler than the one stringer I construct in this video. Either way, good luck and let me know if I can be of any assistance to you! ~JRN

[luizarthur00]

the name of the song please!

[fatheadluv]

Chuck Berry: Deep Feeling. Pretty rare track with Chuck playing a pedal steel!

[fatheadluv]

All credits - photo song and otherwise - can be found at the end of the "Mannish Boy" video lesson. Believe it or not, this number is a Chuck Berry track!

Peace,

Jon Nelson

[Smileitstommy]

YES

[DustyPeople1]

I like the song

[Prostape]

Amazing man, thanks alot :D

[kylerpoo]

I actully made one! thanks man :)

[thesuburbanapeking]

my name is john nelson and i like diddley bow