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Beer cans, cigar boxes deliver big sounds!
Joe Bosso, Mon 28 Mar 2011, 10:30 pm BST
If you're a guitar player, no doubt you dreamed of plugging your trusty axe into a late '60s Marshall stack, a Fender combo, a Vox AC30, or perhaps a vintage Orange OR120. To say nothing of some of the newer bells-and-whistles-included amps on the market.
But if your bank balance prohibits such luscious choices, fear not: you can still crank up some fairly bitchin' sounds from found household items like cigar boxes, beer cans - even a shotgun shell box, should you happen to have one of those just sitting around, collecting dust.
On the following pages, MusicRadar presents some of the more off-the-wall amplification inventions created by industrious pickers out there. Note: A couple of them have strong ties to beer. Coincidence? Hmmm... suds and rock 'n' roll. Draw your own conclusions.
Be warned, however: You may not want to try making all of these at home. On the other hand, these folks have, so choose your faves and go get 'em. Your neighbors and landlords will be thrilled.
Ragtagbag made this nifty little travel amp for his teeny tiny guitar using a "Little Gem" amp design which he augmented with parts from Radio Shack and Jameco. We dig the amp, and the guitar is pretty cool, too, but his Chili Peppers licks could use a little woodshedding. Just sayin'.