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Writer's pictureShane Speal

2009 Six Banger Electric Guitar by Ted Crocker

Updated: Jan 10, 2022


Showcased at the Cigar Box Guitar Museum in Speal's Tavern from its re-opening until 2019.

Handmade electric guitar, built by Ted Crocker in New Jersey, 2009.

Currently in private curation. Part of the Shane Speal Collection.

  • Honduran Mahogany body with import neck featuring a custom leather headstock face.

  • Handwound pickup with purpleheart wood bobbin.

  • Wraparound bridge. Handmade wood volume & tone knobs.

  • Dimensions: 42 x 10.75 x 1.75

Ted Crocker (1955-2021) was a guitar and folk instrument builder, most notably known for creating the guitars used in the 2007 John Sayles movie The Honeydripper. Here is a clip with Guy Clark Jr. playing Crocker's Honeydripper.

Shane Speal commissioned this instrument to incorporate elements of The Honeydripper guitar along with a wrap around tailpiece for more sustain. A rounded cutaway was added for a hot rod look. Unlike the three part pickup in the movie guitar, Speal requested a single coil pickup placed in the neck position.

The body was made from a beautiful, 1.75" thick, one-piece mahogany slab. Crocker used minimal finish without grain filler, allowing the various shades of brown, tan and orange to be highlighted.


The neck was an imported 25.5" scale neck. Crocker added a leather face to the headstock and woodburned his signature. Closed-back tuners were added.

In addition to the leather headstock face, Crocker also roasted the neck with a torch to give it an antiqued look.

Even the volume & tone knobs were handmade by Crocker, using simple pieces of wood, semi rounded on a belt sander. Thumb tacks were added to the tops to give the player an idea of levels.

Ted Crocker passed away in the fall of 2021. His legacy includes many fascinating instruments.



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8 comentarios


Tim Henderson
Tim Henderson
18 ene 2022

Ted was one of the Greats, a true craftsman who shared all he knew to anyone who needed help, RIP my online friend, wish I'd had the chance to meet you and your guitars in person.


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Tim Pannabecker
Tim Pannabecker
18 ene 2022
Contestando a

I only talked to him once, but he was very generous with his knowledge and a true lover of hand built instruments He is truly missed

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Miembro desconocido
15 ene 2022

😎Hi,from Australia, i get so jealous of the history of cigar box guitars and instruments that you guys find and have .Here in Aus we don't have that history,even today when I travel with my wife and get my cigar box out to play in trailer parks people always ask"is that some kind of ukulele ",when explain that its not and tell them about the origins of these instruments (which learnt from your book)only then do they start to understand the history.I'm also a builder, love looking a your builds and pictures of some of these and weird and wonderful guitars.franhk

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Miembro desconocido
18 ene 2022
Contestando a

Thx Shane this i know, but it seems that you have to have and interest in these instruments to take notice,we also have a great number of builders here as well.cheers frankh😎

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rcs68
14 ene 2022

One of the coolest looking hand built guitars I have ever seen. Thanks!

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Mark
Mark
18 ene 2022
Contestando a

I did a quick search on YouTube for Salty Dog. Did not find what I was looking for, bit did find this gem. Salty Dog with Denver Pyle & Andy Griffith (feat. The Dillards) 1963

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Tim Pannabecker
Tim Pannabecker
28 dic 2021

That guitar is a sweat rig. The attention to detail and the amount of hand building is really great. Thanks Shane for bring this to us

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