Building More Than Guitars: How to Start a Local Instrument Makers Meetup

Above: Cuppa T. Jones test drives his new guitar made by Louie LaManna

-by Shane Speal

Cigar box guitar festivals are incredible. You hear handmade instruments roaring through amps, played by musicians of every skill level. I’ve been attending and performing at them for over twenty years. But there’s one downside: builders often end up shouting over PA systems, trying to explain their work while music blasts behind them.

The builder’s experience is one of the most overlooked parts of a festival.

That’s why I started a local meetup called Sound Searchers.

Above: Emmet Daub shows off the instruments he made with his father, Brent

I wanted a quieter space where builders could actually talk, share ideas, and learn from one another. We meet once a month in a classroom at my church, and anywhere from ten to two dozen people usually show up. It’s open to anyone building instruments—not just cigar box guitars.

The Format: Simple and Relaxed

The structure is loose on purpose. I don’t run this like a class — it’s more like a gathering that gradually finds its rhythm.

• People arrive and put instruments on the tables. Right away, folks start walking around, picking things up, asking questions, and catching up. The first half hour is usually organized chaos.

• Eventually I call everyone together. We sit in a circle and go around the room. Each person shows something they brought and talks about how they built it — what worked, what didn’t, and what they’d do differently next time.

• The room always jumps in. Builders ask questions, offer ideas, or share their own experiences. These conversations often run long because they’re the heart of the meetup.

• Most meetings include a short demo. Nothing fancy — just someone showing a useful skill like fretting a neck, soldering a pickup, or wiring a control. One week, I brought in an old steel drum and talked about how it was made, the history and we all tapped on it to hear the sound. It's practical, real-world stuff people can take home and use.

• We end with a lighthearted vote. Everyone gets two ballots: a yellow Post It note for Best Build and a pink Post It note for Most Unique. We walk around and place our ballots on the instruments each person feels is Best or Most Unique. After, we tally them up, hand out a small prize, and wrap up the afternoon.

That’s it. No formal program, no pressure — just builders learning from builders.

And it's fantastic!

If you’re thinking about starting something similar, don’t overthink it. You don’t need a big budget or fancy venue. You just need:

• a room

• a handful of builders

• and the willingness to bring people together

Note: When we first organized our meetup, we rented a space at the York Town Crafter's Guild for $50. That got us 4 hours on a Saturday. To pay for the room, we had a sign that said SUGGESTED DONATION: $5 when people came in. Donations weren't mandatory and many times people put in more money just to support the group. (We have now moved to a classroom at my church, which was offered to us for free.)

How to Spread the Word:

Post about it on Facebook. Put flyers in music stores or hardware shops. Let it grow naturally.

These meetups capture the very best part of the cigar box guitar world—the generosity, the creativity, and the shared joy of building something with your own hands.

And that’s how a simple gathering turns into a real community.

Ready to start? I've made a checklist for you below.

Above: Louie LaManna shows off another masterpiece

Starter Checklist for a Builders Meetup

Find a Location

• Church classroom or basement

• Fire hall meeting room

• Maker space

• Pub back room during daytime

The Setup You'll Need

• Tables for instruments

• Chairs in a circle

• Simple sign or banner

• Consistent monthly date/time (Mine is every Second Saturday, from 1-4pm)

Must-Have Supplies

• Self-stick name tags (It makes interacting so much easier when you don't have to remember names!)

• Sign-in sheet or tablet for emails

• Two colors of Post-it notes or paper ballots for voting

• Pens/markers

• Small prizes (pins, keychains, buttons)

Nice Extras

• Battery-powered amp + cable

• Parts-sharing table

• Water or simple snacks (a pack of fresh cookies from the grocery store bakery are always winners)

• Demo area for short tutorials

Promotion Basics

• Facebook event

• Flyers in music stores

• Flyers in hardware stores

• Word-of-mouth from builders

The Golden Rule: Keep it relaxed, welcoming, and builder-focused.

Tim Arnold and his license plate guitar. Note the nametag: Everyone appreciates nametags because there are always new people and it's hard to remember everyone's name!

Start One Where You Live

If your area has even a handful of builders, you already have enough to begin.

You don’t need a festival.

You don’t need funding.

You don’t need permission.

All you need is a room, a date, and the willingness to invite people in.

Start small. Keep it simple. Let the community shape itself.

Because once builders have a place to gather, share, and encourage one another, something bigger starts to happen.

You’re not just building instruments anymore.

You’re building a scene.

Visit Shane Speal's Original Sound Searchers Meet-up

We gather every Second Saturday from 1-4pm at

Praise Community Church

705 S Ogontz St, York, PA 17403

Enter the church at Door "D"

No reservations required. Just show up.