The History of the Cigar Box

The history of the cigar box guitar is rooted in poverty and human ingenuity.  Dating back to the late 1800’s factory instruments were unaffordable to many musicians who would turn to building their own using easily available materials. They created makeshift guitars using discarded cigar boxes, planks, broomsticks and wire to bring their music to life. From Blues legends such as Lightnin’ Hopkins, Hound Dog Taylor and Blind Willie Johnston to rock legends such as Ronnie Wood, The Edge and Jimi Hendrix, many famous musicians have wailed sweet notes on a cigar box guitar at some point in their career. Inspired by the original spirit of the instrument and with a desire to revive this tradition, Daddy Mojo has brought the art of building and playing the cigar box guitar into the 21st century.

Daddy Mojo inc. Who we are

Daddy Mojo has from the very beginning been dedicated to handcrafting quality instruments inspired by the heirloom of American blues and roots music. As builders, We have taken every opportunity to pay  tribute to the resourcefulness  and ingenuity of the primitivists with equal regard to the style and sophistication of the American classics.

Over the course of 10 years, Daddy Mojo has tweaked and perfected more than 15 original cigar box guitar models as well as, solid bodies, hollow bodies and carved top electric guitars. Our instruments have sold the world over to the likes of Ronnie Wood (The Rolling Stones), Jack White (The White Stripes), Edge (U2), Chris Cornell (Soundgarden), Wilco (Nels Cline), Band of Horses, Counting Crows and many others.. Daddy Mojo is located in the heart of Montreal, Canada, and ships worldwide.

Lenny Piroth Robert

GROWING UP IN A RIGOROUSLY CREATIVE ENVIRONMENT, LENNY P. ROBERT CUT HIS TEETH EXECUTING SCENIC PAINTING AND FAUX FINISH FOR HIS PARENT’S DESIGN FIRM IN MONTREAL. HE STUDIED FINE ARTS, MAJORING IN PAINTING & DRAWING AT CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY. A PORTRAIT PAINTER BY TRADE, HE would BUILd WHIMSICAL INSTRUMENTS INSPIRED BY DEPRESSION ERA blues MUSICIANS IN HIS STUDIO. After a chance meeting with Luca Tripaldi, the studio WAS slowly TRANSFORMED INTO A FULL FLEDGE GUITAR SHOP.

Luca Tripaldi

Luca Tripaldi has donned many hats before joining forces with lenny piroth robert and daddy mojo. He studied interdisciplinary art and film animation at concordia university in montreal and was co owner of mojo records. Much of his skilled contribution to daddy mojo derives from his past experience as arts painter graphic artist and wood worker.

Daddy Mojo Videos