Joe Thomas's Page

Hey all, my name is Joe and owner and proprietor of Excelsior Cigar Box Guitars. Also an ex Army paratrooper of many years and a vet of 3 wars that is now retired and just enjoying the hell out of life. I was also a Master electrician that once did sub-work for NASA, Northop Grumman, TRW, and other defense contractors so I can wire the hell out of anything.Though I am not a smokin hot guitar player I can damn well craft one that plays smokin. LOL. Just like all of us here I love music but perhaps it was also the influence I had as a child as my granduncle (grandmother's brother) was Harry B. DeArmond  I still have fond memories of going to his house with my Grandmother "Clara Belle DeArmond" and being in his shop. Uncle Harry taught me allot of things as a kid. I also got to meet some of his friends/clients such as Chet Adkins, Bo Diddley, and others. So now my happy ass is making cigar and fabricated box guitars and I'm havin a blast doing it. I'm also a Bladesmith but nobody want's a 500 dollar quality knife when they can get one for 5 bucks from China. So now I use the forge to smelt and hand cast parts from brass and bronze..