Oil Can Guitar Funky/Twangy Lo-Fi Tone Bliss
Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2021 10:03 am
This was purely an impulse purchase. I've never thought about buying an oil can guitar before, though when I saw it in person I was intrigued. That the price was reasonable was certainly a factor, but what really sold me was how well it played and the singularly unique acoustic tone.
Let's get a few things straight first.
No, it's not a real oil can, but rather a container for Sweetwater Brewing Company Beer. I'm not even sure beer was ever in this container either, or if the graphic was just used on a standard sized metal box.
Yes, Bohemian Guitar Company is based in Atlanta, but their oil can guitars are apparently not made there, but rather in China.
Now that that is out of the way, I'll continue with my observations.
It feels slightly rough and handmade in some places, but then, shouldn't it? I mean, being that the oil can guitars which inspired these builds originated in neighborhoods of Johannesburg South Africa, where people out of necessity make guitars out of whatever is available, a certain DIY feel should only add to the authentic feel. Right? It's all very clever you see. For any other guitar made in China, such sloppiness and roughshod construction would instantly have the instrument dismissed as total junk; but in the case of the Bohemian oil can guitar, it adds charm and a true-to-life character.
I've included several pics of the interior of the body from different angles, as I knew that many of you here would be curious to see how it was constructed. I was certainly anxious to open up the back access cover as soon as I got home.
The pickups appear to be typical Asian import ceramic single coils sans covers. The pots are mini sized, though they operate flawlessly with a very usable sweep. The mechanical three way switch operates exactly as you expect it would, giving middle only, middle & neck, and neck only pickup options. I knew they were ceramic pickups before even opening up the back because of the steel slugs, and I had every intention of throwing in some ALNiCo single coils I have just laying around idle. But that was before I had plugged the oil can guitar into an amp. These ceramic pups are staying. In fact, everything is staying exactly the way it is. The guitar has such a pleasing and unique amplified tone that I dare not change anything. It is bright and twangy, but at the same time has a body and resonance that is different than that of a hollow or semi-hollow wood guitar.
The chunky maple 25 1/2" scale neck extends the entire length of the body to the base of the metal can; in other words, it is neck though construction. The neck is dead straight. The bridge and tailpiece are very solidly and securely anchored into a ply slab with is itself attached to the maple center piece. Acoustically the guitar has excellent sustain and resonance, and you can most definitely hear those attributes translate through the instruments righteous amplified tone.
Regarding the "rough and handmade" aspect I referred to above, let me clarify. The frets are level, though not dressed. The actions is set very low without there being any discernible fret buzz. There is some glue present where the fretboard was attached to the neck, and likewise around the nut. I'm actually not sure what the nut is made out of. The fretboard marker dots appear to be painted on. Though every other example I've seen of a Bohemian oil can guitar has a truss rod cover, mine does not. There aren't even screw holes on mine where one would have been. Either they forgot to put one on mine, or it wasn't supposed to have one, your guess is as good as mine.
So is this thing a "Bohemian Rhapsody," or a "Bohemian Tragedy"? The best advice I could give you is to try before you buy. For me personally, the example I came across was interesting enough for me to take it home. Unfortunately, you may not have the benefit of seeing one in person, so that may be a problem. In any case, the manufacturer is currently sold out of guitars. Many I've seen for sale online are listed a 2-3Xs the manufacturer's price. Most all the dealers also appear to be based in Europe.
I'm not saying I couldn't ever gig with the oil can guitar . . . because this is a genuinely functional instrument . . . though I don't know that I would. At most I might bring it along to the right kind of gig, maybe like a laid back, outdoor, summer type show at a winery or brewery, and use it for just a couple tunes as a novelty. It's just too, I don't know, gimmicky to be my main instrument for an entire show.
This is the website of the manufacturers:
https://www.bohemianguitars.com
Let's get a few things straight first.
No, it's not a real oil can, but rather a container for Sweetwater Brewing Company Beer. I'm not even sure beer was ever in this container either, or if the graphic was just used on a standard sized metal box.
Yes, Bohemian Guitar Company is based in Atlanta, but their oil can guitars are apparently not made there, but rather in China.
Now that that is out of the way, I'll continue with my observations.
It feels slightly rough and handmade in some places, but then, shouldn't it? I mean, being that the oil can guitars which inspired these builds originated in neighborhoods of Johannesburg South Africa, where people out of necessity make guitars out of whatever is available, a certain DIY feel should only add to the authentic feel. Right? It's all very clever you see. For any other guitar made in China, such sloppiness and roughshod construction would instantly have the instrument dismissed as total junk; but in the case of the Bohemian oil can guitar, it adds charm and a true-to-life character.
I've included several pics of the interior of the body from different angles, as I knew that many of you here would be curious to see how it was constructed. I was certainly anxious to open up the back access cover as soon as I got home.
The pickups appear to be typical Asian import ceramic single coils sans covers. The pots are mini sized, though they operate flawlessly with a very usable sweep. The mechanical three way switch operates exactly as you expect it would, giving middle only, middle & neck, and neck only pickup options. I knew they were ceramic pickups before even opening up the back because of the steel slugs, and I had every intention of throwing in some ALNiCo single coils I have just laying around idle. But that was before I had plugged the oil can guitar into an amp. These ceramic pups are staying. In fact, everything is staying exactly the way it is. The guitar has such a pleasing and unique amplified tone that I dare not change anything. It is bright and twangy, but at the same time has a body and resonance that is different than that of a hollow or semi-hollow wood guitar.
The chunky maple 25 1/2" scale neck extends the entire length of the body to the base of the metal can; in other words, it is neck though construction. The neck is dead straight. The bridge and tailpiece are very solidly and securely anchored into a ply slab with is itself attached to the maple center piece. Acoustically the guitar has excellent sustain and resonance, and you can most definitely hear those attributes translate through the instruments righteous amplified tone.
Regarding the "rough and handmade" aspect I referred to above, let me clarify. The frets are level, though not dressed. The actions is set very low without there being any discernible fret buzz. There is some glue present where the fretboard was attached to the neck, and likewise around the nut. I'm actually not sure what the nut is made out of. The fretboard marker dots appear to be painted on. Though every other example I've seen of a Bohemian oil can guitar has a truss rod cover, mine does not. There aren't even screw holes on mine where one would have been. Either they forgot to put one on mine, or it wasn't supposed to have one, your guess is as good as mine.
So is this thing a "Bohemian Rhapsody," or a "Bohemian Tragedy"? The best advice I could give you is to try before you buy. For me personally, the example I came across was interesting enough for me to take it home. Unfortunately, you may not have the benefit of seeing one in person, so that may be a problem. In any case, the manufacturer is currently sold out of guitars. Many I've seen for sale online are listed a 2-3Xs the manufacturer's price. Most all the dealers also appear to be based in Europe.
I'm not saying I couldn't ever gig with the oil can guitar . . . because this is a genuinely functional instrument . . . though I don't know that I would. At most I might bring it along to the right kind of gig, maybe like a laid back, outdoor, summer type show at a winery or brewery, and use it for just a couple tunes as a novelty. It's just too, I don't know, gimmicky to be my main instrument for an entire show.
This is the website of the manufacturers:
https://www.bohemianguitars.com
