I'm James Summers, creator of Mississippi Mud Box cigar box guitars. A native of Kansas City, MO, and an electrician by trade, I'm also an avid blues fan and play acoustic and electric guitar. My interest in cigar box guitars was sparked by a trip through the Mississippi Delta a few years ago with my wife. In several blues museums we saw some fine examples from the early 1900s - instruments made by and for poor rural musicians and usually played in a bottleneck style. They have mostly faded from history with the advent of cheap mass produced guitars, but their wild primitive wail can still be heard on old recordings of Delta blues masters.

I built my first one in 2008, after researching the Delta blues tradition. I played it for a few friends and several expressed interest in owning one, so I dug up some more old cigar boxes, and thus began a second career (and labor of love) - making and selling cigar box guitars. I began decorating them with blues related art work and found that they were well received. They are very easy to play, no guitar experience needed to make instant music.

With the help of a friend I began showing my creations at the Skyline Salon in KC's Crossroads district. They caught the attention of Ink Magazine and were featured in their holiday gift guide in November of 2009. In 2010 they were featured in the July issue of Ink, and shown at some local galleries, stores and art exhibits.

All of my guitars are handmade from recycled wooden cigar boxes and left over building materials. I make both acoustic and electric models, each one a unique and nostalgic creation.