Don't Fret Guitars
We believe anything, and anyone, can make beautiful music.
Our instruments are constructed from recycled, repurposed, or found items for a guaranteed one-of-a-kind product. We've never built the same thing twice!
Stringed Instruments in our Repertoire
While we specialize in fretless three string cigar box guitars, if it has strings, we've probably tried building one.
We've built:
2, 3, 4, 6 and 12 String Guitars
Basses
Soprano, Concert and Baritone Ukuleles
Banjos
Mandolins
Mountain Dulcimers
Violins
Resonator Guitars
Diddly Bows
Using some pretty strange stuff:
Cigar Boxes
Shovels
Cookie and Chocolate Tins
2x4's
Boat Paddles
Axe Handles
Pots and Pans
Dog bowls
Star Wars and Batman Toys
A Haunted Ouija Board
A Deer Skull
Frequently Asked Questions
What do you call these?
Most of what we build are three stringed cigar box guitars, CBG's for short! Cigar box instruments have a long and rich history in folk music but are becoming more and more popular every day!
Do they work?
YES! Everything we build is a playable, functional instrument.
Why only three strings?
Because it's twice as easy as a six string! HA! Three strings are the "traditional" style for most cigar box guitars, if you can consider anything about these things as traditional! We do occasionally build guitars with other combinations and numbers of strings, anywhere from one string diddley-bows up to 12 string guitars.
Can you make anything into an instrument?
As long as that something is strong enough to not crumple or bend under the tension of the strings, yes! Adding electric pick ups to the instrument also removes any concerns about acoustics, but that does require using an amplifier.
Are the cigar box guitars easy to learn how to play?
While we build better than we play, we find that the 3 string guitar is a little bit more forgiving than a traditional guitar. Unfortunately, any instrument takes time and practice to master! There are loads of information available online to help you learn., whether it be tabs or YouTube tutorials you'll be mastering it in no time! Check out our links page for some of those resources.
Does the different boxes or items you build them out of change the sound?
Yes! Part of the fun in building these instruments is that we are never really sure how they will sound until they are built! Each instrument seems to have its own personality, but a lot of the sound will depend on the tuning of the strings, the type and arrangement of pickups, and the musician.
Do you ship?
Yes. Out of town (outside Cincinnati Ohio and Northern Kentucky) customers can shop online on our Reverb store where shipping costs are included in the listed price. This is also where all of our current inventory is posted, so even if you are local you can check out what we have! Locals can also select "local pickup" while shopping on reverb!
I have a cool box or item. Can you make something custom for me using it?
We typically do not take on commissions or custom jobs. A lot of our supplies are recycled, and because of that we are never guaranteed to have the supplies needed to make a specific item. The danger of potentially damaging or destroying the object you give us to use also makes us uneasy... sometimes our builds just do not turn out the way we'd hoped and we would hate to destroy something of sentimental value. Add our unpredictable and busy schedules, and it is difficult for us to give an estimated time-frame for completing a job. If you do have something in mind please email us your idea and we can discuss the possibilities!
