This cardboard guitar is a one-of-a-kind functional art prototype built as a part of my exploration into unconventional structural materials. It’s fully playable and visually striking both from a distance and up close (and looks especially cool back-lit on a wall), but it was never intended to be a flagship, highly refined piece.
It has small imperfections and rough edges — it is made of cardboard, after all. After the build video was released, I reinforced the body by filling a center strip of the cardboard (running from the neck pocket to the bridge area) with epoxy to improve stiffness and better counter string tension. That structural strip also features figured claro walnut edges.
It requires light-gauge strings to minimize tension, and I recommend keeping the guitar tuned down a full step when not being played to relieve constant stress on the body. I built this instrument about four months ago and it has held up well so far, but I can’t guarantee long-term durability given the experimental nature of the material. The cardboard is fully sealed, and with the solid epoxy reinforcement running down the middle, it should remain stable in normal use in theory.
All that to say: it’s not perfect, it’s made of cardboard — but it’s functional, looks really cool, and is a genuinely unique piece.
Total weight: 4.75 lbs
Shipped in a hard-shell case
Build video below
Please allow up to a week for guitar to ship
This cardboard guitar is a one-of-a-kind functional art prototype built as a part of my exploration into unconventional structural materials. It’s fully playable and visually striking both from a distance and up close (and looks especially cool back-lit on a wall), but it was never intended to be a flagship, highly refined piece.
It has small imperfections and rough edges — it is made of cardboard, after all. After the build video was released, I reinforced the body by filling a center strip of the cardboard (running from the neck pocket to the bridge area) with epoxy to improve stiffness and better counter string tension. That structural strip also features figured claro walnut edges.
It requires light-gauge strings to minimize tension, and I recommend keeping the guitar tuned down a full step when not being played to relieve constant stress on the body. I built this instrument about four months ago and it has held up well so far, but I can’t guarantee long-term durability given the experimental nature of the material. The cardboard is fully sealed, and with the solid epoxy reinforcement running down the middle, it should remain stable in normal use in theory.
All that to say: it’s not perfect, it’s made of cardboard — but it’s functional, looks really cool, and is a genuinely unique piece.
Total weight: 4.75 lbs
Shipped in a hard-shell case
Build video below
Please allow up to a week for guitar to ship
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