Cardboard Box Guitar Musical Instrument

"The great thing about rock and roll is that someone like me can be a star." 🤩 ❤️ 🎸 (Thanks, Sir Elton John)

In fact, we can all be rockstars after this great build! With some cardboard, Makedo, determination and passion... you too can be on stage performing for all your fans. Strum, pick, pluck, slap - this Bass Guitar is sure to impress.

Let's get making... 🎶

Grab yourself a small cardboard box (shoe box, cereal box, or in this case - a modem box), some extra cardboard, Makedo cardboard construction tools and connectors, a marker and some rubber bands (a few extras will help too, in case they snap. eeek!)

In the centre of the top surface of your small box, cut out a circle. This is called the sound hole.

For reference, this box has a face measurement of 260mm x 220mm (10"x8.6"). The sound hole diameter is 90mm (3.5").

The guitar is best supported by a triangular prism shaped neck.* This is achieved by folding a piece of cardboard three times, with the fourth side overlapping the first. Cut three trapezoid-shaped fasteners on the bottom end of each panel (not on the overlapped panel) in order to secure the neck into position by 3x Makedo Scrus. On the top end of the neck at the 'nut' on the guitar, loosely attach 3x Scrus. This is where you will connect the strings (rubber bands), and will act as the tuning pegs for your guitar.

• For this build, we created a neck with wider panels that suits an adult-sized hand. The measurements in the attached pattern will be a better fit for smaller hands.

Use the Makedo Fold-Roller to score a piece of cardboard (feel free to point or curve the ends) and secure beneath the sound hole, using 3x Makedo Scrus. The purpose of the bridge is to not only secure the strings, but also to lift them off any surfaces to prevent buzzing.

To attach the strings, first cut and stretch some large rubber bands. We initially designed the guitar with three strings, as pictured above, but decided we wanted more rock n roll grunt, so increased the number to six. To do this, wrap one end of a rubber band around the Makedo Scru clockwise at the nut on the head of the guitar and the other end to a corresponding Makedo Scru on the bridge. Repeat this step with a second rubber band (try going anti-clockwise to seperate the strings) and then firmly secure the Makedo Scrus into place. Repeat this until all six strings are ready to be played.

• Be careful not to over-tighten the rubber-band strings, as this will increase the tension on the neck and could cause it to bend inwards.

“Rock 'n' roll is an attitude, it's not a musical form of a strict sort. It's a way of doing things, of approaching things. Writing can be rock 'n' roll, or a movie can be rock 'n' roll. It's a way of living your life.” - Lester Bangs

Aint no denying it - Makedo is very rock n roll🤘🎸🔥 There are no rules or set systems. It's a free-for-all to express yourself and make sweet art in the process. So don't get frenzied by the details, build yourself an awesome instrument and truly make it your own. Decorate your guitar with colour, or stick to just black, add frets or don't, build a guitar strap so you can get lost in a passionate solo and if you're in the mood - share it here for all your fans. 🖤