FRET12 recently launched the String Thing®—a first-of-its-kind, DIY guitar string upcycling collectible figure. Priced at $44 and available now at fret12.com, the String Thing® gives guitarists and bassists a creative way to repurpose their used strings rather than discarding them.
An estimated million+ pounds of used strings are sent to landfills each year. The String Thing® provides a fun, eye-grabbing alternative: a conversation piece for the studio, home, or office.
The 8.75” mummy figure, which features 139 pre-drilled holes that fit both guitar and bass strings, arrives unwrapped and ready to be customized. Musicians can then personalize it however they like by adding their old strings to create a completely unique artifact that reflects their own playing history, making each String Thing® a genuinely one-of-a-kind creation.
“We designed and built a mascot for the guitar industry that has transformed what many musicians see as a disposable piece of metal into a collectible that empowers every player to give their dead strings a second life outside the landfill. Show off your undying commitment to guitar and do your part to responsibly handle your used strings—or else String Thing cometh,” said Dan Tremonti, FRET12’s co-Founder and the creator of the String Thing.
For players who aren’t ready to build their own String Thing® just yet, FRET12 encourages responsible string recycling through programs like D’Addario Playback. The message is simple: Never throw away a dead string. Wrap it, save it, or recycle it—but don’t let it end up in a landfill.
The String Thing® is available for $44 at FRET12 and in-person at the FRET12 shop inside Chicago’s Salt Shed music venue, located at 1357 N. Elston Ave.
