CARDBOARD INSTRUMENT FAQ

  1. HOW LONG WILL A CARDBOARD INSTRUMENT LAST?
  1. These cardboard instruments will not self-destruct. It is as sturdy as any thick cardboard box. The question might better be phrased, "How long will your child keep it in good condition?" This is the same question you would ask about an expensive instrument, and it is the very reason you should start a child on an inexpensive one. Tell your child that you are checking to see not only if they will really learn to play it, but also how well they can take care of it.

    If they prove themselves worthy at this level of investment, then you will be more willing to help them purchase an expensive model in the future.

  1. WHY TOOTHPICK FRETS?
  1. We use flat toothpicks for frets on our cardboard instruments for these reasons:

    1. Toothpicks are a great way to keep the cost down. Real fretwire would cost $4.50 for the fretwire plus another $5.00 in labor for us to cut all the slots in the string board. You may request real metal frets if you wish to pay the extra cost.

    2. Toothpicks are simple to install with Elmer's wood glue, whereas real fret-wire can be a challenge for a youngster to install evenly. It must be carefully pounded in with a hammer, and it is hard to get all the frets uniformly level.

    3. Toothpicks are easy to sand flush with the sides of the string board, making the instrument smooth to your hands. Real fret wire would require use of a wire cutter to trim the frets to length, and considerable filing to smooth the ends flush with the wood, as well as to level the tops of the frets.

    4. Toothpicks are easy to replace. If you wear out the toothpick frets, it is a simple matter to sand off the glue residue and install replacement toothpicks. That would be another good educational experience for a child.

  1. WHAT ABOUT SOUND HOLES?
  1. Some people ask about cutting sound holes into the front of the resonator box. We've found that holes do not improve the sound, so they are unnecessary. That saves the worry of having your child work with sharp cutting tools. You may, of course, cut sound holes if you wish, but if you just want the appearance of sound holes, you could simply use a black marking pen to paint shapes on either side of the string board.
  1. WHAT ABOUT LEFT-HAND CONFIGURATION?
  1. If you have a left-handed child, you may set up the instrument for reverse playing, but we recommend letting the child decide for himself. Many left-handed people play guitar in a right-handed format. It is a simple matter to install the strings in reverse order for left-handed playing. If you decide to change it later, it is just as easy to switch it back when you install the next set of strings.

  1. HOW ARE THEY TUNED?
  1. The guitar is tuned to the top four strings of a guitar (DGBE) so everything a student would learn on this instrument would transfer to a regular 6-string guitar.

    The dulcimer is tuned just like a standard mountain dulcimer (DAAA)