String Thing Wants to Turn Your Used Guitar Strings Into Immortal Art

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String Thing is a new product from the Chicago-based music culture brand FRET12 that allows guitarists to upcycle their used and discarded guitar strings into customizable, mummy-shaped figurines. The concept aims to give new life to the estimated 1.5 million pounds of guitar strings that end up in landfills each year, while also allowing musicians to memorialize their musical journeys through these one-of-a-kind string art pieces.

Why it matters

In a gear-obsessed culture that often prioritizes the latest and greatest products, String Thing offers a more sustainable and sentimental alternative by encouraging musicians to repurpose and reuse their existing equipment. By turning discarded strings into unique works of art, String Thing helps reduce waste while also allowing players to preserve the history and memories associated with their instruments.

The details

The String Thing concept is simple - users thread their old guitar or bass strings through a customizable, mummy-shaped figurine, then wrap, weave, and arrange the strings to create a personalized display piece. Each String Thing becomes a one-of-a-kind monument to the owner's musical journey, preserving the real history and wear of those strings in a desktop or shelf display.

• String Thing launched as a product in 2025.
• An estimated 1.5 million pounds of used guitar strings end up in landfills each year.

What’s next

String Thing is available for purchase on the FRET12 website for $44.