Behold String Thing, the world’s only guitar string upcycling mummy.
In a gear culture obsessed with the next pedal drop, boutique amp launch, or signature-model frenzy, String Thing flips the script. Instead of chasing something new, it challenges players to do something meaningful with what they already have. Snapped string? Dead set after a sweaty gig? Don’ toss it. Wrap it. Memorialize it. Make your music immortal.
Every year, an estimated 1.5 million pounds of used strings end up in landfills. Those coiled remnants of rehearsals, tours, studio breakthroughs, and bedroom breakthroughs do not just disappear. They leach heavy metals into the Earth and take up literal tons of space. String Thing enters the chat like a benevolent riff mummy, ready to give your discarded strings a second life.
The concept is brilliantly simple. Thread your old guitar or bass strings through a customizable, mummy-shaped figurine. Wrap it. Weave it. Get creative. Each String Thing becomes a one-of-a-kind monument to your musical journey — a desk or shelf display that holds real history in its coils.
The project launched last year as the brainchild of FRET12, a Chicago-based music culture brand founded in 2008. Known for guitar documentaries and tutorial series, exclusive pedals, handmade apparel, graphic tees, and curated gear drops, FRET12 has long positioned itself as more than a retailer. It’s a creative outlet for musicians looking to deepen their connection to music through concerts, film, collectibles, and culture.
Get the String Thing here for $44.
