When I found this online, I thought it was a really neat idea. Why not give your crazy friends (or nieces/nephews) a cardboard bass to fool around with.  Hey, it's like a toy and cheaper than a real instrument. Yeah, that was until I watched the video.  

Do yourself a favor, check this out!

Video #1

Video #2

OK, it sounds good and it's recyclable!  So, I wanted to know who thought to design a cardboard bass.  Have any guesses?  If you said a reclusive inventor from California, no points for you. If you said a mailman from Westland, you must be psychic and it's freaking me out.  Please stop now.

So, this ridiculously cool instrument is from right here in Michigan.  Who knew?  Chris Badynee, self described mailman/family man/music experimenter, created the Cardboard Box Bass and currently markets the instrument with the help of two cousins and an uncle. So far, he's sold over 300 instruments. It's not a surprise because they're pretty affordable. You can get the pre-built model for $119 and the do-it-yourself version is $69.95.  Most of us didn't think twice about spending way more on our iPods and cell phones.

Detroit 's own Cardboard Box Bass is about to be featured in a national article for Bass Player magazine.  Editors asked if they could review the instrument for the December issue. It will be interesting to see what musicians think of the idea.  Either way, it's awesome to see someone getting recognized for doing something cool and we salute his use of alternative materials.

From the official web site:
The Bogdon Box Bass represents a reduction of technology and the simplification of needs. By demonstrating that a quality sound can be achieved by using unconventional material components at an extremely low cost, a cardboard bass guitar places the least demand on resource technology and encourages people to shift their preconceptions about the 'typical novice instrument'.

Cardboard is not a traditional product material, however the introduction of innovative bonding, cutting and structural techniques has provided the opportunity to consider this lightweight and recyclable material in a more creative fashion.
Works with or without an amplifier
Available as a Do-it-yourself Kit or Fully Assembled



For more information on the Cardboard Box Bass, visit the Bogdon Music site and if you just gotta have it, you can swing by Elderly Instruments in Lansing and buy one on the spot.