A Bass from a Box

Eco-conscious musicians sometimes find themselves in a tough spot. They live for their music, but the instruments they love to play may be made of tropical trees threatened with extinction or harvested unsustainably. 

One solution? Bogdon Music’s upright bass. It looks like something fished out of the dumpster, but because it uses no tropical or rare wood, it’s a greener way to jam. The body is a cardboard box, the strings are nylon, and the neck is oak. It's no mere quirky novelty, either; Bass Player gave it favorable marks for its “warm, big sound and slightly blurry pitches.” It's made to be assembled at home with glue and tape.

If the upright bass isn’t your groove, or if this do-it-yourself ethos inspires you, check out instructables.com for directions about making other instruments by reusing everyday materials. Cookie-tin banjo, anyone?

-- Année Tousseau