Chicago-based Fret12, led by the Tremonti family, launches a creative solution to the 1.5 million pounds of guitar string waste that ends up in landfills each year.
Every year, the music industry faces a silent environmental crisis: approximately 1.5 million pounds of used guitar strings are discarded into landfills. While recycling programs exist, a new Chicago-based startup is offering a more “monstrous” way to go green.
Enter the String Thing, the world’s first and only guitar string upcycling mummy.
From Landfill to Legend
Developed by FRET12—the multimedia firm headed by Dan Tremonti (brother of Creed and Alter Bridge guitarist Mark Tremonti)—the String Thing is a blank canvas for musicians. Designed to look like a classic horror-movie mummy, this 8.75-inch-tall figurine is meant to be wrapped in a player’s “dead” strings rather than tossed in the trash.
“Without guitar strings, we guitarists wouldn’t be much,” the company says. “But what to do with old strings has long been a dilemma. Don’t throw them away—summon the String Thing.”
How It Works: Your Music, Immortalized
The figure is crafted from solid black plastic and features a “Swiss cheese” design with 139 pre-drilled holes. These perforations allow players to thread and weave acoustic, electric, or bass strings (up to .90 gauge) through the body.
Key Features & Specs:
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Dimensions: 8.75″ tall with a 4.75″ wide base.
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Capacity: Looks great with a single set or “fully loaded” with 8 to 10 sets of strings.
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Versatility: Holes fit standard gauges; thicker bass strings can be woven through the thinner ones for a textured look.
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Customization: Use pliers and wire cutters to anchor ball-ends into the frame, creating a one-of-a-kind sculpture that represents hours of practice and performance.
A New Wave of Sustainable Shredding
The String Thing joins a growing movement of sustainability in the guitar world. While industry giants like D’Addario and Guitar Center have previously partnered for large-scale metal recycling programs—recycling over 13 million strings to date—Fret12’s approach is the first to turn waste into a collectible piece of art.
The company encourages users to share their finished sculptures on social media using the hashtag #StringThingLives, turning environmental responsibility into a community-driven art project.
Pricing and Availability
The String Thing is now available on the official Fret12 website.
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Retail Price: $44.00 USD / £34.00 GBP
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In the Box: One fully assembled String Thing figure and a custom-designed collector’s box.
For more information or to start your upcycling project, visit Fret12.com.
#Fret12 #String Thing
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