Cardboard Chaos Presents the First Cardboard Acoustic Guitar

Cardboard Chaos is back and never truer to their name, because chaos is an understatement when you set out to make an arch-top, electric acoustic guitar out of cardboard. When Ernest Packaging partnered with famed guitar builder Gabriel Currie at his Detroit shop, they made the impossible happen. It was spontaneous. It was improvisational. It was a definite vibe.

The idea of making the arch-top electric acoustic guitar had been floating around in the minds and hearts of the Cardboard Chaos team for over a decade. Like every one of the previous cardboard creations (which includes a surfboard, slip-on Vans sneakers, a snowboard, a skateboard Tony Hawk took for a ride, a Fender Stratocaster and more), it starts in the innovation lab in Southern California at Ernest Packaging with Mike Martinez and his team. Carving archtops, backs, slides, and multiple necks made out of poly and paper. Mike had to stay open to everything and push the cardboard to its absolute limit so he could trade fours and eights with the next genius on stage, all the way across the country: Gabriel Currie.

Currie, founder and owner of Echopark Guitars in Detroit, Michigan, has made guitars for some of the greatest in rock n’ roll, including Steven Tyler and Josh Homme. But when it came to making a Benedetto-inspired acoustic, he had to take a break to collect his thoughts. But when he returned to his workshop – his personal stage – he was on fire.

When the randomness of spontaneous ideas comes together with materials that weren’t meant to be shaped or bent, comes chaos. And from chaos comes beauty. Now complete, the first cardboard acoustic jazz guitar will join the cardboard lineup that includes two electric Fender guitars, bass, Masters of Maple drums and a keyboard where it will be played for upcoming Cardboard Sessions.

Cardboard Sessions is a free-form video series that brings musicians together to play instruments built and designed by the creators of Cardboard Chaos and Ernest Packaging, where progressive concept ideas in sports and music are crafted from cardboard and include cardboard Vans sneakers, a cardboard surfboard, a cardboard skateboard and more. A creative exploration of the love of music and the chance to hear something original with no rehearsal, no plan, and no rules. Artists who have had the opportunity to play the cardboard creations in past sessions include ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons, J Mascis, Matt Sorum, Terry Reid, Daru Jones, Marcus King, Robby Krieger, Preservation Hall All-Star Band, LP, Pete Yorn, Meg Myers, Dogstar, and more.