Meet your new favorite instrument.

For nearly a decade, Kurt Schoen has been handcrafting beautiful instruments and amps that are true works of art. It started in 2001 while working on a project for his daughters to entice them to become interested in music. He took a couple of cardboard cigar boxes, ran a stick through and attached a pair of guitar strings to each.

Soon, he began experimenting with wooden cigar boxes, wondering just how nice he could make them. Turns out, the answer is pretty nice! Eight years of experimenting led to the "Turbo Diddley", named for the Diddley bow home-made blues instruments. Expanding his artistic repertoire, he builds beautiful electric guitars, custom amps, resophonic violins, mandolins and more.

Now his guitars are everywhere, from Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top to Allison Krauss and Andy Summers of The Police fame. Putting so much time and energy into each instrument, he has been quoted saying, "It's like sending a child off to college." Take a look at his instruments, and you'll see the work of a man who is a true artist and has prepared his creations for their doctorates.

KurtSchoen

Site by Kate Morrison

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