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CARDBOARD INSTRUMENT FAQ

These cardboard instruments will not self-destruct. It is as sturdy as any thick cardboard box. The question might better be phrased, "How long will your child keep it in good condition?" This is the same question you would ask about an expensive instrument, and it is the very reason you should start a child on an inexpensive one. Tell your child that you are checking to see not only if they will really learn to play it, but also how well they can take care of it.
If they prove themselves worthy at this level of investment, then you will be more willing to help them purchase an expensive model in the future.

We use flat toothpicks for frets on our cardboard instruments for these reasons:
1. Toothpicks are a great way to keep the cost down. Real fretwire would cost $5.50 for the fretwire plus another $6.00 in labor for us to cut all the slots in the string board. You may request real metal frets if you wish to pay the extra cost.
2. Toothpicks are simple to install with Elmer's wood glue, whereas real fret-wire can be a challenge for a youngster to install evenly. It must be carefully pounded in with a hammer, and it is hard to get all the frets uniformly level.
3. Toothpicks are easy to sand flush with the sides of the string board, making the instrument smooth to your hands. Real fret wire would require use of a wire cutter to trim the frets to length, and considerable filing to smooth the ends flush with the wood, as well as to level the tops of the frets.
4. Toothpicks are easy to replace. If you wear out the toothpick frets, it is a simple matter to sand off the glue residue and install replacement toothpicks. That would be another good educational experience for a child.

Some people ask about cutting sound holes into the front of the resonator box. We've found that holes do not improve the sound, so they are unnecessary. That saves the worry of having your child work with sharp cutting tools. You may, of course, cut sound holes if you wish, but if you just want the appearance of sound holes, you could simply use a black marking pen to paint shapes on either side of the string board.

We have several reasons for using zither pins:
1. Zither pins save money. You may request geared tuners, but the cost is $12.00 more per kit.
2. Zither pins prevent curious youngsters from turning the knobs at random, putting the instrument out of tune and/or breaking strings. With zither pins, a parent or teacher can tune the instrument and keep the key away from younger kids so the guitar stays in tune longer. Trust us, you'll grow to like this system!
3. Zither pins require less drilling and fewer tools for installation.
4. Zither pins can be arranged anywhere on the peg head. This allows for the strings to line up very closely with their final positions on the nut, requiring only a small notch in the plastic nut to keep them in place.

If you have a left-handed child, you may set up the instrument for reverse playing, but we recommend letting the child decide for himself. Many left-handed people play guitar in a right-handed format. It is a simple matter to install the strings in reverse order for left-handed playing. If you decide to change it later, it is just as easy to switch it back when you install the next set of strings.

We show you several tuning possibilities in our assembly instructions. We often recommend using a standard Guitar/Ukulele tuning (DGBE) for all instruments except the Dulcimer. That way, if you have a group of kids making a variety of instruments, everyone can learn the same chord patterns and use the same songbook included with the kits.
You may, however, prefer to tune the mandolin to a standard mandolin tuning (GDAE) so you can learn mandolin scales and chord patterns. This is especially valuable for people who play violin, because a mandolin is tuned the same as violin and played as a "manual violin".
The banjo can be tuned in several ways other than the guitar/uke tuning. You could tune it in fifths to play it as a tenor or plectrum banjo, or to an open G chord to learn the fingering of a bluegrass banjo.