Robert Johnson, B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Albert King, "One-String'' Jones,

Jesse Mae Hemphill, Elmore James, Pinetop Perkins, Lightnin' Hopkins,

Son House, Charlie Patton, John Lee Hooker, Big Bill Broonzy, Mississippi John Hurt, Jimmy Reed, Luther Allison and Lonnie Pitchford are a few of the blues people that have played diddley bows.

"The one-string musical instrument"

  AKZ Studio

  P.O.Box 2161

  Weirton, WV  26062

PHONE (304) 748-1196

Don't forget to sign our

guest list and see what

others are saying about diddley bows at the

bottom of page two!

DIDDLEYBOW.COM

The old metal "snuff can"

once used as the wedge

(a movable bridge) has

been replaced with the

"ALTOIDS" tin and

resonates with a nice

rustic sound for the blues.

  SPECIALIZING IN HANDCRAFTED DIDDLEY BOWS

We use only the finest Red Oak with interesting grain patterns

Tune to any key with a twist of a

tuner and play along with anyone!

Diddley bow pick-ups available.

You won't believe your ears !

The diddley bow may have been the first instrument that produced the

sound of sliding rhythm and the whines and cries of a single string that

later became the distinctive sound known today as the "blues".  It was

common to the rural south in the 1800's and was made by stretching a

piece of broom or cotton wire around  two nails and a bottle or snuff can

wedged under the wire to create tension for pitch. The string was plucked

while sliding a piece of metal or glass on it to produce notes.