Neenah Man Creates Instruments Out Of Cigar Boxes


By Joe Astrouski and Ryan Ward | November 25, 2014

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For most of his adult life Bruce Lee Rose has been making traditional string instruments at his home in Neenah. A serious accident to his right hand, however, changed his life. Not only did Bruce need to devise a new way to build his instruments, he had to become inventive with the materials he used. With the help of his wife, Bruce is once again able to make instruments—out of cigar boxes.

Jim Ohlschmidt plays a song on one of Bruce Lee Rose’s Cigar Box Guitars.

Joe Astrouski

Joe Astrouski

Joe Astrouski is a reporter for the “Wisconsin Life” project who travels the state, telling the stories of people and their passions. In his spare time, Joe enjoys fishing, hiking and eating his way across the Midwest with his wife, Charity.  Astrouski is a reporter, field producer and narrator for “Wisconsin...
Ryan Ward

Ryan Ward

Ryan Ward is a producer for the “Wisconsin Life” project and can rest easy after he finally found the perfect jar of homemade dill pickles at the farmer’s market in Madison. … just like his Grandma Shirley use to make!
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2018-01-19T17:52:14-06:00Tags: , , , , |

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