Troublesome Creek Stringed Instrument Co.

04/30/2026

04/21/2026

(NEW) Our friends at Troublesome Creek have done it again! We love not only their mission (not for profit, training people who are in recovery to be skilled luthiers) but the fact that they focus on domestic woods for their instruments. We've had their slope D models before, and they distinguished t...

04/08/2026

Crafting a world-class guitar or mandolin requires patience, precision, and so much more. For our team, it’s more than just craftsmanship; it’s a vital path to recovery.

PBS NewsHour recently highlighted our mission to craft exceptional stringed instruments while supporting addiction recovery. Click or tap below to watch the full segment and meet some of the incredible folks behind our Culture of Recovery.

In eastern Kentucky, the heritage of folk and traditional music, rooted in instruments like guitars, mandolins and dulcimers, is deeply seated. There's an ef...

04/06/2026

10/23/2025

We’re thrilled to announce that Chad Lovejoy became the very first winner of a Giving Appalachia Monthly Giving Club Giveaway!

Chad won an incredible mandolin signed by Tyler Childers and Chris Stapleton — a one-of-a-kind piece that symbolizes the heart and soul of Appalachia’s music and recovery community.

A huge thanks to the world-class instrument makers at Troublesome Creek Stringed Instrument Co. in Hindman, Ky. For donating the beautiful mandolin.

Thank you, Chad, for your generosity and for being one of the first to believe in this movement. Your monthly support is already helping others find hope and housing across the region.

Stay tuned — our next giveaway will be announced in November!

All active members are automatically entered each month.

https://donorbox.org/giving-appalachia-monthly-giving-club

10/09/2025

10/01/2025

08/20/2025

🎶 Small in size, big in sound!
Introducing The Ditsy; our new parlor guitar model.

Its compact size makes it perfect for travel or intimate performances, while its rich, resonant tone ensures it holds its own on any stage. Visit our website to learn more about the Ditsy, as well as our other models. Demo video coming soon.

08/18/2025

Just because concentrates on sustainable domestic tone woods doesn’t mean that they don’t get some really compelling pieces! To wit: Left to right: figured white oak, black walnut, and heavily quilted cherry. These three examples are their slope D shape, which has a 13-fret neck joint and a shallower body than the average Gibby-style jumbo. The result is quite satisfying!

06/18/2025

Just uploaded another video from our visit to Oh Boy Records a few years ago. Arlo McKinley performing "Walking Shoes" on our D-0 acoustic guitar.

Arlo McKinley performing "Walking Shoes" from his album "Die Midwestern" with the Troublesome Creek D-0 acoustic guitar at the Oh Boy Records HQ in Nashville...

06/03/2025

You’re invited to join us this Thursday from 5-8 pm at Troublesome Creek Stringed Instrument Co. for our annual summer celebration! This year we celebrate 25 years of the Appalachian Artisan Center!

We will have free food, live music, and a silent auction!