The Diddley Bow Empress

Custom made by Coco Elysses

One string.
Boundless possibility.

An instrument. A work of art. An invitation to discover your sound. Explore custom made Diddley Bows shaped by the artistry and imagination of Coco Elysses.

Coco Elysses in a black top hat holding two decorated diddley bows at an art show, painted vinyl records behind her

The Collection

Meet the instruments.

Examples of Coco's work. These are not listings of instruments for sale.

Portrait of Coco Elysses wearing a black hat

The Empress

Meet the hands behind the string.

Coco Elysses brings her work as a musician, composer, educator, visual artist, and instrument builder into the world of the Diddley Bow. Her practice connects cultural storytelling, sound exploration, and the creation of instruments with a distinct visual presence.

For Coco, the Diddley Bow holds memory, imagination, and a boundless future.
Coco Elysses in a hat playing a jeweled diddley bow on stage in France, 2022. Photo by Bruno Remen

One String

A single string can open an entire world.

The Diddley Bow deserves to be seen, heard, and explored. Through her instruments, performances, and history and construction classes, Coco Elysses invites people to discover its voice and imagine what comes next.

01

Discover its story.

02

Explore its sound.

03

Imagine your own.

Related project

One String: The Story of the Diddley Bow

A documentary project exploring the instrument through Coco Elysses's artistic and cultural inquiry.

Hear what one string can do.

Custom Commissions

Let's imagine your Diddley Bow.

Tell Coco about the instrument you envision, and the story you want it to hold.

  1. 1.Share your vision.
  2. 2.Discuss the design and possibilities.
  3. 3.Confirm the scope, price, and timing with Coco.

Colors and dates are requests. Scope, price, and timing are confirmed directly with Coco.