Artist and musician Michael Cain began experimenting with neon art in 1989 at Kent State University. He resigned from Kent to get first-hand experience with his art, experimenting with metal work and fabrication. Three years later he completed his degree at Wisconsin State University.

Around 2014, following an accident that ended his ability to play standard tuning guitar, Cain decided to fabricate his own, which led to the establishment of Mercury Lab Guitars: hand-crafted, hollow body aluminum resonator and electric guitars.

His art has been exhibited nationwide.