Fitz and the Tantrums is one rock band that bravely decided to go without gittars and came out pretty well for it.
One musician I follow is a classically trained pianist who also sings and plays a 4 string guitar, which is called tenor guitar, somewhat difficult to find on the market, and which he tunes like a mandolin. He plays it like a ringing a bell, and seeing him on Youtube, I wonder how he plays the bass string which is prominent in the sound, with his left hand?
For your listening pleasure.
De-tune your guitar and make the sound work.
Solo.
Raw talent, and humility.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UD-GrAMUzO8