Sustainable Wood - Eco-Friendly Guitar Making Trends
Wood is becoming scarce and the major guitar brands are making strides in their sustainable manufacturing practices.
For example, Taylor and Martin have chosen unique woods that waste less wood and give you more of an unusual tonal quality.
But what exactly are these brands doing to become more eco-friendly?
ECO-FRIENDLY WOOD OF TAYLOR
If you're a connoisseur of sound, you may have noticed the red ironbark used for Taylor's new 512ce and 514ce .
This move is becoming a driving force in guitar production, and Taylor guitars are no exception. Red ironbark proves this.
HOW DOES TAYLOR DISCOVER RED IRONBARK?
Part of Taylor's urban timber initiative in partnership with West Coast Arborists, Inc. (WCA), the red ironbark may have been omitted.
WCA provides tree services to hundreds of towns and cities across California and Arizona. They manage these landscapes, bring sustainable green spaces to urban areas and ensure they are well maintained. This process includes planting, tending and finally cutting down the tree.
Instead of disposing of unwanted trees, WCA established Street Tree Revival, an urban wood recycling program.
Many species are not used commercially or as musical instruments, so lead designer Andy Powers went to test the wood to see if any were suitable for making guitars.
And, great! They found that wood!
Red ironbark is one of the woods of choice.
WHY NOT CONNECT WITH THE TONEWOOD WE KNOW AND LOVE?
If we always use the same wood, we are actually depleting the earth's natural resources. But if we get creative and look for timbre wood in new woods, we'll make the most of the resource.
Also, you might be surprised at the unique properties of these woods! That's exactly what happened when Andy stumbled upon red ironbark.
The decision to use this wood is not only so much better for the earth, but it also offers a range of qualities that you can hardly find anywhere else.
RED IRONBARK'S Attributes
Red ironbark may be a fork of the eucalyptus family, but it behaves differently.
It is hard and dense in its physical form, and similar to rosewood, it dries easily without distortion.
It also has a smooth and uniform texture, making it ideal for guitar backs and sides.
But what about the sound of it?
It delivers a bell-like sound of rosewood, with a fuller, richer midrange.
MARTIN'S SUSTAINABLE GUITAR WOOD
Other discerning guitarists may have enjoyed the spotless ebony that Martin has rolled out on their new and existing guitars.
WOODEN UNDYED
The smallest changes to the specifications, but the changes that have a significant impact, this change continues Martin's mission to be as eco-friendly as possible.
Maintaining the natural ebony color of the fretboard not only looks outstanding and completely unique, but it's also a lot more eco-friendly. Paint stains on wood can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that pollute the air – not good for the planet!
These dyes can also be the product of non-renewable resources and require a lot of energy to produce.
There's no doubt that removing ebony stain from the equation is a step in the right direction when it comes to sustainable guitar production.
So if you notice your brand new Martin has a slightly marbled neck and isn't quite as consistent in color, don't worry. This adds to the unique aesthetic that belongs only to your instrument, and also means that no unnecessary contaminants are released.
DO NOT CHOOSE!
Martin loved not only the natural color of the ebony, but also every cut of the ebony. Yes, nearly every cut.
In an effort to be as frugal as possible, Martin is less picky with the ebony cuts they use, using cuts that might otherwise go to waste. This doesn't affect any sound quality, however, it just means nothing is thrown away unnecessarily.
WHY SHOULD SHOP MORE SUSTAINABLE?
Sustainability may be the last thing on your priority list when buying a guitar. How it feels, how it sounds – these are what you're looking for. But having an awareness of what's sustainable in the world of guitar manufacturing will always help the planet.
Especially when it comes to acoustic guitars, sourcing wood can have a huge impact on the planet, using natural resources until depleted, deforesting and affecting local communities.
That is why it is important to support activities against these harmful manufacturing processes. And following brands like Taylor and Martin is a good way to do this.
From Taylor's Ebony Wood Project to Martin's FSC-certified lumber, these two brands have set standards for others to follow when it comes to sustainable guitar production.
And with a fresh look at tonewood, a bright new future for eco-friendly guitars emerges.
CONCLUDE
Here are some insights into how Taylor and Martin strive to be more eco-friendly. Their array of acoustic guitars is perfect for the environmentally conscious musician, from beginner to professional.
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