An interesting column in the Washington Post by the founder of Taylor Guitars: https://wapo.st/4o04W7x (should be a gift link). Headline is I traced my guitar company’s supply chain upstream. It led to elephants. A brief but interesting read.
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This is one reason I like Taylor Guitars. I studied as a biologist and ecologist so things like this are important to me.
Taylor has engaged in tree planting efforts around the world. They also plant koa trees in Hawaii and I’m sure they do more elsewhere.
It wasn’t necessarily on my radar when I began playing guitar, but it is now and I try to make sure that major parts of any instrument I buy (or make) are produced from sustainable sources. I think Taylor is a significant part of why other guitar manufacturers are looking at sustainable source materials, as well. I really applaud PRS for using reclaimed wood. I believe I’ve seen other guitar makers using wood from urban trees. There’s certainly more than one way to go about this.
Yeah, Carmine Street Guitars uses reclaimed wood and have a new series of “Bowery Guitars” using wood recycled from NYC buildings (Carmine Street Guitars). There’s also Cindy Hulej (I think a protege or employee of Carmine Street) who does the same, often with some fascinating woodburned tops.
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I saw this video shortly after I bought my Taylor GS Mini. Made me really pleased that I had some brown streaks in my ebony fingerboard.