Sustainability, climate, and environmental protection have become the dominant current topic. People are considering how flights can be avoided. Plastic bags are being banned. CO2 is becoming more expensive and young people are taking to the streets for more climate justice.
And the guitarists? Are there things the string artist interested in sustainability should think about?
Plucking sustainably: Sustainability is not a consumption idea
Even if products are presented in this text that takes the aspect of sustainability into account, one thing is clear. Environmental protection cannot be “consumed”. The most sustainable and resource-saving thing is not to buy anything. Instead, you use your more or less old stuff.
Green pluck: Eco strings
Guitar strings are consumables. Strings corrode through the moisture of the fingers or lose their consistency through mechanical influences. Some string care with special oil or cleaning with a soft cloth will help extend the life of the string. Coated steel strings last longer than uncoated versions.
Guitar environmental protection idea
String care and string selection can increase the lifespan of guitar strings. There are strings made of sustainable material.
Sustainable guitar woods
The sound of a guitar is not determined by the strings or the pickups, but in particular by the tonewood of the body and the wood for the fretboard.
Today, the carbon fiber guitars are becoming more popular because of their sustainability and durability. Some types of wood such as tropical wood are much endangered, but which other types of wood can guitar makers fall back on if you want to consider the ecological footprint?
Some sustainable guitar woods alternatives
Linden
The Line is a perfect alternative to ash or alder. The tonal character is very balanced and is characterized by powerful bass and soft and pleasant highs. Since the linden tree, unfortunately, has no grain and does not have a rich color, this wood makes the guitar body a bit bland, so the linden tree looks rather unaesthetic as a guitar wood and is, therefore, less popular.
The tonewood has excellent dynamics and definition, which gives the sound a modern swing.
Ekoa
Ekoa is made from flax waste and is an extremely interesting and sustainable wood alternative. Particularly, ekoa is durable because it is significantly stiffer than fibreglass, is stable to moisture and handles temperature changes well.