Greener Guitars

Environmental responsibility isn't a subject that commonly arises in musical instrument workshops, but perhaps it should. According to the conservation group Fauna & Flora International, over 200 species of trees are used to make musical instruments. Seventy of those are threatened with extinction, such as Brazilian and Honduras rosewoods and mahogany—all used in guitars. Even Greenpeace is advocating responsible wood management with its recently launched Music Wood Campaign (www.musicwood.org), which encourages the use of tonewoods certified as responsibly harvested by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Fortunately, instrument makers are taking notice, as their concern over the uncertain future of their coveted woods grows. Major guitar manufacturers like Gibson and C.F. Martin & Co. are introducing guitars made with wood certified by the FSC and the Rainforest Alliance, and a number of smaller luthiers are seeking out high-quality reclaimed tonewoods from forests and lumber yards to lighten their eco impact. Since each instrument requires its own specific types of wood, the supply of certified woods may not always be able to meet demand. But music-makers have to start somewhere. "We want to encourage people to think responsibly," says Anderson Page, vice president of Modulus, which will build its signature electric guitars using FSC wood at no extra charge.

Renting instruments and buying used are still the most environmentally responsible—and economical—choices. And that can be good news, especially for parents of a fickle child who's testing the waters of musicianship. Most music shops supply rentals, and music teachers and local musicians can provide names of reliable used-instrument dealers. But if you're buying new, here are a few options:

Gibson Les Paul SmartWood Studio electric ($1,698), Continental V Bass ($3,178) and Les Paul Swamp Ash Studio electric ($1,698) feature SmartWood-certified bodies (www.gibson.com, 800-4GIBSON). C.F. Martin & Co. "Sustainable Wood" acoustic guitars use SmartWood-certified cherry, basswood and maple as well as non-certified Sitka spruce reclaimed from pulp mills; look for "SW" models ($1,699; www.mguitar.com). Modulus buys FSC-certified and other responsibly harvested tonewoods whenever possible (from $2,199; www.modulusguitars.com, 415-884-2300). Dave Maize manufactures acoustic (from $3,850) and acoustic bass guitars ($4,200) using non-certified reclaimed woods. He also occasionally sells used instruments (www.maizeguitars.com, 541-592-6217).

A note about strings: Avoid guitar strings with "micro-coatings." The coatings may contain perfluorochemicals similar to those in Teflon, which the Environmental Working Group found on Dave Wyre and Elixir string brands. Both Ernie Ball (www.ernieball.com, 800-543-2255) and D'Addario are highly rated and come without coatings, except D'Addario's "EXP"-coated strings. For the allergic, D'Addario offers nickel-free electric and bass strings (www.daddario.com).