A Lighter Shade of Green (Guitar)
Music blogs are buzzing with cross-over issues stemming from the recent Live Earth concerts, (check out iGBlog and GuitarNoize), many citing questions by the media as to the whether the performing musicians are personally committed to “going green.” (John Mayer, one of many put in the “hot” seat, apparently quipped, “If you want to peg me as not being entirely eco-friendly, you’ll win.”)
What is this fascination with isolating those individuals and companies that are actually taking steps towards solving a problem, and then questioning why those steps are not larger? (This is not a new phenomenon. Carnivores have been challenging vegetarians for decades with the smirky question: “So, why do you wear leather shoes if you’re such an animal lover?”)
Is this trend fueled by the perception that those who take any modicum of action are painting themselves as morally superior targets that we are now entitled to knock off the pedestal? Why do the free-riders get a free pass? Is the lesson here: If you want to avoid scrutiny, then wrap yourself in the shield of consistency - even if it is the consistency of selfish waste - and declare “at least I’m not pretending to be something I’m not.”
Perhaps we are motivated by the desire to make sure that those who take action do so properly.
Gibson Acoustic Guitar has “produced 25 exclusive, environmentally-friendly custom guitars with the Live Earth logo emblazoned on the front.” The body and neck of the guitars are constructed from “rainforest friendly, FSC-certified mahogany.” The guitars will be autographed and auctioned to raise money to combat global warming.
Gibson is taking steps, but can they do more? Other than this limited offering (which, to the cynic, smacks as much of goodwill advertising than commitment to the cause), does Gibson have any plans to mass merchandise green guitars for public purchase? Wouldn’t that be the larger step towards real progress? What about Gibson’s manufacturing processes for all their products? Have they looked into solar power or pollution solutions?
And frankly, if they are such animal lovers, then what’s with the leather guitar straps?
Sphere: Related Contentguitarblog @ July 9, 2007
With all the talk about what simple small steps we can all do to reduce our carbon footprint, such as using CF light bulbs, we seem to expect these artists and preacher-types to be leading the way by doing much more. You’re not going to take a preacher seriously if he’s only a little bit holy some of the time. The issue here shouldn’t be whether or not these artists and celebrities are doing everything they can with their jetset lives and disposable incomes to be green, but rather, where’s my solar-powered guitar already?!
It’s hard for any major manufacturer to produce a line of “Green” guitars. There are so many hoops that need to be jumped through, and the availability…in large quantity (a run of 50 to 100 guitars) of any Smartwood for guitars is very scarce. This was a project that I was in charge of a few years back, I researched for nearly a year, and in that time, I was able to put together 2 certified Smartwood guitars, and that didn’t include the guitar tops. It was easier to make guitars out of pallets then certified “Smartwood.”
As for the artists that are going green, I don’t believe it for a second. The amount of lighting, and trucks that it takes to put on a show…in multiple locations (like on tour) it ain’t happenin’ …
Concerts for causes like LiveEarth, are publicity stunts. They make artists look good in the eyes of the masses. If they really had to go green, solar, or use wind power, and had to bike from town to town the show would never get off the ground.
Great comments. It’s all a big morass of hypocritical banter, not made easier by my “I have not come to bury Ceasar” switch-a-roo post. Eric, you’re onto me: I have no idea what it would take to produce green guitars. (Maybe you can blog about what that would entail?) I know I’d think about buying one. And Kyle, your comment is quite salient: Where’s MY merchandise, and is that really your best price?
Thats a good point about Gibson, it does whiff of an advertising opportunity rather than an actual commitment to creating more eco-friendly guitars. I think if someone like Gibson and Fender made the shift to using rainforest friendly woods the pressure would mount for other companies to do the same, but you have to wonder whether the Chinese or Korean made guitars would take the switch when they are more concerned with creating budget instruments.