Pretty simple - Are there any out there? Links, pictures, anything and everything information please!!
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Eco Friendly Basses
- Thread starter iriegnome
- Start date
I know Modulus uses sustainable wood supplies. They might have something about it on their website. They talked about in their information guide that came with the basses which I think you can download as pdfs.
Probably an acoustic made of sustainable wood. Since you don't need electricity, there's less pollution going into the atmosphere.
the gibson continental 5. I think they still make it. It was all eco-friendly woods. It never took off though.
knuckle_head
Commercial User
- Jul 30, 2002
- 2,621
- 58
- Disclosures
- Owner; Knuckle Guitar Works & Circle K Strings
Think finishes too - alot of contemporary finishes are two-part, or high VOC/high solvent based.
I like Shellac for this reason.
I like Shellac for this reason.
bongomania
Commercial User
FBB and Birdsong have both made efforts to use sustainable woods. IIRC the "Luthite" material that Ibanez used was touted as having less environmental impact than wood, but you have to wonder about whatever solvents and petrochemicals were involved in it.
"Eco" anything always involves compromises and half-measures, and I say that as a green/organic/eco fanatic. For that reason, a huge +1 to the statement that buying used basses is the best/only true "eco" option, as they consume the absolute minimum feasible amount of resources (shipping, new strings, electricity for the amp). That said, I do wish there was as much market force to support the manufacture of lower-eco-impact instruments as there is for organic foods. It took decades of ridicule and struggle, but now the organic foods concept has so much consumer money supporting it that all the mainstream food manufacturers are putting out organic product lines. We'll see if any such thing happens in other commodities.
"Eco" anything always involves compromises and half-measures, and I say that as a green/organic/eco fanatic. For that reason, a huge +1 to the statement that buying used basses is the best/only true "eco" option, as they consume the absolute minimum feasible amount of resources (shipping, new strings, electricity for the amp). That said, I do wish there was as much market force to support the manufacture of lower-eco-impact instruments as there is for organic foods. It took decades of ridicule and struggle, but now the organic foods concept has so much consumer money supporting it that all the mainstream food manufacturers are putting out organic product lines. We'll see if any such thing happens in other commodities.
Although I may be incorrect, I thought that Danelectro guitars and basses were made from recycled material.
this reminds me of the heated thread, a few months ago, about Eco basses. Anyone else recall that thread? I unsubscribed after the first couple pages.
Gibson used to make "Smart Wood" Les Paul's for a while. I don't know if they still do, but I have never seen a bass like that. I own a couple of Modulus basses. I realize the used concept, but I am more interested in the Manufacture "New" version type of thing.
on the fbb bass website, their is a "smartwood" link. it focuses on domestic (US), renewable wood options.
http://www.fbbcustom.com
http://www.fbbcustom.com
I try to avoid active basses, but sometimes the rest of the instrument lures me.I have converted active to passive in the past. The best way to leave a small footprint is likely to buy used and keep only the instrument(s) you play regularly.
It's not as simple as which wood they use. Creating a bass requires electricity, which requires coal.
It's like the paper bag/plastic bag issue. It's takes more resources to make a paper bag, but it seems better so that's what is used.
It's like the paper bag/plastic bag issue. It's takes more resources to make a paper bag, but it seems better so that's what is used.
Great looking basses. He has a lot of great ideas.
Well, there is
1 - FBB Custom Bassworks (www.fbbcustom.com)
i agree with the posters who said the "greenest" bass you could buy is one that already exists.
If you consider the total footprint on the world, purchasing a used bass is the smartest.
Basses are not consumables (50 year old fenders are very nice thank you) and pretty much don't wear out.
Regardless of finish and manufacture an old bass puts less impact on the environment than the greenest new instrument.
Being responsible doesn't demand you go absolute and only play acoustic (while living in a recycled cardboard shack). If you're concerned about sustainability, then consider a custom that uses reclaimed wood and offers features like Joe Veillette's all-wood bridges (avoid chrome...nasty stuff). Maybe the most important thing to do is to try and do business locally...
If you consider the total footprint on the world, purchasing a used bass is the smartest.
Basses are not consumables (50 year old fenders are very nice thank you) and pretty much don't wear out.
Regardless of finish and manufacture an old bass puts less impact on the environment than the greenest new instrument.
Being responsible doesn't demand you go absolute and only play acoustic (while living in a recycled cardboard shack). If you're concerned about sustainability, then consider a custom that uses reclaimed wood and offers features like Joe Veillette's all-wood bridges (avoid chrome...nasty stuff). Maybe the most important thing to do is to try and do business locally...
Again, a purchase of a "used" bass is not at issue. They were once new. Again, not the issue. I am looking for basses that are made from sustainable, renewable, eco friendly type sources. USED IS NOT THE IDEA HERE! Sorry, I drank a little to much Mountain Dew over the weekend!
