What if…
…a guitar company made great instruments for real players — and took environmental responsibility seriously, too?
What if, instead of rain forest-depleting exotic woods, we used locally sourced timber, sustainable materials, and reclaimed lumber with a story?
That’s the idea that started Cartwright Guitars.
Materials
Lumber: Responsibly sourcing our lumber is a top priority. We use:
Locally sourced , and responsibly harvested Maple, Alder, and Ash
Imported Moso Bamboo . Moso Bamboo is incredibly tough with a Janka Hardness rating similar to Ash, and Maple. It grows to maturity at over 100 feet tall in about 3 years! Harvesting does not kill the plant, allowing for cyclic harvesting.
Reclaimed wood - We have used vintage shiplap, lumber from old logbooms, barnwood, and even old growth yellow pine from a shuttered bowling alley in a state mental hospital. This wood comes with a story!
Finishing: Our guitars are finished using cashew resin, a natural, low-impact finish used in Japan on musical instruments for many years. It is hand-applied for a smooth, resonant, vintage-style finish without the environmental toll of modern lacquers and urethanes.