Acoustic Parlor Guitar Made From Old Closet Doors - v2.0 

😂

awww, thanks. Guitars are such a powerful image and tool to make from reclaimed. I get to take trash and make art that then goes on to another artist to make more art. Hopefully their music also inspires more to art and environmentalism.

Er.... If you like to recycle why not just reuse the door and get a guitar from a charity shop? The guitar will sound better and you won't have to buy a new door

@@carolramsey8457 there's a lot of truth in that! However thousands of these doors are still thrown out in home remodels every year and factories are still churning out new guitars. There are 3 Rs: reduce, reuse and recycle, and they should be used in that order. Step one, we need ton stop buying shit we don't need! This video and the bulk if my work focuses on step 2 because I have personal interest in that area. I'm not saving the world, just trying to get a few more people to look at it differently.

@@timsway It's not so much the buying of shit we don't need and more the discarding of the still-useful/repairable, reflexively replacing with shinier/bigger/better/more power, volume-wise. The people in your part of the world must be hugely materially-successful for the buying of SWDN to be any more than a small single-digit percentage expense. What is the actual ratio of the cost of SWDN to a new 50 gal. water heater? Or alternator replacement? Or A/C service? Just not seeing this oft-fabled glut of SWDN, except in videos where some dude has a half-dozen guitars but only two hands.

@@richsackett3423 Assuming SWDN is "Stuff we don't need?" If you want to be pedantic, one doesn't need to replace their closet doors with new ones or a new car every 2 years so it's kind of the same point: "Keeping up with the Joneses" is BS any way you look at it. But still, absolutely yes people in my part of the world have all sorts of unnecessary stuff, myself included. The funny thing about wealth is few think they are "too rich" - rather people with more than them are too wealthy and people with less need more. For sure I'm on the lower end of the financial spectrum in my neighborhood, but globally speaking the amount I have is pornographic. I know I'm no hero and making guitars ain't gonna change inequality or save the rain forest. Guitars in particular are art that make art, and musicians' art can be very influential, which is why I make them. Also, making these videos and generating these thoughts and conversations is better than doing nothing, no? And it's way better than just marching along with the lemmings pretending there is nothing wrong. he longer I live, the more I want to do to help. This ain't the last stop, only the current one. I appreciate your contribution!

From what I understand, Taylor is one of the few manufacturers to try to find a better way in any sort of meaningful way. I mean all companies like to say they're making an effort, but it's mostly lip service. You just gotta look in their dumpster or take a deep breeath on the factory floor. There is a sweet spot in the Venn diagram between quality, ecology and profitability. Doesn't it make sense for every industry to aim for it?

@@timsway I'm pretty sure Warwick uses sustainable woods, and makes sure that their manufacturing is completely carbon neutral, however if I'm wrong feel free to correct me

@@maffooo2040 they may very well be. Honestly, I stopped following and caring what "name brand" manufacturers do long ago. Lol. I just watch and champion the other little guys.

So I'm just about to buy a Taylor but it's in my mind to avoid their layered wood models despite I love the look of their 2** series koa model which is in my budget range. Can you tell me apart from eco reasons and just from a (hobby/couch player) guitarists point of view why I should forego an all solid wood model like the AD's possibly GT's or 3** series upwards. I've been tossing this around in my mind for a while. I want a guitar I can pass on to younger relatives so why should I buy the layered one rather than the all solid ? I really am prepared to go that way but I know from experience how solid wood gets better as a guitar with age so give me a reason apart from eco. Also what's the diff between layered and laminate ?

There are countless very fine alternatives to simple wood for an acoustic guitar body and neck. Carbon fiber is one. Bamboo is another. Aluminum is yet another. The major acoustic guitar manufacturers have pushed the 'tonewood' nonsense for so many years that they find themselves boxed in by their own propaganda. I'm not saying that a piece of wood will not resonate or sound better or longer that another piece of wood, but I am saying that alternatives to the 'traditional' species of soundboard woods need to be considered. Innovation is much needed.

There is a whole Mythbusters episode dedicated to it.

Mythbusters once tried to polish a turd...

@@pallecla And then it hit the fan.

There’s a tribe in Africa that collect elephant dung and pats (by hand) them into polished rocks that celebrities and rich folk pay crazy money for. So yes. Yes you can polish a turd into a gem. If you still don’t believe me then rewind this very video...

See, a polished turd impresses no one. Nobody’s going to say “Wow! Look at the shine on that turd”. They’re just going to say “don’t step on that turd”.

I am, however, about to attempt repairs on each of my acoustic guitars tomorrow with my dad. Patching a giant hole in the back of one, and mending a separating back on the other. We're handy enough to do a serviceable job, I think. Luckily neither of them are incredibly expensive guitars (although one is a Martin). I do hope to get a new axe this summer too.

In my last video I talk a little about my journey. When I was your age I wanted to build guitars (and managed to make one, it's in the vid) but then it took me another 20 years to get to where I am now which seems like a lot to someone who's only lived about 20 years but it's the blink of an eye. If you really want to get there, you will get there. And it will happen faster than you think It just takes some time and determination. You and your dad are starting at the right place.

I even got someone who took the time to tell me they were unsubscribing because of this! Could you imagine feeling the need to do that? lol. The internet is a fun place.

@@timsway we are all unique. Some in a good sense and some - not really. One worlds famous luthier also used second-hand wood. I guess, we all have heard of the guy whos violins now sell for millions. He also loved making his violins.

happy birthday!

But Mythbusters had polished a turd

I have a ton of basses in the works right now. A bass like this guitar, a semihollow short scale, a bass vi (probably won't film that) and v2.0 of my new fretless design i hope to hit this summer or fall.

Cheers. I like making guitars because they are little works of art that live on to make more art.

Good quote

Oops there it is

That will of guitars are my fav

lol. well put :)

Testify

love it!

Ash is good guitar wood. just make sure the bugs are dead in it first. (kiln dry or you can do some diy stuff in the driveway with plastic bags to choke them out). The other thing with traditional guitar building is the waste. you have to select the right pieces, avoid knots, etc. So for every piece in the guitar there's a pile that didn't make the cut, or if you make a tiny mistake you gotta start over instead of sanding it out... it just doesn't make sense to me. I mean we're gonna scratch the thing up with our fingernails and picks, sweat all over it, spill beer on it then forget it in the trunk of the car overnight...

cheers. I don't always get to do that for film :/

the six dislikes is the aussie like button