For over a century, sustainability has been an integral part of C.F. Martin & Co.’s operations. Since 1918, the company has refrained from using elephant ivory, and in 1965, it adopted the use of smaller rosewood pieces after Brazil implemented an embargo on the material.
On Earth Day, Chris Martin IV showcased the DSS Biosphere II guitar at the company’s museum. It is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, features a humpback whale mother and calf painting by artist Robert Goetzl, and pays tribute to the Keiki Kohola Project, which advocates for protecting humpback whales and their young in Hawaiian waters. Inspired by a meeting with lead researcher Rachel Cartwright, the company decided to support her nonprofit organization.
The guitar is 100% plastic-free and primarily constructed from Sitka spruce, meeting FSC standards. It also bears the Preferred by Nature hummingbird seal. With its sloped-shoulder dreadnought body, it generates a warm, mellow tone with powerful mids, bright trebles, and ample volume, retailing at $2,399.
The Biosphere model is part of an annual series of eco-friendly guitars adorned with Goetzl’s artwork. Previous designs featured the Earth and a coral reef. Goetzl, a freelance artist and award-winning illustrator, joined Martin’s board of directors in February and has been creating artwork for the company for decades.
