In the heart of Athens, Classic City Vintage Guitars is giving new life to instruments that might otherwise be forgotten. Owner and luthier Dylan Keel believes in repairing guitars rather than discarding them, allowing them to live on for generations.
“I think it’s worth preserving, because each one of these guitars has its own story, and has had a life, a lot of times with musicians or family members,” Keel said. “And it kind of goes beyond sustainability and it’s more … it’s more about preserving memories.”
For musicians like Wim Tapley, Keel’s mission to preserve the history and sustain the wood makes a huge difference. He believes in keeping guitars in circulation rather than replacing them. It cuts down on waste and demand for new wood to be harvested while maintaining the character that an old guitar has, in its look and sound.
“Not having to use materials on new guitars, and just keeping old stuff cycling around and playing well and relevant is huge,” Tapley said. “I think that’s something that Classic City does.”
Harvesting fresh tonewoods (the wood used to make guitars) to build new instruments contributes to deforestation and the loss of carbon-absorbing forests. Additionally, discarding treated wood can leach chemicals into soil and waterways.
Keeping pre-loved guitars in circulation is crucial to minimizing the guitar industry’s environmental impact.
There are some limitations to the repair process, specifically cost. Restoring a guitar can be expensive; sometimes it can even cost more than the resale value of the guitar itself. Keel said he will tell customers not to consider restoring their guitars if they plan to turn around and resell them.
From reusing materials to mentoring local musicians on caring for their guitars, Keel’s store is taking a circular approach to sustainability. Classic City Vintage Guitars proves that sustainability can look as good as it sounds.
Georgia Hartley is a fourth-year journalism and music business student at the University of Georgia.
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