An innovative approach to environmental sustainability in the music industry has emerged from Australia in the form of Re-Tuned, a Bluetooth speaker conversion kit that repurposes old acoustic guitars. Developed by the Victorian-based circular economy product development business, Found:ling Reusery, this product aims to prevent discarded guitars from contributing to landfill by transforming them into unique, functional speaker systems.
The Re-Tuned kit is designed to fit into the soundhole of most full-sized and many 3/4-sized acoustic guitars. The process involves removing the guitar strings and installing the kit, which features a pre-assembled amplifier module with a powerful 20W output speaker. Along with the main components, the kit includes a cover plate and a power supply, making installation straightforward for users.
As the guitar market in the United States alone sees nearly two million acoustic guitars sold annually, the potential for this product to create a significant impact in reducing waste is substantial. This concept isn't entirely new to the music industry, as innovations in guitar-related sustainability are becoming more prevalent, including recycled guitar picks and D'Addario's used string recycling program. In the spirit of eco-friendly practices, Fender has incorporated salvaged wood from Disneyland into its guitar manufacturing process, showcasing a commitment to sustainability as well.
Re-Tuned is currently in pre-production and has launched a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter, seeking to reach its goal of $12,500. If successful, all plastic components of the speaker kit will be made from recycled materials sourced from milk bottle caps found in Australia. Their mission is to not only revive old guitars but also contribute to a more sustainable future for the guitar industry.
For more information about the Re-Tuned kit and to support their Kickstarter campaign, you can visit the Re-Tuned Kickstarter page.