Photo by Prisma Guitars
Only in California! It’s the home of skate boards, electric guitars, outdoor concerts and recycling. This summer, plans were revealed to breathe new life into some very west coast icons. Imagine old, worn seating from a world famous concert venue and heavily used skateboards all being crafted into unique guitars. It’s true; thanks to the clever imagination of California luthiers, some fine, playable works of art have appeared on the music scene.
Nick Pourfard is a Bay Area guitar builder and skate board enthusiast who has come up with a crazy combo that totally works. His San Francisco company, Prisma Guitars, recycles old “decks” into colorful, completely west coast-styled guitars. When Nick is finished he’s crafted a one-of-a-kind professional electric guitar. The Prisma Guitar crew (three dudes) builds about three or four of these wildly unique instruments a month.
Then there’s the legendary electric guitar company Fender Guitars, in nearby Corona. Their nod to concerts and recycling has to do with old resurrected concert benches and seats from the Hollywood Bowl, which opened in 1922. During a 2014 makeover at the world famous venue, the well-worn seats were removed and put into storage. The wood is century old Alaskan yellow cedar. Much like furniture makers who build with old barn wood do, the custom guitar builders at Fender saw a chance to blend history, art, and recycling to create functional, distinctive, high-end instruments.
Photo by Fender
They’re not cheap. They cost around $11,000 for a very cool, offbeat, conversation piece that happens to be a top shelf electric instrument.
