Amidst ongoing debates over tonewood choices, some innovative guitar builders are pushing boundaries by exploring unconventional materials. One such visionary is Burls Art, renowned for crafting guitars and basses from a variety of unexpected sources that perform on par with traditional models.
In his latest video release, Burls Art undertook the ambitious project of fashioning an electric guitar entirely from 50 pounds of copper wire. The result: a stunning Tele-style electric guitar boasting a distinctive bronze hue, both in its body and neck.
The construction process was far from straightforward. It involved creating a sand mold and incorporating tin to create a copper-tin alloy, commonly known as bronze. This alloy was crucial to enhance the metal’s rigidity, as pure copper is too malleable for guitar construction without reinforcement.
The design considerations also factored in the guitar’s weight, which naturally became substantial due to the density of copper. Despite meticulous planning, a setback occurred during fabrication, necessitating a redo of the body mold to ensure precision and quality.
Burls Art’s endeavor not only showcases technical ingenuity but also underscores the potential for alternative materials in guitar craftsmanship, expanding the horizons of what’s possible in instrument design and construction.
