Rachel Rosenkrantz makes guitars from sustainable materials. She created the "Mycocaster" using mycelium -- a network of threads made by fungi. Mycelium has been used in everything from biodegradable computer chips to eco-burials.
Rachel Rosenkrantz makes guitars from sustainable materials. She created the "Mycocaster" using mycelium -- a network of threads made by fungi. Mycelium has been used in everything from biodegradable computer chips to eco-burials.
Rachel Rosenkrantz
Rosenkrantz described the "Mycocaster" as having a surprisingly twangy and nasal sound, but says it can be calibrated to the player's liking. The shell and neck are made from compressed paper in resin, and scraps of upcycled wood are used on the shallow sides.<br />
Rosenkrantz described the "Mycocaster" as having a surprisingly twangy and nasal sound, but says it can be calibrated to the player's liking. The shell and neck are made from compressed paper in resin, and scraps of upcycled wood are used on the shallow sides.
Rachel Rosenkrantz
Mycelium can be grown in a mold to form any shape. To make a mycelium guitar body more rigid, Rosenkrantz adds dried fibers such as corn husk and fabric threads.
Mycelium can be grown in a mold to form any shape. To make a mycelium guitar body more rigid, Rosenkrantz adds dried fibers such as corn husk and fabric threads.
Rachel Rosenkrantz
Guitars are often made from old-growth wood, but Rosenkrantz only uses wood that's reclaimed or ethically sourced. This guitar is made from upcycled parts, including a vintage cigar humidor box and a handle from an old suitcase. "All it takes is to have some ethics -- just doing the right thing makes a big difference," she said.
Guitars are often made from old-growth wood, but Rosenkrantz only uses wood that's reclaimed or ethically sourced. This guitar is made from upcycled parts, including a vintage cigar humidor box and a handle from an old suitcase. "All it takes is to have some ethics -- just doing the right thing makes a big difference," she said.
Rachel Rosenkrantz
Rosenkrantz is also a beekeeper and realized that bees "hum" at a frequency towards lower-mid range of a guitar's sound. She says that bees amplify their humming through their hive's honeycomb structure, and was inspired to create the "Pawtuxet" guitar, which includes honeycomb.
Rosenkrantz is also a beekeeper and realized that bees "hum" at a frequency towards lower-mid range of a guitar's sound. She says that bees amplify their humming through their hive's honeycomb structure, and was inspired to create the "Pawtuxet" guitar, which includes honeycomb.
Rachel Rosenkrantz
To incorporate honeycomb, Rosenkrantz left a guitar soundboard in a beehive for a year.
To incorporate honeycomb, Rosenkrantz left a guitar soundboard in a beehive for a year.
Rachel Rosenkrantz
Rosenkrantz has tried creating a banjo head that doesn't use animal skin or plastic. She's experimented with drying out kombucha, a fermented tea, so that it resembles leather.
Rosenkrantz has tried creating a banjo head that doesn't use animal skin or plastic. She's experimented with drying out kombucha, a fermented tea, so that it resembles leather.
Rachel Rosenkrantz
Rosenkrantz with an early prototype of her kombucha leather banjo. "I'm exploring different techniques right now, but it's getting better every time," she said.
Rosenkrantz with an early prototype of her kombucha leather banjo. "I'm exploring different techniques right now, but it's getting better every time," she said.
Rachel Rosenkrantz
In this guitar, Rosenkrantz uses fish skin instead of plastic for the pick guard and other parts.
In this guitar, Rosenkrantz uses fish skin instead of plastic for the pick guard and other parts.
Rachel Rosenkrantz
During Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns, Rosenkrantz experimented with different biomaterial designs. Here, the "Honfleur" guitar is embellished with eggshells. "I eat two eggs for breakfast every day, and I [collected] all the eggshells," she said.
During Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns, Rosenkrantz experimented with different biomaterial designs. Here, the "Honfleur" guitar is embellished with eggshells. "I eat two eggs for breakfast every day, and I [collected] all the eggshells," she said.
Rachel Rosenkrantz
Here, Rosenkrantz is working on a guitar body made using basalt fibers.
Here, Rosenkrantz is working on a guitar body made using basalt fibers.
Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images
Pictured, Rosenkrant plays a ukulele made from mycelium.
Pictured, Rosenkrant plays a ukulele made from mycelium.
Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images