Wildfire-scarred cedar found new life as guitars that rebuild homes and hope

Burned Altadena Trees Become Fender Guitars to Fund Home Rebuilding

From Fire to Fender: When Altadena’s Trees Became Music

Rebuild homes and hope

The Deodar cedars that once lined Altadena’s streets were meant to grow old, tall, and steady. Instead, many were damaged in the January 2025 Eaton Fire. But in a remarkable twist of resilience and creativity, those same trees are returning—not as saplings, but as sound.

Fender’s Custom Shop in Corona has transformed salvaged Deodar cedar into four one-of-a-kind Telecasters, turning loss into something that can be heard, felt, and shared. Each guitar carries the story of Altadena’s past and its determination to rebuild, with all auction proceeds going to San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity to help displaced families rebuild their homes.

The first instrument, fittingly named the Altadena Telecaster, made its debut at A Concert for Altadena at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on January 7—the first anniversary of the fire. Dawes frontman Taylor Goldsmith introduced the guitar on stage before a sold-out crowd. The benefit concert raised an impressive $450,000 for the Altadena Builds Back Foundation, proving once again that music can rally a community when it needs it most.

Angel City Lumber handled the careful process of salvaging the fire-damaged wood. The guitar’s body was carved from a Deodar cedar touched by the flames, while its neckplate bears an engraved message, “We Are All Altadena,” featuring artwork by Eric Junker. It’s not just an instrument—it’s a statement.

“Music has always been about connection, and this project brings that spirit to life through an instrument built to give back,” said Justin Norvell, president of Americas at Fender, in a statement reported by Guitar World.

Bidding for the Altadena Telecaster is being hosted on the nonprofit auction platform PLUS1 and runs through February 4 at 5:59 p.m. PST. With an estimated value of $5,000, bids had already climbed higher by mid-January—clear evidence that people see its worth beyond dollars.

A Strat is Born | Fender

“Rebuilt homes are a symbol of recovery for a community after a disaster,” said Bryan Wong, CEO of San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity, in a statement. “Partnerships like this will help ensure the fabric of the community of Altadena—which was known for its vibrant arts community—can return. These instruments are building more than houses; they are restoring hope.”

Fender plans to unveil and auction three more guitars as they are completed, extending the life of Altadena’s trees and the message they now carry. The auction is available at givebutter.com/c/AltadenaTelecaster.

What makes this story sing isn’t just the craftsmanship or the famous names attached—it’s the idea that something burned and broken can come back as art, shelter, and solidarity. In my opinion, this is what rebuilding should look like: honoring what was lost, amplifying what remains, and turning tragedy into a chord the whole community can play together.

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