September 28, 2022, Nazareth, PA …SITKA Gear is thrilled to introduce SITKA STUDIO, a new innovation incubator that aims to expand the boundaries of culture through design exploration, brand collaborations and conservation. To debut SITKA STUDIO, the brand has partnered with one of America’s oldest instrument makers, Martin Guitar, and three-time ACM Male Artist of the Year winner, Thomas Rhett, in a Collaboration for Conservation. “Together we created a custom Martin guitar symbolizing our collective stoke for wild places, craftsmanship and music,” said SITKA STUDIO’s Brand & Creative Leader, Brad Christian.
In honor of these iconic brands, SITKA STUDIO has partnered with Martin Guitar to customized a one-of-one Martin HD-28 to feature a GORE-TEX Fabric pickguard in OPTIFADE Camo and SITKA’s “Darkest Before Dawn” mallard design inlay.
From October 28 through November 15, 2022, SITKA will auction off the customized guitar, which Thomas Rhett has been playing on his BRING THE BAR TO YOU TOUR, with the goal to fund an ambitious waterfowl research project with partners including University of Arkansas at Monticello, California Waterfowl, Five Oaks Ag Research & Education Center, Delta Waterfowl, Ducks Unlimited and other conservation organizations. The monies raised by the sale of this guitar will be used to encourage a national collaboration with on-going projects to establish a continent-wide study of Mallard ducks. SITKA will match auction bids up to $50,000 to help further fund these efforts.
“This guitar has been out with me from coast to coast this summer and I’m pumped
to pass it on to the new owner in November,” said Thomas Rhett, a special friend of
SITKA and Martin Guitar ambassador. “It makes more than music. It makes a
statement that represents my love for the outdoors and our efforts to keep it wild for
generations to come.”
“As hunters and harvesters, we have the opportunity, and responsibility, to support
the ecosystems that sustain us. It’s this belief that fuels SITKA’s relentless support
of conservation efforts and with the Collaboration for Conservation, we couldn’t be
more excited to contribute to this waterfowl research project as a part of our wider
effort,” said Lindsey Davis, SITKA’s Director of Conservation.
Bid on this guitar or see how you can get involved in making a difference at
sitkagear.com/guitar
About SITKA STUDIO
SITKA Studio is a new innovation incubator, brought to life by SITKA Gear, that strives to press the boundaries of creativity and build unique products and experiences. In 2022,SITKA Studio was founded and built on similar principles and culture through design exploration, brand collaborations, and conservation.
About Thomas Rhett
Ten years after signing his record deal with Big Machine Label Group’s The Valory Music Co., arena-packing superstar Thomas Rhett — dubbed “the most reliable maker of No. 1 singles in country music” (Variety) — has 19 multi-PLATINUM and GOLD-certified No. 1 hits, 12 BILLION streams and the longest current active streak of consecutive No. 1s in the format (Mediabase/Country Aircheck Chart). Declared “a prince in the genre” (USA Today), he has been honored with eight ACM Awards including Entertainer of the Year, two CMA Awards, five GRAMMY nominations, plus trophies from the CMT Music Awards, Billboard Awards and iHeartRadio Awards, in addition to being recognized with two CMA Triple Play awards for penning three No. One songs within a 12-month period. The superstar’s critically-acclaimed sixth studio album WHERE WE STARTED is available now, with single “Half of Me,” featuring Riley Green, currently climbing the charts. Inspired by family, friends and his love of the outdoors, Thomas Rhett is also the cofounder of Dos Primos Tequila and
is collaborating with Chaco on an exclusive sandal line. He is currently taking the hits on the road with his BRING THE BAR TO YOU TOUR.
About Martin Guitars and Strings:
F. Martin & Co.® has been Inspiring Musicians Worldwide® for nearly two centuries with their superior guitar and string products. Martin guitars and strings remain the choice for musicians around the world for their unrivaled quality, craftsmanship, and tone. Throughout the company’s long history, Martin products can be seen and heard across all genres of music and in all segments of pop culture, from concert and theater stages to television and movies.
With an unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability and responsible manufacturing practices, Martin continually drives the acoustic guitar market forward, introducing innovative features that have become standards across the industry. These groundbreaking innovations include the introduction of X-bracing, the 14-fret guitar, and the “Dreadnought” size guitar.
Martin has also led innovations in strings, such as introducing the first high-tensile strength steel-string core wire; the first nickel acoustic strings (Martin Retro®); the proprietary Titanium Core strings; and now the groundbreaking, new Authentic Acoustic line, which offers unmatched stability, tone, comfort, and longevity