Reclaimed from the Eaton Fire and transformed by Fender, four one-of-a-kind instruments are helping Altadena families rebuild.
When the Eaton Fire swept through Altadena in January 2025, it left behind destroyed homes, damaged landscapes and thousands of trees that had long been part of the community. In response, San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity (SGV Habitat), Fender Musical Instruments Corporation and Fender Custom Shop joined with PLUS1 Foundation and Angel City Lumber to give some of those trees a new purpose—and turn music into a tool for rebuilding.
The collaboration resulted in four one-of-a-kind Fender Custom Shop instruments, each crafted using reclaimed wood from a fallen Deodar cedar recovered in the Eaton Fire scar. The four guitars represent different chapters of Fender’s legacy: a Stratocaster, a Telecaster, a Jazzmaster and a Precision Bass. Each instrument carries the history of Altadena while helping generate support for families rebuilding after the fire.
The first guitar unveiled was the Altadena Telecaster, which features a cedar body and custom details including a “We Are All Altadena” engraving. Musician Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes played the instrument at the January 2026 A Concert for Altadena before it was auctioned, raising $13,700 for SGV Habitat.
To date, with only 3 of 4 one-of-a-kind guitars sold so far, SGV Habitat has already raised north of $50,000.00!
For Fender, the project demonstrated how craftsmanship and community can intersect. “Music has always been about connection, and this project brings that spirit to life through an instrument built to give back,” said Justin Norvell, Fender’s President of Americas.
SGV Habitat CEO Bryan Wong emphasized the broader meaning of the partnership: “Partnerships like this will help ensure the fabric of the community of Altadena … can return. These instruments are building more than houses, they are restoring hope.”
The third guitar brought the partnership full circle when it was auctioned at SGV Habitat’s Raise the Roof Gala on September 19, 2026, at Le Méridien in Arcadia. The guitars ultimately represent more than collectible instruments. They transform a symbol of loss into something lasting—carrying Altadena’s trees, artistry and resilience forward while helping families rebuild their homes and their lives.
