Skip to content

ABOUT

WASTELAND GUITARS BY  dom de plume

Wasteland Guitars

Wasteland Guitars, created by Dom De Plume, is an art project where musical instruments become post-apocalyptic works of art. Each guitar is a testament to creativity and craftsmanship, with a unique dystopian style. Dom presents a collection of hand-painted guitars that tell stories of a future past.

Forgotten guitars reborn

Old Strigs - new stories

Have you ever wondered what becomes of the countless electric guitars that have lain unplayed for decades in basements and attics? Instruments that once rang out in smoky clubs, echoed in youth centers, or served as loyal companions in bands… and that now, dusty and forgotten, await their end.

Yet within each of these guitars lies potential: solid woods, proven hardware, components that have withstood both time and tone. At Wasteland Guitars, this potential is unleashed through upcycling. Old bodies are cleaned, necks restored, frets renewed or polished. Broken or missing parts are repaired or replaced. And where it makes sense, high-quality new components are added… only the best make their way into an instrument.

At their core, Wasteland Guitars are partscasters – instruments assembled from different parts. But unlike soulless replacement builds, every choice is deliberate, uniting the past with the present.

The result: guitars that are unique, fully playable, reliable, and powerful. Each guitar is a one-of-a-kind piece, preserving the spirit of bygone times while embodying a sustainable future.

Wasteland Guitars is more than an art project… it is a statement of creativity, sustainability, and musical rebirth.

... where music & art collide in a post-apocalyptic symphony...

Artistic motif

Wasteland Guitars is not just about guitars; it’s a living art project. 

Here, rust and corrosion represent more than just looks; they symbolize the end of an era for metal and rock stars. The rusting process is a metaphor for time passing, old idols fading, and artistry being reborn. 

It’s a tribute to an era’s decline, creating instruments with a new story and meaning that reflect music’s changing essence beyond its former glamour. Here, the aesthetics of decay meet the sound of resilience. Each instrument becomes a post-apocalyptic symphony of art and music.

Meet the Artist

Dom De Plume - The Artist

Meet Dom De Plume, the creator behind Wasteland Guitars. An artist driven by a passion for music, craftsmanship with a touch of eccentricity. Dom curates these guitars as pieces of art, infusing them with individuality, depth, and a post-apocalyptic narrative. Dom’s creations combine sound and sight with great attention to detail and musicality.

With a background in multimedia art and a career as a creative director, Dom channels decades of artistic experience into his passion for music and craftsmanship.

He has been playing guitar for more than 25 years, which makes his relationship with the instrument both personal and profound. From performing in clubs during his youth to creating art pieces, miniature creations and designer toys that have been exhibited worldwide, from San Francisco to Vienna, he has always lived between sound and vision. Along the way, he exhibited alongside influential figures such as Amanda Visell, Pushead, Ron English and Frank Kozik.

The electric guitar serves as both a source of passion and a medium for his creativity, combining his passion, hobby and vocation. This fusion led to the creation of his art project: Wasteland Guitars. Each guitar reflects Dom’s eccentric attention to detail, his love for individuality and his ability to breathe new life into forgotten objects.

it's all about the art of color

crafting & painting

Despite their rugged, apocalyptic appearance, there isn’t a trace of real rust on Wasteland Guitars. The effect is pure artistry. Through a meticulous process of painting, layering and sealing, each instrument is transformed into a one-of-a-kind visual statement.

Every guitar-part is fully disassembled, primed with high-quality coatings, and then painted using a diverse palette of alcohol-based, acrylic, enamel, stain colors and so on. Each part, from body to hardware to the smallest screw, is treated individually. Metal components, wooden parts, and pickups undergo different treatments tailored to their characteristics and stress levels. Hues are built up in multiple layers, and every surface is sealed with protective clear coats to ensure both durability and beauty.

The majority of the work is done by hand with a brush, giving each guitar its unmistakable character. What looks like decades of rust and decay is in fact the result of precision, craftsmanship and patience.

The outcome is instruments that are not only striking works of art, but also fully functional and playable guitars, carefully crafted for both aesthetics and functionality.

Behind the scenes

Wasteland Guitars

Wasteland Guitars, where musical instruments transcend into post-apocalyptic artistry