Sacramento, Calif. – The California Manufacturers & Technology Association (CMTA) officially welcomed Kauer Guitars, a boutique electric guitar maker, to the organization today.

Kauer Guitars was established after a lifetime of woodworking in 2007 by Doug Kauer. The Elk Grove manufacturer has grown with a world-renowned artist roster in the past 17 years by prioritizing creating unique and high-quality guitars.

“We discovered Kauer Guitars through CMTA’s first-ever Coolest Thing Made in California Competition in 2023 when they entered one of its guitars into the contest,” said Lance Hastings, CEO & President of CMTA. “Kauer is well-recognized as an authentic, hand-crafted electric guitar maker in the industry. We are ecstatic to continue uplifting Kauer through their membership with CMTA.”

Despite being a small manufacturer, major artists include Brad Whitford with Aerosmith, Tom Dumont with No Doubt, Dennis Casey with Flogging Molly, Scott Holiday with Rival Sons and many more play Kauer Guitars.

“I am extremely excited to be a member of the CMTA. While being a luthier (our fancy term for instrument maker) may conjure up old world techniques, our shop is heavily dependent on technology,” said Doug Kauer, Founder & Owner of Kauer Guitars. “Having grown up in a family-owned business, I know first-hand how overlooked small-scale companies can be by large organizations. In our industry there’s no singular path to building excellent stringed instruments and the CMTA provides both a much-needed service and exposure to other industries that may be adaptable to our needs. We really appreciate all the excitement and involvement that the CMTA has already brought to our organization.”

Kauer Guitars are created using the highest-quality woods by hand, with a line that includes the Banshee, Korona, Electroliner, Starliner, Super Chief and its newest guitar the Gripen.

Kauer Guitars also manufactures guitar racks in the same facility in Elk Grove through its offshoot company, DRS Racks.

Between 2020 and 2022, Kauer Guitars raised over $150,000 in direct donations to the region’s food banks, local charities, and support organizations after launching a special guitar model at the beginning of the pandemic.

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About CMTA

The California Manufacturers & Technology Association has advocated for pro-growth laws and regulations before the California legislature and administrative agencies since 1918. The total output from manufacturing in California is $300 billion per year, roughly 10 percent of the total economic output of the state. Manufacturers employ 1.3 million Californians paying wages more than $25,000 higher than other non-farm employers in the state. For more information, visit CMTA’s website.

About Kauer Guitars

Kauer Guitars Inc is a leading member of the boutique electric guitar industry. Established after a lifetime of woodworking in 2007 by Doug Kauer, Kauer Guitars has grown with a world-renowned artist roster, an innovative approach to technology and a continual strive towards improvement. Kauer’s outsider perspective on design has helped carry the brand into the zeitgeist and allowed them to be a positive mentor to other industry peers. Kauer Guitars: a Noble Tone Embiggens the Smallest Amp. For more information, visit Kauer Guitar’s website.