Rosewood unleashed

This had been in the news for a few days. It is a very sensible thing to do. It doesn't take too much thinking to actually realize how dumb it is to subject manufactured products (done way before those CITES people were even born yet) to this relatively recent rule. Apparently, some people somewhere failed to put their little grey cells to good use. A blanket rule isn't entirely preventive, it adds to misery & hardship especially so when not applied in context. 

We would be able to buy guitars with rosewood components at a click of a button again. Hopefully it would be soon. You know how it is with paper pushers overseeing this turnaround - red tape. 

CITES grip: Ibanez (2)

No surprises here as the Ibanez GIO series now sport a pine fretboard. I do not wish to go into details  when it comes to the GIOs as these do not quite represent value for money. If you can help it, consider something else.

CITES grip: Ibanez

With immediate effect, the Ibanez models you see above are now equipped with pine fretboard instead of its previous rosewood incarnation (T-B):

• RC220
• SA160
• SA360

CITES grip: ESP

Greetings, guitar dweebs. ESP has finally released some details pertaining to their directions as the CITES regulations are put in place. Most of the instruments concern export models, namely the LTD range & that's kind of expected. Starting with the 400 series instruments, fretboards will be replaced with jatoba. This is a dark wood type which, in native Brazil, is known as Brazilian Cherry.

Series 200- fretboard will be blackwood in due time. This is a pine-based composite & will be quite a departure from the solid rosewood on offer.

Series 1000/ signature fans (aka Deluxe models), high standards are to be retained here with the use of pau ferro/ macassar ebony. Pau ferro had been the staple of acoustic builders, preferring it for backs/sides. The resonance of pau ferro is closer to maple than rosewood. So the precaution here is that, if you are hoping for similar warmth to rosewood, you might end up with a brighter-sounding instrument instead. 

The most agonizing change, the way I see it, is the entry level Series 10 models. The fretboard of these instruments will feature a composite material; that's right, it's not even wood to begin with. Either that, or wood presence would be in trace amounts. The manufacturer promises an 'acceptable' replacement so we just have to trust their move.

Ladies & gents, we are hereby witnessing the rapid effect of wood legislation on commercial entities. These people either think of a way round the current stipulations or they suffer a worse fate- losing & winding down. If you are particular when it comes to wood specs for some guitars, do act soon. Prices are on the upward trend for rosewood-equipped instruments (not by an astronomical amount but it could be unreasonable for many of us). People will soon cash in on the situation especially in the aftermarket. Big names like Fender/Gibson will be offered in obscene prices & these will be tagged as 'rare' by ignorant fools. The worse fools are the ones who ended up buying, of course. 

I'm saying this because a rosewood equipped instrument is not superior than those that feature other wood types- don't let anyone tell you different. Differences in tone would be more perceived than absolute. Prices suffer an unfortunate appreciation not due to quality concern but a demand-supply bearing. 

Prohibited rose- regional grasp

So this was the fatality last night; was gonna buy something online when the seller's website triggered the alert & was referred to the home page for the relevant reference (as seen above). Have myself to blame because I hesitated & now had to deal with this despair. 😡

My advice to you, my dear friends & blog readers, act quickly before the entire restriction goes into full swing. 

Relevant preceding entry: CLICK

Vulgar display of restrictions

I'm still trawling guitar sites to see what I've missed out from NAMM '17. Dean released this Vulgar Display ML which looks interesting but we know it's a celebrated budget affair; the FR Special bridge is an obvious sign. 

That aside, I'm more intrigued by this announcement & very soon, we might see it everywhere. In case you missed it: CLICK

In the name of the rose(wood)

Greetings, fellow guitar dweebs. As many of us are embarking on the year end celebrations & looking forward to the glad tidings of 2017, this phantom issue concerning timber legalities is an imminent haunt come next year. Global authorities are tightening legislations pertaining to rosewood commerce & the two major economies, the USA & EU, are trading in circumspect.

I am receiving such reminders in the mail from manufacturers with rosewood products (raw/processed) in their inventory. CITES- Convention in International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora- had recently listed more rosewood species & its related breed (meaning- if one doesn't refer to rosewood by its know name but under a different domestic citation, it's still binding) under their purview. 2017 is an enactment year for some clauses in the agreement & it's going to be difficult for many buyers, sellers & owners alike. 

Back to instrument relevance, we know that some of the key components in our beloved instruments are rosewood. Replacing it with a close relative or a seemingly relevant alternative (recall Gibson's torrified maple dismay) wouldn't be the same. It's also devastating to market value. Ladies & gentlemen, if one is not privy to the legislation, it wouldn't be binding but Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan & Korea are signatories of CITES. Just by listing these countries down, we get a clearer picture of the affected guitar brand names. This isn't a small matter by any means, its tsunami-grade impact is just waiting to happen. 

On that note (no pun intended) I'm not lobbying for a rosewood binge. I'm asking all of us to think of how a move to combat illegal logging & trade targetted at the furniture & exotic facility at large would have an eventual impact on other players in the industry. It is seemingly unfair but the approach makes sense- the law creeps in on the source of the problem. On top of all this, human greed & dishonesty are very much to blame for the repercussions. At the end of 2016 (or any year for that matter) let us remember to keep our principles in check for it has an outward impact to the world.