Official Luthiers Forum!

Why not plant a couple of trees for every guitar you build? That should make you feel a little better if you've got a guilty conscience.

It's at least encouraging to know that they will be seeking a fair price for their wood....

http://www.martinguitar.com/guitars/guitars/wood/itemlist/category/94-brazilian-rosewood.html

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Michael Lloyd

“I was born to ignorance, yes, and lesser poverties ...
I was born to privilege that I did not see ... I didn’t know it, but my way was paved” – John Gorka

That was a great visual and put thing into perspective - somewhat.

I'm pretty sure as human beings we won't stop using or abusing our natural resources until some sort of crisis forces us to. I'm thinking the millions of slaughtered Buffalo, our dwindling petroleum reserves and probably many more examples. So until something drastic happens and the people who are cutting the trees find some direct, tangible and negative effect on their lives those trees will be cut.

Bad thing? Good thing? It's always a good thing if it only brings us a little closer to understanding the effect we have on the planet as a whole. I probably won't change my buying habits but I am surely more aware of how my hobby effects the world. Do I care? I'm not sure.

And no mention of re-planting? Seems strange that it's either not being done or not part of the story. I also understand that there's really no incentive to re-plant, as many times clearing the forest makes way for permanent alternate agricultures.

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Thank You and Best To All

Mike, while you lived un San Jose was there a music store on the east side of town called "Ed's Music" ?

I was in San Jose for a wedding in 1999, and visited that store while I was there. They had a Martin which apparently had been made for Hank Williams, and had ended up being owned by Mama Cass Elliott ...or so the sales guy said...

I have to confess that while I was there , I took a cutting ( like a ground shoot) from the tallest redwood in the Muir Memorial Park, intending to replant it in the UK ...but I left it in the motel ...I guess it would have been Guantanamo Bay for me if I had been caught by customs ...

That is ridiculous! Who would pay $60,000 for a boring factory-built Martin guitar? I can't see anything special about it at all apart from the fact it's made of brazillian rosewood. I'm sure the back and side set didn't cost $59,000!

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"I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it."
Pablo Picasso

https://www.facebook.com/FenskeGuitars

can't honestly say...I was a dedicated customer of Guitar Showcase on Bascom Ave. after Dan (forget his last name...he retired a while back and Taylor made a rather magnificent all koa guitar for him as a present) took a shine to the young me and always gave me good deals with no haggling whatsoever...used to know T.J. Baden also (he started out there and was a BIG pusher of Taylors back in the day)...still have a little case from then with their logo that I carry effects, cords, etc. in when playing out...

In Asia they would... they have limited respect for hand builders and they often buy guitars because of their fame or status rather than sound/quality.

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Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

They must be buying their Braz on OLF classifieds!

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Pat