The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #129727   Message #2914370
Posted By: Collingsgirl
25-May-10 - 09:37 PM
Thread Name: Chinese guitars: Madagascar rosewood?
Subject: RE: Chinese guitars: Madagascar rosewood?
I've got a weakness for fine guitars and have a Collings OM3 on order with Madagascar Rosewood back and sides. The wood choice is an upcharge and given the recent ban on importation of Madagascar Rosewood, it will become even more expensive. Brazilian Rosewood has become very problematic (and expensive); only those woods that were in the United States or Europe before the import bans can be (legally) used. Additionally, even if one has a legal Brazilian Rosewood instrument, if traveling outside of the US with the instrument one risks seizure upon return (from an article in the Fretboard Journal). Luthiers such as Collings, Martin's custom shop, Santa Cruz, Goodall, etc are very legitimate and won't use woods without the proper "provenance" but trafficking in these rare and endangered woods is a problem.

I once saw a photograph of a Steinway grand piano made of Brazilian Rosewood. Lordy.