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I was on Hibdon site today. They said no more Cocobolo and African Blackwood. Several others gone too. What the heck? Where to source? Ugh. Start building guitars out of 2x4s?

Where has all the Coco gone, long time passing
where has all the Coco gone, long time ago?
Where has all the Coco gone, long time passing
where has all the Coco gone, long time ago?
Where has all the Coco gone, long time passing
The sawyers cut them every one -
When will they ever learn
when will they ever learn....

Hibdon may just be trying to stay ahead of the curve. With regulations requiring you to know the unknowable they may not be willing to take the risk.
There are plenty of non cites woods that can make good guitars, and there are probably other vendors that are willing to take the risk, so you may still be able to find something better than a 2X4

Time to wean yourself from exotics and explore other materials, Mike. I would like to use more domestic woods - catalpa, persimmon, etc. Experiment, learn, be a trend setter.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Man, I'm probably going to have to finally break down and buy a large plank of Cocobolo from my local place before I can't get it any more. We use it for fretboard, headstock and bridge on our Jumbo model. last time I was there they wanted $60/bf for 8/4. Fortunately they used to have a lot of small pieces that were about the size and length of a fretboard so it made things pretty affordable. I could usually get 2-3 guitars of what I needed for $100 if I found just the right piece and planned carefully. If I get a whole plank it will probably be a couple thousand dollars.... ugggg.

I wouldn't sweat it too much. Brazilian rosewood was banned for export almost 30 years ago, yet there is still a little bit to be had. There are plenty of other woods that can make as good as, or better fretboards than cocobolo (a wood that is a known sensitizer) and are not restricted in any way.
I'm guessing that as timber cutters and sellers subscribe to the new policies the wood will continue to be sold, with the added cost passed on to the consumer.
Price is another way to restrict the use of a material - as the prices of some exotics have quadrupled over the past few years I have quit buying them (but quite honestly I have enough).
For many years the "developed" countries pillaged the worlds forests without a second thought. Now that resources are getting thin and "developing" countries are doing the same we are asking for "responsible" stewardship, to which they may not agree. The "Tragedy of the Commons" continues when poaching is considered a legitimate way to acquire materials.

Good riddance as far as I'm concerned. I love the look of cocobolo but during 10 years and nearly 1000 guitars finished, cocobolo was the most unpredictable wood to finish. There were some samples that nearly refused to allow the isolator to cure which in turn would also not allow the three component polyester to cure. That stuff is the devil.

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jw ( o)===:::

I'm seeing shortages in exotics pretty much across the board with all the vendors I use.

I think a lot of it is supply chain disruptions at least in part to covid.

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Brian R, Wood Mechanic
N8ZED