Official Luthiers Forum!

I don't think this is too hot of a topic, but reading the post by Lance concerning political issues reminded me of an environmental issue and my personal ethical quandry about using tropical hardwoods in guitar construction. (I never read the original offensive thread and hope this is not too near that mark)

It is a given that the Tropical Rainforests are decreasing rapidly. I think that what is happening in the Brazilian Rainforest has more to do with slash and burn techniques for clearing the land for agricultural use by the locals than it does tree poaching. Of course the nutrient cycle is so rapid there (due to leaching effect of the rain) that the ground does not remain fertile for long and the locals move on, slash cut more forest, plant their crops for about two years till the soil is worn out and then move on again.
For sure the land has to support the people. That is a given. It occurs to me that paying premium prices for Rosewood and other tropical woods could raise the prices of the logs locally so that the land could be used by the locals to make money by practicing good forestry techniques. Plantation rosewood could be a cash crop.   For sure if I had a plot of rain forest I would plant Dalbergia nigra and sit back. (a long term investment to be sure)
One way of looking at the issue of using tropical woods is that if the forest becomes more valuable as a forest because I am paying a bazillion dollars for rosewood, then perhaps the rain forest can support the locals as a forest rather than as a used up patch of farmland.
That's my rationale for now. I know this won't work for elephant ivory.

Therein lies the problem for them. What do they do for food while they are waiting for trees to mature?
It will be hard to have this conversation here without it going somewhat political, but if I owned a piece of that land also, I would also be planting d.n. for harvesting. I have to wonder if it could survive in any of the existing climate zones in the U.S.? Seems like it would be a worthwhile experiment. We would just need land that is warm to hot year-round, and high in rainfall and humidity, right?
Hey David Bland! How much land you got there in the Keys?

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

There are some ebony trees growing in the keys. Mahog grows there as well. You can buy D.n. tree seedlings. I think they are about $60 each.

where can you buy them John. I doubt they would grom too well in Cool, Ca though.

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

Steve Kinnaird38847.5940162037

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

[QUOTE=Don Williams]I have to wonder if it could survive in any of the existing climate zones in the U.S.? Seems like it would be a worthwhile experiment. We would just need land that is warm to hot year-round, and high in rainfall and humidity, right?[/QUOTE]

Sounds like you're describing where I live -- Houston. Sorry, no acreage, though.

Best,

Michael

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Live to Play, Play to Live

From what I have been told recently BRW does not even actually come from the Brasilian Rain Forest.
It comes from an area called the
"Cerrado" area in central to southern Brasil.
If tppl want to enter a discussion about BRW they can visit the forum at this link.
http://www.braziltonewoods.com/luthierforum/index.php?topic= 4.0
That way it wont affect this site with further politics and frustrate Lance to no end.
I have been told that the Highest Quality BRW is harvested from the higher
elevations (mountainous areas) of Brasil. The "Rain Forest" is in nothern Brasil and it is
a very wet lowland area. Mahogany is the wood they are ravaging the "Rain Forest" for.

This is what I have been told, and I happen to believe it.
Cheers
Charliecharliewood38847.8235648148

Anyone seen the keys to my landcruiser?

[QUOTE=larkim] Anyone seen the keys to my landcruiser? [/QUOTE]

If its an older model you should be able to start it with a slot head
screwdriver

How many of those do you want planted John?
I am actually a member of a tropical garden facility down here. They have acres of land they grow on. I wonder if they would be willing to try a few feet as an experiment....

Craig L.

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www.handcraftinlay.com

I thought that I would pass on a link to Tropical American Tree Farms based in Costa Rica. I ran across them while researching investment opportunities. Let me also say that I have no connection with nor current investment in this company. So far the research that I have done makes me believe that this is currently a company in good standing and a viable reputation.

They currently grow the following varieties of trees:
Premium Mixture
Supra Mixture
Bocote
Brazilian Cherry
Cocobolo
Goncalo Alves
Ipe or Lapacho
Madero Negro
Mahogany
Nargusta
Peroba Rosa
Primavera
Purpleheart
Roble
Santa Maria
Teak
Trebol
Wild Tambran
Who know what they might grow if requested.

Tropical American Tree Farms

Philip

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aka konacat

If you think my playing is bad you should hear me sing!
Practice breeds confidence and confidence breeds competence. Unfortunately, I'm stuck in practice.