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and also I suspect NOT true BR species. But who cares really.
I brought this up to promote the Ramirez book because it was an interesting read. Brune emailed me privately to set it straight that Brazil gov. had an embargo on the wood because they wanted to regulate it. Very much later it is "endangered", but the main point is that as popular as it is on guitars and furniture, I was surprised to read Ramirez sentiments regarding that wood, and how it was being exploited so long ago. I am fine with Indian Rosewood and other species of dark figured wood.
I would be remiss if I did not place an additive on this comment, suffice my writing to stand in for a post script that the esteemed Mr. Jernigan is too modest to write himself.
The beast days of the 1960’s Ramírez shop were also the shining epoch of another Madrid institution, for these were the times of the Hotel Wellington’s famous Jernigan Suites rooms. The lair of Richard Jernigan who was also known about town as Tres Pulgas, because his alzapua was so devistating it’s if he had three thumbs working together to ratchet out notes like an air driven hammer. The Jernigan Suites were on par with the American Academy in Rome as a meeting place of the most cultured tertulias in the city. Most importantly the suites were a humanitarian oasis fulfilling a complete agenda spanning the sponsorship of great authors in residence, a science foundation dedicated and co operated by the Cousteau family, and finally a setting where the moral virtue of wayward senoritas was preserved.
Lest newcomers should be puzzled, or suspect that my friend Stephen has gotten into the shochu once again, a word of explanation.
I used to stay at the Hotel Emperador in Madrid, on the Gran Via. It was a bit down at the heel, but had an imposing exterior. The hardwood floors were comprehensively scuffed, the rugs worn out, the bathrooms clean, but tiled in brown, with glaring maroon fixtures from the 1940s. It was respectable, but inexpensive, despite its sonorous name.
Several years ago Charles Vega (RIP) frequented the Foro. (I think it was this one.) Vega was a highly skilled machinist, employed by the Physics Department at Johns Hopkins University to build specialized equipment for experiments. He also made guitars. One in particular was beautifully made of spectacular birdseye maple.
I once mentioned casually that I had staid at the Emperador during a recent visit. Vega disparaged me for being a rich tourist, while he virtuously stayed at a pensión, associating freely with the common folk.
I pointed out that the label in the only one of his guitars I had seen read "Carlos Francisco Vega," and asked whether this was how he introduced himself in Spain, while associating with the common folk.
Then I posted some preposterous bullsh1t about the Emperador, making it out to be far more posh than it was in fact.
After the death of Franco, the Gran Via began to be populated late at night by young women, scantily dressed even in winter, looking for customers. I wrote (falsely) that, out of a charitable impulse I sometimes rented a few rooms at the Emperador for them, so they could periodically warm up indoors.
Stephen and Bill Barkell chimed in with further exaggerated claims about my apocryphal "activities". Hence the "Jernigan Suites" and other fantasies.
For a while, they continued to make up humorous baloney about me. I thought it had died down, but Stephen has come through once again.
Despite this explanation, I'm not ruling out the possibility of shochu being involved.
I once mentioned casually that I had staid at the Emperador during a recent visit. Vega disparaged me for being a rich tourist, while he virtuously stayed at a pensión, associating freely with the common folk.
And I defended you against Vega's charge, to which Vega responded: "I can see no reason to have even mentioned the Emperador other than a 'thinly veiled' attempt to impress the unwashed masses."
It all took off from there, behind the thinnest of veils.
Bill
_____________________________
And the end of the fight is a tombstone white, With the name of the late deceased, And the epitaph drear, "A fool lies here, Who tried to hustle the East."
I would be remiss if I did not place an additive on this comment, suffice my writing to stand in for a post script that the esteemed Mr. Jernigan is too modest to write himself.
The beast days of the 1960’s Ramírez shop were also the shining epoch of another Madrid institution, for these were the times of the Hotel Wellington’s famous Jernigan Suites rooms. The lair of Richard Jernigan who was also known about town as Tres Pulgas, because his alzapua was so devistating it’s if he had three thumbs working together to ratchet out notes like an air driven hammer. The Jernigan Suites were on par with the American Academy in Rome as a meeting place of the most cultured tertulias in the city. Most importantly the suites were a humanitarian oasis fulfilling a complete agenda spanning the sponsorship of great authors in residence, a science foundation dedicated and co operated by the Cousteau family, and finally a setting where the moral virtue of wayward senoritas was preserved.
Lest newcomers should be puzzled, or suspect that my friend Stephen has gotten into the shochu once again, a word of explanation.
I used to stay at the Hotel Emperador in Madrid, on the Gran Via. It was a bit down at the heel, but had an imposing exterior. The hardwood floors were comprehensively scuffed, the rugs worn out, the bathrooms clean, but tiled in glaring maroon from the 1940s. It was respectable, but inexpensive, despite its sonorous name.
Several years ago Charles Vega (RIP) frequented the Foro. (I think it was this one.) Vega was a highly skilled machinist, employed by the Physics Department at Johns Hopkins University to build specialized equipment for experiments. He also made guitars. One in particular was beautifully made of spectacular birdseye maple.
I once mentioned casually that I had staid at the Emperador during a recent visit. Vega disparaged me for being a rich tourist, while he virtuously stayed at a pensión, associating freely with the common folk.
I pointed out that the label in the only one of his guitars I had seen read "Carlos Francisco Vega," and asked whether this was how he introduced himself in Spain, while associating with the common folk.
Then I posted some preposterous bullsh1t about the Emperador, making it out to be far more posh than it was in fact.
After the death of Franco, the Gran Via began to be populated late at night by young women, scantily dressed even in winter, looking for customers. I wrote (falsely) that, out of a charitable impulse I sometimes rented a few rooms at the Emperador for them, so they could periodically warm up indoors.
Stephen and Bill Barkell chimed in with further exaggerated claims about my apocryphal "activities". Hence the "Jernigan Suites" and other fantasies.
For a while, they continued to make up humorous baloney about me. I thought it had died down, but Stephen has come through once again.
Despite this explanation, I'm not ruling out the possibility of shochu being involved.
RNJ
Well of course it was the Emperador Hotel, but in this round of iterations on the story I changed it to the Wellington as a nod to your ancient lineage of being ‘to the manor born’ in great British society.
Shochu involved? Compai~
Regarding Carlos the guitar maker, a fine craftsman who was appropriately haughty about his place as a maker of things. Even though his style and thresholds for aesthetic decisions aren’t my favorite, he was true believer in the sanctity of making with the hand and eye. He deserves respect, and a good ribbing, concurrently. Carlos is dead, long live Carlos the maker.
they still do bribes on that... , altough theres a special permit to produce and sell Br Rosewood in Brasil, new wood only. I dont know how many time it takes to grow and ready to cut , but i´ll guess that too long..., so that permit only applies to produce , since it will take (i guess) a lot of time to sell it
I wonder if there is ANY legit wood for guitars left.
In a video I saw recently the English luthier Gary Southwell mentions that he has used bog oak for classical guitar back and sides, a few times.
Over the last couple of centuries some wetlands in southeastern England have been drained and converted to farmland. These days farmers will occasionally plow up an oak tree that has been buried in the ground for 3,000-5,000 years. The acidity and lack of oxygen of the previous swamp water and mud have acted to prevent the wood from decaying altogether.
Until recently bog oak was available only in small pieces. When it was dried out it split into small chunks. Southwell says a steel string maker has figured out how to dry out bog oak in a slow, controlled process that yields pieces big enough for backs and sides. However, only a few sets are available each year.
Since seeing Southwell's video I've run across one ad for a bog oak steel string.
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