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Yeesh. Don't even know what to say to this? Is the drug thing not working out for them or something?! 'Let's go get those hippies with their illegal wood'
Posts: 598
Joined: Feb. 9 2007
From: Paris, France
RE: Gibson USA raided by the Federal... (in reply to jaggedsphere)
Just as a side note, someone was arrested here in Mauritius for trafficking Madagascar Rosewood... I find it incredible that this happened since we have much more serious problems to deal with and that the Mauritian government never really gives a damn about ecological issues (which is a shame but that's another question).
Madagascar is a neighboring country that has been lobbying intensely with the Mauritian government in order for us to implement some control on the wood trade that transits in the Mauritian Free Port... seems that the Wood Mafia is getting their way... which is of course understandable, but I think that the Gibson case shows that they are focussing on an industry that consumes a tiny part of the illegal wood trade, rather than focussing on big factories that makes furniture out of those woods in countries that shall not be named here.
I will not pass judgment on the electric guitar industry, but I remember reading an article about Linda Manzer from Toronto, who said that for a maker like her one Rosewood tree was more than enough for all the orders she might have throughout her entire career.
Linda's output is very limited and must be similar to a Spanish luthier who makes hand made guitars. It is not this industry that will destroy the forests of the world... attacking it is more akin to a publicity stunt than a real concern.
RE: Gibson USA raided by the Federal... (in reply to avimuno)
Interesting argument avimuno. I have also heard it said that the furniture trade is supreme in their consumption of woods(exotic or otherwise).
I think I speak to the rest of us in saying that I'd rather have a guitar with Brazilian/ebony/cypress/indian RW/and so on than a bloody head board made out of it!
Also, very good that you mention Manzer. Ontario it seems, has many very skilled and accomplished luthiers.
Posts # 21, 22 - 42 and 43 do a lot of explaining. Chuck Erikson is a long time pearl importer who knows the in and outs of importing guitar materials.
And thankfully like I have been saying, contrary to what the media wants to portray, this is not a politically motivated issue. It has more to do with government being a big slow moving organism that does not know what another arm of government is doing.