Is rosewood illegal for guitars?

According to media reports, trading restrictions on rosewood have been revised by the relevant CITES committee allowing all 'finished' instruments with rosewood, all their parts and spares, to be traded freely.

Are rosewood fretboards banned?

Guitar manufacturers (and anyone) were banned from using it, unless they could prove it had been exported prior to the 1992 CITES treaty decision. Since that time, manufacturers have searched for alternatives, not only to Brazilian rosewood, but to rosewood in general.

Is all rosewood illegal?

The good news is that if you own an item made of rosewood, you should be able to travel with it without issue. But the bad news is that if you are selling any type of rosewood (either as lumber, or as a finished product), you can no longer (legally) ship it out of your country.

Why is rosewood illegal?

The restrictions under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora — commonly referred to as CITES — went into effect in 2017, after strong demand for high-end rosewood furniture in China led to conservation worries and violence in areas that produce the wood.

What type of rosewood is banned?

In 2013, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) listed all types of Madagascar rosewood as Appendix II, prohibiting their trade except in the rare cases in which a local CITES authority has issued sustainability permits.

5 Things You Need To Know About The New Rosewood Cites Laws

Can rosewood be sold?

Selling Brazilian Rosewood

As can be seen in the article, most guitars made with Dalbergia Nigra can be sold, as long as they are sold with the correct documentation, where required. There are certain dates to take into account. – All instruments built before 3rd March 1947 are considered antique and are not affected.

Is rosewood still endangered?

Status as an endangered species

Rosewood is now protected worldwide.

Is rosewood banned in UK?

Within the UK it is illegal to advertise, trade, buy or sell a guitar containing Brazilian Rosewood without the instrument having an Article 10 certificate. This applies to dealers, retailers and private sales, eBay, Reverb, Facebook – basically anyone having a commercial interest or gain, every base is covered.

When did fender stop using rosewood?

In 2017 when CITES imposed restrictions on instruments featuring rosewood, Fender made a few changes. Now that those restrictions have been lifted, Fender use a combination of rosewood, pau ferro and ebony. So how do these tonewoods compare? Let's take a look at the differences.

What guitar wood is illegal?

An international crackdown on illegal logging in tropical forests has ensnared the makers of some guitars and other musical instruments, whose top-end products require small amounts of rosewood, a material prized for its rich, multicolored grain and resonant sound.

When was rosewood banned for guitars?

In January of 2017, the CITES convention (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) in Geneva, Switzerland passed a ban on the use of rosewood and Bubinga as tonewoods, making it more difficult to ship or travel with musical instruments made with any amount of these endangered ...

Can you import rosewood?

To import rosewood into the United States, you need to have an export certificate from the “CITES Management Authority” in the exporting country, and then have your import cleared by U.S. Customs, which uses guidelines developed from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

Did Gibson stop using rosewood?

Since 1991, Brazilian Rosewood has been listed as an endangered species and has therefore been used sparingly by guitar makers. However, there have been some small runs here and there of Gibson guitars that do have Brazilian fingerboards, particularly during 2001-2003.

Can I import rosewood into the UK?

Popular antique and vintage products such as furniture made from rosewood, reptile skin accessories and tortoiseshell boxes will all need documentation from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) in order to be legally transported between Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Great Britain and the EU from 1 January ...

Can you export rosewood?

Brazilian rosewood products may be imported and exported commercially only if they are: Presented with a USDA-APHIS Protected Plant Permit; Presented with documentation from CITES certifying that it was acquired prior to June 11, 1992; Imported and exported through designated ports.

How much is rosewood worth?

Rosewood fetches in excess of USD$17,000 per ton but Zambia is failing to benefit, here's why. Rosewood is popular in China for 'hongmu' – antique furniture. Rosewood is the generic name for several dark-red hardwood species found in tropical regions across the globe.

Is rosewood a protected species?

The Convention on the Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) summit on Thursday placed all 300 species of rosewood under trade restrictions, meaning criminals can no longer pass off illegally logged species as legitimate.

Does rosewood grow in the US?

The rosewood tree is considered tropical, growing best in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 11, which includes areas that enjoy warm climates such as Hawaii. Despite its preference for tropical climes, the rosewood can tolerate temperatures down to about 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Is Brazilian rosewood illegal?

As a result, most nations throughout the world declared it illegal to harvest, export or import any Brazilian rosewood (including products produced from Brazilian rosewood) harvested after 1992.

Is rosewood banned in Canada?

Rosewood specimens which enter Canada after January 2, 2017 must be accompanied by a CITES authorization from the exporting country. A copy of this authorization will need to accompany any requests for re-export of the rosewood.

Is Ebony fretboard better than rosewood?

In short, Ebony is a much harder wood compared to Rosewood and feels slicker to touch. It produces brighter and snappier tones, while Rosewood produces a more balanced overall tone.

Which is better rosewood or maple fretboard?

Rosewood Fretboard Sound and Care

Rosewood is a warm, sweet tonewood. Compared to maple the difference is notable, as rosewood will soften the sound, even for guitars with maple necks. This is one of the reasons some guitar players prefer Fender Stratocasters and Telecasters with the option of a rosewood fretboard.

What is the best wood for a guitar fretboard?

What kind of rosewood does Gibson use?

North American rosewood is also used by Gibson — it's a trustworthy source and sustainable. Madagascan and Amazonian Rosewood is also widely used. * Brazilian Rosewood is unusual these days, because of rarity and exorbitant cost.