Why are rosewood guitars banned?

In January of 2017, the CITES convention
CITES convention
CITES (shorter name for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, also known as the Washington Convention) is a multilateral treaty to protect endangered plants and animals.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › CITES
(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 ...
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Why are there restrictions on rosewood?

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.
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Is rosewood still banned?

After a nearly two-year CITES ban on the movement of rosewood crossing international borders, unless accompanied by the relevant paperwork, it looks like the ban has finally been overturned.
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When did guitar manufacturers stop using rosewood?

Brazilian rosewood was used freely in guitar manufacturing until the late 60s - on vintage Fender and Gibson fingerboards among many others and, of course, used as backs and sides on a great many of the most desirable, classic-era acoustic guitars, not least all the most valuable Martins.
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Do guitars still use rosewood?

Manufacturers changed how they made and sold guitars that normally contain rosewood to evade the rule - mainly focusing on affordable guitar ranges. Popular alternatives still being manufactured today use ebony, maple and pau ferro.
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5 Things You Need To Know About The New Rosewood Cites Laws



Why did fender stop using rosewood?

Fender Musical Instruments is officially moving away from using rosewood fingerboards in the manufacturing of its Mexican made instruments due to the recent CITES regulations (see our previous post on CITES here).
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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.
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Are rosewood guitars legal?

Is it legal to buy a guitar made from Brazilian rosewood? If the guitar is a Breedlove, it is 100% legal. For other manufacturers, it depends on whether the instrument was made from legally obtained Brazilian rosewood.
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Why is rosewood so popular?

D. Rosewood is one of the most exploited species of trees around the world, as it is used in making luxurious furniture, musical instruments, as well as producing rosewood oil, bringing its species to the brink of extinction. This scarcity of rosewood resources has led to prices rise, with no signs of slowing down.
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Where does Gibson get its rosewood?

Gibson Guitar has settled with federal authorities for illegally importing ebony and rosewood from India and Madagascar. NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Gibson Guitar Corp. has agreed to pay a fine for illegally importing exotic wood from Madagascar and India, the U.S. government said Monday.
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What is the problem with rosewood?

Rosewood logging causes problems that go well beyond the removal of rare tree species. In West Africa, it can dry out forests and leave them vulnerable to fires and desertification.
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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.
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Are rosewood fretboards banned?

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 ...
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Is rosewood illegal 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.
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What is better mahogany or rosewood?

Mahogany is usually strong in the middle, rosewood touches a wider tone palette. In your hands, a guitar with a rosewood body often feels a little different when you play. Due to the higher density, rosewood is usually a bit heavier and subtly reacts to your playing. Mahogany is often lighter and very direct.
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Why do Chinese want rosewood?

Rosewood has long been used to make musical instruments and furniture but, partly because of its association with the revered Ming dynasty (1368-1644), it has become a status symbol for China's growing, increasingly affluent middle class.
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Is rosewood the best guitar?

Rosewood is a popular and sought-after tonewood for acoustic guitar fretboards. Its density, hardness and stability make it a durable material. It feels great to play, and its tone offers a superb balanced to brighter tonewoods while still being articulate in its own right.
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What happened to rosewood fretboard?

Rosewood won't be disappearing anytime soon, but expect to gradually see it disappear from all but high end models. Original statement from Fender: Fender is committed to the continued use of Rosewood in American-made solid body guitars, such as our American Professional Series.
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Is all rosewood endangered?

Status as an endangered species

Rosewood is now protected worldwide.
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Is Indian rosewood legal?

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.
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When did Taylor stop using Brazilian rosewood?

Supplies grew extremely thin in the late 1960s, however, and Martin and others stopped using Brazilian rosewood in 1969, moving over to Indian rosewood, then other varieties. In 1992, Brazilian rosewood was added to the CITES treaty, strictly banning its exportation.
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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.
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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.
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What is the best wood for a fretboard?

The Big Three Fretboard Woods
  • Ebony. Considered the supreme tonewood for fingerboards due to its solidity, resiliency, and firmness, ebony was the primary fretboard wood in use from the 15th century till very recently. ...
  • Rosewood. ...
  • Maple. ...
  • Indian Laurel. ...
  • Ovangkol. ...
  • Padauk. ...
  • Pau Ferro. ...
  • Walnut.
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Is there a rosewood shortage?

The extreme scarcity of rosewood is affecting the guitar industry — and well as other instrument manufacturers. Can we live without it? Aside from an international crackdown on illegal logging in tropical forests, new regulations are making it difficult for guitar companies to acquire enough rosewood.
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