Out Of The Woods?

This month’s relicing theme, focused on the art of recreating the past, also threw the future of guitar-making into sharper contrast. This issue sees the publication of the first feature in a special two-part report on the pressure that traditional tonewoods are under due to deforestation. Most guitarists will now be aware of CITES restrictions on the use of rosewood in manufacturing, which prompted many luthiers to use alternative woods in its place, such as pau ferro. Common sense has now prevailed in that particular case, with CITES recently granting an exemption for instrument makers – whose use of rosewood is tiny compared with the international furniture trade. But, sadly, it seems likely this will not be the last time a well-known tonewood has to be specially protected by international law to prevent it dwindling completely. You might be thinking of things such as mahogany when you read that, but even Sitka spruce, the ubiquitous tonewood used for acoustic-guitar tops, is becoming increasingly scarce at instrument-grade quality. The possible solutions, which our report examines in detail over the course of its two parts, are more creative than you might think – with wood from urban tree-felling and reclaimed timber from dismantled buildings and other sources all forming part of the luthier’s future options. If you care about the future of the instrument as well as its past, as we all do, I urge you to have a read this issue’s opening report on p92.

Coming back to our cover feature, we know relicing divides opinion among guitarists to this day, so please do write in with your take on it – and we’ll print the most thought-provoking letters next month. Have a great month’s picking, enjoy the issue and see you next time.