No more wood says Henry J

[ledfloyd]

The electric guitar has survived ritual stage smashing and the rise of electronic pop. But now it faces a bigger challenge: guitar makers are running out of wood.

The head of Gibson, home of the Les Paul guitar, has warned that the rare and exotic woods used to craft the best instruments are running out at such a rate that the guitar could become an endangered species.

"The true wood guitar is disappearing quickly. We need to act now because it just won't be around in 10 years," said Henry Juszkiewicz, the chief executive of Gibson, whose instruments are brandished by rock legends including Slash, Dave Grohl and Jimmy Page. The wood traditionally used to fashion premium guitars – rosewood, maple, ebony, mahogany and spruce – is being lost as a result of over-harvesting and the depletion of rainforests.

The quality of the wood used lends each guitar its distinctive tone and resonance. Mahogany provides a rich, dark sound, while rosewood creates a bright, brilliant tone.

Madagascar boasts 47 types of rosewood and more than 100 ebony species. But many are threatened with extinction.

[Bear]

Well, I don't boubt at all that it will happen. I don't know how accurate the timeline is, but if Henry can find another material to cut his costs and still make outrageosuly exspensive JUNK, he will. 2011 has been one of the better years for nice tops like earlier years. It does make you wonder if they are using up their reserves because wood is harder to get. But, no matter how hard it is to get, you can bet you will still see mega dollar guitars with descent tops coming out of there. The plain truth is that if people will keep paying the prices, he'll keep using up the resources.

[bobb]

Locally, we are already seeing poaching of maple trees on parkland.

Maple trees on Burnaby Mountain illegally damaged: police - British Columbia - CBC News

BC Hydro - RCMP investigates after tree poachers hit Burnaby Mountain

[Bear]

Freakin Henry!
Seriously, that is happening all over around my area. I think people are doing it to heat their houses because the economy sucks so bad.

[FLICKOFLASH]

This is true the wood we love are next to be added to the rainforest CITES act