Indian Laurel?

[coachc55]

I see Fender is using this type of fretwood. How is it and how does it compare to Rosewood?


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[Chistopher]

Re: Indian Laurel?

I prefer Indian Yanny.

[ehdwuld]

Re: Indian Laurel?

I know her she's my cousin's daughter

[kramersteen]

Re: Indian Laurel?

Yanny for sure.

[coachc55]

Indian Laurel?

Never mind.


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[ehdwuld]

Re: Indian Laurel?

Seriously
Never heard of Indian Laurel

[Masta' C]

Re: Indian Laurel?

Wikipedia:

"Ficus microcarpa, also known as Chinese banyan, Malayan banyan, Indian laurel, curtain fig, or gajumaru, is a tree in the fig family Moraceae. It is native in a range from China through tropical Asia and the Caroline Islands to Australia"

Looks like a moderate to fast-growing Ficus in the Fig family of trees.

There's usually only one reason Fender uses anything outside of traditional materials...lower cost.

Basically, the Rosewood look without Rosewood prices and likely much easier/faster to produce in mass

Here's a pic from Cort guitars:

[Jacew]

Re: Indian Laurel?

I tried one CV60 in a shop last week and wondered light brown, very poor looking fretboard in it. Looked like it was dried with a heat gun. Mostly very pale brown with few darker streaks through it.

I thought they've moved to cheapest possible pieces of rosewood, (along with upping the price), but I guess it was that Indian Laurel.

It felt and sounded rather dull and lifeless. Not worth the 500€ they're now asking for them. But that might have been just that particular guitar.

I don't blame the fretboard though. It felt nice, like you'd expect for a rosewood board, less "oily" maybe.

Just didn't like the look of it at all.

[AlexR]

Re: Indian Laurel?

Plus also without the CITES issue too. Thats a real headache and the largest reason for the move of Fender to alternates in the last 24 months.

The guitar will still sound like a strat.......and you'll have no idea if any guitar with it sounds the unique way it does due to the fretboard wood, or the way every bit combines together.

[Masta' C]

Re: Indian Laurel?

They have been using this wood on the "Bullet" series for a while and now it's finding its way further up the Squier line.

That's not to say it's "bad" wood. It's hard and dense and makes a fair "tone" wood by all accounts. Luthiers in Asia have used it for a long time. But it's fairly bland in figure and color.

There are plenty of other, more attractive woods that could make a decent Rosewood substitute.

CITES is clearly an issue, but we're talking about Fender, so they'll see the change as an opportunity to cut costs as much as possible.

It's a good time to grab a slightly older "Classic Vibe" with real Rosewood if that's you're thing...

[Jacew]

Re: Indian Laurel?

They have been using this wood on the "Bullet" series for a while and now it's finding its way further up the Squier line.

That's not to say it's "bad" wood. It's hard and dense and makes a fair "tone" wood by all accounts. Luthiers in Asia have used it for a long time. But it's fairly bland in figure and color.

There are plenty of other, more attractive woods that could make a decent Rosewood substitute.

CITES is clearly an issue, but we're talking about Fender, so they'll see the change as an opportunity to cut costs as much as possible.

It's a good time to grab a slightly older "Classic Vibe" with real Rosewood if that's you're thing...

Prices seem to be already gettin up

[Jeff_H]

Re: Indian Laurel?

Indian Laurel was the name of a girl I dated in Jr. High School.

A couple of those woods above are nice and dark, and look like viable as rosewood alternatives. I'm actually not opposed to rosewood alternatives as long as they have the traditional dark look and don't need any drastic additional maintenance outside of occasional oiling. What I do object to are high dollar Gibson or Fender guitars with rough, light colored rosewood that looks clearly cheap or poorly finished/sanded, etc. There is still plenty of good looking rosewood available. I understand all companies, not just guitar companies, are constantly looking for cost saving methods.

If guitar companies need to use rosewood alternatives on budget and lower line guitars I get it. Just don't use it on the upper line stuff and charge the same as if you'd used rosewood.

[DavidRavenMoon]

Re: Indian Laurel?

Basically, the Rosewood look without Rosewood prices and likely much easier/faster to produce in mass

I’m sure it has nothing to do with costs or ease of production. Indian rosewood isn’t expensive or hard to machine.

The issue is all true rosewoods are being regulated under new CITES rules.

For example, I can (and do) build a guitar with a rosewood fretboard. But if I export it I need to include a lot of documentation to prove the wood is legal.

Remember what happened to Gibson?

So many larger builders are avoiding the issue by using alternate woods.


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[Jacew]

Re: Indian Laurel?

I’m sure it has nothing to do with costs or ease of production. Indian rosewood isn’t expensive or hard to machine.

The issue is all true rosewoods are being regulated under new CITES rules.

For example, I can (and do) build a guitar with a rosewood fretboard. But if I export it I need to include a lot of documentation to prove the wood is legal.

Remember what happened to Gibson?

So many larger builders are avoiding the issue by using alternate woods.


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I'm a bit skeptical about that. They need that documentation anyway if they're selling any rosewood products. I don't think they're sourcing them from that many places it would be big issue for a larger company.

[SAguitar]

Re: Indian Laurel?

The future is so dark, I gotta wear shades.

I'm so glad I have a closet full of great guitars to choose from, made from great materials. I feel sorry for you guys coming up, and having to deal with the market out there.