Indian Laurel?

Re: Indian Laurel?

Does this just affect you as a manufacturer, or is even a private individual shipping gifts/ebay/whatever affected?

What happens if you through in a build sheet that lists it as one of these alternatives, could and would they actually somehow test whether it is rosewood or not???

Yes, if affects everyone who might ship a guitar. Even if it’s not a new guitar.

I recently bought some Indian Rosewood fretboards and they came with paperwork showing they are pre CITES. If I shipped the guitar out of the country I would need to include that.

Unfortunately the people in customs probably can’t tell one wood from another. Certainly not differentiate species of rosewood.


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Re: Indian Laurel?

CITES for rosewood is all rosewood shipped, not a date like Braz where it requires a certification after it was placed on the stricter list.
 
Re: Indian Laurel?

Yes, if affects everyone who might ship a guitar. Even if it’s not a new guitar.

I recently bought some Indian Rosewood fretboards and they came with paperwork showing they are pre CITES. If I shipped the guitar out of the country I would need to include that.

Unfortunately the people in customs probably can’t tell one wood from another. Certainly not differentiate species of rosewood.


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So wait, wouldnt that mean you'd need a "no it aint rosewood at all" certificate on a rosewood-lookalike unregulated substitute???
 
Re: Indian Laurel?

Are all your local prices that bad??? 500 euros / almost $600 is serious guitar dough on the used market here in America.

Plenty of cosmetically flawed or less-popular models of high-end professional gear to be had on the used market around that price point (fullbrand ESP, Fender USA, Fender Japan, Gibson, etc.)

Yes. When I bought mine in 2010 they we're 400€. Used MIM strats go for around 500-600€...

Gibson faded are from 700-900€

Edit: CV's go around 250-350 € used.
 
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Re: Indian Laurel?

I know, I know...zombie thread, BUT:

How does one maintain an IL fingerboard?

Can it be dyed to look more like rosewood?

Asking for my Squier Mustang.
 
Re: Indian Laurel?

I know, I know...zombie thread, BUT:

How does one maintain an IL fingerboard?

Can it be dyed to look more like rosewood?

Asking for my Squier Mustang.

I would think it isn't finished, so just like rosewood. Make sure it doesn't dry out, and done. I am sure it could be dyed, as many woods can. I don't know if it is worth the mess, though. Good chance we will be seeing lots of alternative woods used in guitar making (My Godin is wild cherry). We've used a surprisingly small number of woods for guitar construction when you think about it. I do own a travel acoustic out of bamboo (!) and it sounds and looks really cool. That stuff might be the most sustainable 'wood' out there.
 
Re: Indian Laurel?

I would think it isn't finished, so just like rosewood. Make sure it doesn't dry out, and done. I am sure it could be dyed, as many woods can. I don't know if it is worth the mess, though. Good chance we will be seeing lots of alternative woods used in guitar making (My Godin is wild cherry). We've used a surprisingly small number of woods for guitar construction when you think about it. I do own a travel acoustic out of bamboo (!) and it sounds and looks really cool. That stuff might be the most sustainable 'wood' out there.

I've oiled mine, but it doesn't seem to soak up the oil like ebony and rosewood do.

Mine looks sort of like 70's wood paneling. It's got figuring to it, but the color is a bit off. It sounds and feels fine, though.
 
Re: Indian Laurel?

Ive got Rosewood growing all over my property from the last owner I presume it's non-native version or a lesser native version than for tone woods -but maybe not -as I'm not sure what variety would grow in the sub-tropical Southeast at 1000 ASL -any ways it was pointed out to me when inspecting the property -as the former owner was a serious bird watcher and had cultivated all kinds of areas
 
Re: Indian Laurel?

It'd be interesting to find out what species you have.

I'll go cut some down once I'm out of this hand cast -but that may be a 6 weeks lol .. My lady my have some rosewood in the house -she cut some down a few years ago to make sweater buttons out of -prob can dig those up today.
 
Re: Indian Laurel?

I'll go cut some down once I'm out of this hand cast -but that may be a 6 weeks lol .. My lady my have some rosewood in the house -she cut some down a few years ago to make sweater buttons out of -prob can dig those up today.

Nice. Another option may be to contact your local university 9r even BLM or USFS office. Those guys usually have an arborist on hand.
 
Re: Indian Laurel?

I use a lot of "alternate" woods for my fretboards: Padauk, Wenge, Purple Heart, Yellow Heart, Morado, Canary Wood, etc.
They all function perfectly, sound beautiful, but they look so much better than traditional Rosewoods...and they are all readily available with no CITES problems and much cheaper than a good Rosewood.
 
Re: Indian Laurel?

^ Life as a builder is SO much better when you expand your horizons. Lots of great alternatives out there, and its almost odds on that there will be a 'better' wood out there for whatever you want to make.
 
Re: Indian Laurel?

I think the guitar community at large is attached to certain woods in an odd way. Guitar playing used to be one of the most rebellious things you can do, yet if big companies want to make any money, they have to keep using traditional woods or else the market won't support it.
 
Re: Indian Laurel?

I think guitarists will purchase whatever the company makes
They just look at numbers and are really conservative
No one wants to fail to make the numbers and get swept out
 
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