Are rosewood fretboards a thing of the past?

[Crate love]

Hey all,

I noticed a new Gibson Les Paul with a fretboard made from Richlite. What do you think - Rosewood is no longer an option for Gibson pending the seizure last year of their wood supply? Hmmm....

 

[rockonomics]

http://exotic-wood.com/bolivian_rosewood.htm
There are plenty of options, this is just one I dug up earlier today. I haven't really done a lot of research, but it appears this is not affected by a CITES treaty or anything else.

 

[Lucky one]

NOoooooooo! Not again !!!

 

[Crate love]

http://exotic-wood.com/bolivian_rosewood.htm
There are plenty of options, this is just one I dug up earlier today. I haven't really done a lot of research, but it appears this is not affected by a CITES treaty or anything else.

Sure looks like it, wonder if Gibson is just cutting costs on this particular model - I think it's called a Les Paul Shredder?

 

[Crate love]

actually it is called - Shred Les Paul Studio

 

[EelEye]

I still don't get why this isn't an easy fix.

Why can't Gibson just send a CNC machine to India with a couple people to operate it (and train the locals). Then they could buy the rosewood locally and ship it to the US in "final" form with all the fret slots cut and frets installed. Is it that big of a deal to just have the fingerboards finished in India?

This could actually be a business opportunity...they could establish a JV with Fender, PRS, and LMI and everybody could source their rosewood directly from India without breaking the rules. I can't imagine it is that difficult to have a CNC machine programmed with the specs for each of the different manufacturers.

I am a bit of a neophyte on this, so maybe I'm missing something here.

 

[EADGBE]

I don't understand why they can't just import rosewood from India. They've being do so for decades.

 

[Crate love]

I still don't get why this isn't an easy fix.

Why can't Gibson just send a CNC machine to India with a couple people to operate it (and train the locals). Then they could buy the rosewood locally and ship it to the US in "final" form with all the fret slots cut and frets installed. Is it that big of a deal to just have the fingerboards finished in India?

This could actually be a business opportunity...they could establish a JV with Fender, PRS, and LMI and everybody could source their rosewood directly from India without breaking the rules. I can't imagine it is that difficult to have a CNC machine programmed with the specs for each of the different manufacturers.

I am a bit of a neophyte on this, so maybe I'm missing something here.

Agreed and what you propose makes sense and is a simple fix, yet would the material then be considered an import subject to a possible future tariff? I can't understand this whole crackdown thing at all. Aren't there more important economic issues?

 

[vortexxxx]

Many Rosewood and Rosewood derivatives are allowed.

 

[GibsonSGgirl]

I can't understand this whole crackdown thing at all. Aren't there more important economic issues?

Same here!

 

[Help!I'maRock!]

 

[rjsc5]

I am not spending the big $$$ on a Gibson that does not have rosewood, and I think a lot of other people will feel the same. What a shame this has become for this company.

 

[Rumblur]

Do you really think for a minute, the Chinese will abide by any 'moratoriums' or other sanctions that civilized countries do? Nope... So to answer your question - rosewood will be here till it's extinct.

 

[budglo58]

I am not spending the big $$$ on a Gibson that does not have rosewood, and I think a lot of other people will feel the same. What a shame this has become for this company.

As with most Gibson Fretboards its Rosewood and plastic(inlays). The plastic inlays account for almost 40 percent of the board, slightly more on a custom.If you truly want rosewood on your fretboard ,demand they make them with just the dot inlays. As far as the alternative fretboards,Martin does it and with great success.

 

[JB6464]

I am not spending the big $$$ on a Gibson that does not have rosewood, and I think a lot of other people will feel the same. What a shame this has become for this company.

Better buy a Historic LP then.
Seems like that's the only way you will get a Rosewood or Ebony fretboard in the future from Gibson.

 

[serviviente7]

Ah... The wonderful regulations of our government...

 

[JB6464]

Or the wonderful mismanagement of Gibson and their purchasing staff...

 

[Average Joe]

Or the wonderful mismanagement of Gibson and their purchasing staff...

More like this. It seems that other big manufacturers have no trouble getting legal rosewood and getting it through customs with the proper paperwork. Seems to indicate that the problem is at gibson's end

 

[SW33THAND5]

i remember seeing something about them using florida rosewood now ????


can anyone expand on this?

 

[buddastrat]

swamp rosewood?

Look at all the dye jobs even on USA guitars. ebony colored fingerboards on new strats. Even strats back in the 60's and 70's did not have boards that dark when new. It looks cheap when they dye it black. It's even on high end stuff Sorry, I'm not paying $1600 for a Wildwood Fender thin skin strat with a dye job! I know the Historic's rosewood were quite a bit lighter colored around 10 years ago, and then it started getting very dark. I hope they wouldn't dye those! I think a used guitar from at least 10-15 or more years old would be safe for getting good rosewood. I'm sure some companies still manage to find some. Hopefully it's not close to being extinct.