Let’s Give Them Something to Fret About…
Something to fret about:
Hmmm…… Our Founders, particularly George Washington warned about foreign entanglements.
CITES is an acronym for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. At a conference held in late 2016, this body ruled that all rosewood species of the genus Dalbergia, and also three species of bubinga, are to be protected. Since Brazilian Rosewood is already under CITES protection, this means that now all rosewood is protected.
Is CITES a treaty that I’ve never heard of? Did the Senate advise and consent? Somehow, I doubt it*.
Rosewood and ebony are used in most if not all types of stringed instruments for the fret-boards, not for only guitars. The fret-board (or key-board, if you prefer) affects the resonance and sound quality of the instrument. While I’ve seen maple on an electric guitar, I’ve never seen maple on a violin fret-board. I admit I’m not an expert, there may in fact be maple necks on violins, I just haven’t heard or seen of any.
This seems on first blush like the eco-nazi stuff that Gibson experienced back in 2012 or thereabouts.
New CITES Regulation Impacts International Import/Export of Rosewood…
From Sweetwater, the major online musical instrument and music production retailer in the world. They are located just west of Fort Wayne, IN. I found this in my inbox, since I am a customer.