Music Wood: A Tale of Two Species
Tracing the journey of maple and rosewood from forest to guitar
Transforming pieces of wood into a guitar requires both skilled craftsmanship and the eye of an artist. The rich tones and visual beauty of fine guitars capture both our ears and our eyes. But ultimately, the guitar begins deep in forests across far-flung parts of the world, from Alaska to the Amazon, from Madagascar to Indonesia. This article traces the journey of two kinds of wood – maple and rosewood – from the forest floor to the stage, from a tree to the most iconic instrument in modern music, and explores some of the environmental and legal issues along the way.
More and more, consumers are asking questions about the social and environmental impacts of their purchases. Where do the foods they eat and the goods they purchase come from? How are they produced? Who profits? Is anyone hurt? Is the environment affected?
WHY TONEWOOD?
Tonewoods are woods that are prized by instrument builders because of their tonal qualities, high strength, and beauty. These qualities have made these woods highly sought after products in the international marketplace. Wood products have long been subject to scrutiny because of debates around forest conservation and management that touch on everything from endangered species and the rights of indigenous communities to climate change and international trade policy. Wood products have also come under scrutiny because of the potential for illegal logging – that is, logging which violates the conservation laws in the country of harvest in one way or another – in the supply chain. Illegal logging is not only bad for the environment, but also robs countries and communities of revenue.
Debates and disputes around the global wood trade have led to the development of independent timber certification systems such as the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). Additionally, the import and sale of illegal timber was prohibited in 2008, when the United States amended a century-old wildlife trafficking law – the Lacey Act – to include timber and forest products. Australia and the EU have also passed similar legislation.
Frequently asked questions
Why are maple and rosewood featured in this article about guitar tonewoods?+
The article traces the journey of maple and rosewood from forests to the stage, following them from a tree to the iconic guitar. It uses these two species to explore the environmental and legal issues surrounding tonewoods sourced from places as far-flung as Alaska, the Amazon, Madagascar, and Indonesia.
What qualities make certain woods desirable as guitar tonewoods?+
Tonewoods are prized by instrument builders for their tonal qualities, high strength, and beauty. These attributes have made them highly sought after in the international marketplace.
Why has illegal logging become a concern in the guitar tonewood supply chain?+
Illegal logging violates the conservation laws of the country of harvest and not only harms the environment but also robs countries and communities of revenue. Because tonewoods are globally traded and highly valuable, their supply chains are vulnerable to this practice.
How did the 2008 amendment to the Lacey Act affect the wood trade?+
In 2008, the United States amended the century-old Lacey Act wildlife trafficking law to include timber and forest products, prohibiting the import and sale of illegal timber. Australia and the EU have since passed similar legislation.
What independent certification systems have emerged to address disputes in the global wood trade?+
Debates over forest conservation and management have led to the development of independent timber certification systems such as the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC).
What broader issues drive scrutiny of wood products like guitar tonewoods?+
Wood products face scrutiny due to debates over forest conservation and management, touching on endangered species, the rights of indigenous communities, climate change, and international trade policy. Consumers are increasingly asking where goods come from, how they are produced, who profits, and whether people or the environment are harmed.