Comments on: Are Rosewoods (and Bubinga) really banned by CITES?

By: DR Chevalier

DR Chevalier — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 15:04:31 +0000

In reply to Bob St. Cyr. With respect Bob, getting any kind of useful answer out of any department of the government of Canada is a serious challenge

By: DR Chevalier

DR Chevalier — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 15:02:24 +0000

In reply to JD Cotton. Fascinating chart, thank you for posting and the work involved. It does put paid to much of the musical instrument industry marketing BS in many areas, but as you have already noted, there are many different measurement types. Cheers!

By: Leiif

Leiif — Mon, 13 May 2024 20:29:22 +0000

In reply to Pat 456. How far south? I am between 27 and 28 Lat

By: Eric

Eric — Tue, 01 Aug 2023 07:46:38 +0000

In reply to Bob St. Cyr. As far as CITES is concerned, you should be fine to own or use it. The only issue would come if you ever tried to export it to another country.

By: Bob St. Cyr

Bob St. Cyr — Sun, 30 Jul 2023 16:11:21 +0000

Another question, I’m sure many are in this situation. As hobby woodworkers – I’m sure most of us are (I was a pro but now retires). We have material in our shop that we purchased some time ago, before it was restricted, we no longer have paper work that proves it’s origin or time. Can we use this material without running into difficulty?

By: Bob St. Cyr

Bob St. Cyr — Sat, 29 Jul 2023 14:56:04 +0000

In reply to Ruairisdad.

The cross border shipping paperwork issue makes no sense to me. Rosewood does not grow in the U.S. so it needs paperwork to satisfy cites to come into the U.S. Why wouldn’t the same paperwork be good enough to go with the wood if sent on to another country out of the U.S.
Part of the problem with Cites is that every country decides how it will be applied and enforced in that country. In Canada for instance it is Environment Canada. I have contacted them several times with cites questions and they never reply. I am a “hobby” guitar builder – I say hobby, I’ve been building guitars since 1972 and now that I’m retired I make several a year but it is not my income source – I only sell instruments because otherwise I would have to give up my hobby. Anyway I have Brazilian Rosewood that I purchased back in the 70’s and wonder – what happens if I build a guitar with it? I also have east indian rosewood, and some others that are questionable.

By: Bob St. Cyr

Bob St. Cyr — Sat, 29 Jul 2023 14:24:48 +0000

I was under the impression that the guitar manufacturers were able to get and exemption for finished musical instruments that allows finished musical instruments (that are for personal use, not for resale) can travel, regardless of what wood they are made from.

By: JD Cotton

JD Cotton — Wed, 28 Jun 2023 19:18:03 +0000

Eric, this is an excellent article. Much of the discussion below focuses on wood substitutions based on appearance for furniture and cabinetry. Tonewoods have additional requirements, and I’ve been analyzing their performance using properties from your database to create a chart that ranks the “Acoustic Radiation Coefficient” of common tonewoods that might be helpful in comparing options relative to IUCN Red List status. Might be of interest to this community.

By: Eric

Eric — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 09:46:54 +0000

I think the Prop 65 was well-intentioned, but is not always useful. The fact that there was a years-long legal struggle to not require that coffee (coffee!) be listed as containing carcinogens is a good example of this sort of thing being taken too far.

By: S.Litle

S.Litle — Sat, 22 Apr 2023 12:16:11 +0000

I came upon your website when I was researching the Prop 65 warning on a piece of furniture I was looking to purchase. I have found it’s a very board term used by many to keep the manufacturers from a lawsuit. What are your thoughts on this Prop 65 out of California?