Fender and the Rosewood thing again

[Rabs]

On the Andertons site

https://blog.andertons.co.uk/guitars/fender-rosewood

 

Fender have announced that they'll be making a fretboard wood change on all of their Mexican-made and American Elite guitars and basses.

 

After the game-changing CITES laws passed earlier in the year, many big manufacturers are changing from using Rosewood to other more sustainable woods that don’t require certification to trade across borders.

 

As it stands, these companies could continue using Rosewood, however the cost incurred by applying for certification for each batch of guitars would significantly raise the prices of the guitars.

 

You can read more about the CITES laws affecting guitarists, bassists and drummers by clicking here.

 

The CITES laws in a nutshell

 

As of the 2nd of January 2017, a new law has been put into place that will affect how Rosewood is traded across international borders.

 

Rosewood has been used for many years on many different musical instruments and these new laws mean that anything made with Rosewood will need certification explaining where and how it was sourced.

 

What CITES laws mean for Fender

 

The CITES laws have affected the distribution of Fender products across borders. So, Fender have changed the woods on some of their guitars.

 

This does, of course, mean that you’ll have limited time remaining to buy a Rosewood board Fender guitar. But don’t worry too much about the future changes to Fender because they’ll still retain that classic tone that’s been heard on countless records since the 50s.

 

We are expecting these changes to be begin to happen by June/July 2017. As soon as we get more information on these changes, we’ll be sure to update you.

 

Fender Mexican Models – Ensenada Factory

 

All Mexican-made Fender guitars that were made with Rosewood will now have Pau Ferro instead. Pau Ferro is sonically similar to Rosewood. It has a warm character with a clear, sweet top-end and was also used on the famous Stevie Ray Vaughan Strat.

 

Pau Ferro can vary in appearance going from light brown wood grains to darker streaks.

 

In our experience, Pau Ferro doesn’t look too different from Rosewood and according to Fender, it sounds very similar too.

 

Fender American Elite

 

From July/August the American Elite models will have Ebony boards instead of Rosewood. Ebony is considered a premium fretboard wood and can also vary in appearance, from light, streaky hues to dark black.

 

Traditionally, only darker Ebony was used for fingerboards but sustainable harvesting practice suggests that all shades of Ebony should be considered for guitar-making. Ebony is a prized tonewood that blends the sonic qualities of Rosewood and Maple. It’s got a smooth feel, fast attack with a robust bass response and brilliant top-end.

 

If you have any questions or don’t understand how this may affect you and your future purchases, please contact us and we’ll be sure to help.

['Scales]

 

But don’t worry too much about the future changes to Fender because they’ll still retain that classic tone that’s been heard on countless records since the 50s.

 

Pau Ferro is sonically similar to Rosewood. It has a warm character with a clear, sweet top-end and was also used on the famous Stevie Ray Vaughan Strat.

 

In our experience, Pau Ferro doesn’t look too different from Rosewood and according to Fender, it sounds very similar too.

 

Ebony is a prized tonewood that blends the sonic qualities of Rosewood and Maple. It’s got a smooth feel, fast attack with a robust bass response and brilliant top-end.

 

 

Whoever was forced to write that surely toils in hell.

 

They're changing the cosmetic bit of wood they stick the wire bits into yeah? Not like their changing the steel used in their tone-bolts at the body end or anything.

 

I can assure Mr Anderton that this will not in any way 'affect me or my future purchases' from him one iota

[Pin]

Ebony eh?

 

In my opinion a change for the better!

[capmaster]

The recent CITES regulations obviously make a reputable manufacturer react in a manner that would have seemed bizarre not too long ago, all in order to avoid them. I doubt that the growing quantities of pau ferro and ebony can be harvested with the due sustainability in the long run.