Does Fender still use rosewood?

Fender is committed to the continued use of Rosewood in American-made solid body guitars, such as our American Professional Series. Rosewood is still used on many series of instruments, as it is a historically accurate tone wood. The changeover will be somewhat fluid in the market, there is no set date at this time.

When did Brazilian rosewood become illegal?

1992
In 1967, the Brazilian government outlawed the export of Brazilian rosewood logs and in 1992 the newly formed CITES convention declared Brazilian rosewood a threatened species.

Why did Fender stop using rosewood?

Fender Musical Instruments is officially moving away from using rosewood fingerboards in the manufacturing of its Mexican made instruments due to the recent CITES regulations (see our previous post on CITES here).

What kind of rosewood does Fender use?

All the new Fender Mexican guitars and basses will now come with Pau Ferro fretboards, which is the wood they use on the Stevie Ray Vaughan Signature Stratocaster.

Does Fender use Brazilian rosewood?

Almost all Fender and Gibson instruments until 1965 are equipped with Brazilian rosewood fretboards, unless they have one-piece maple necks (Fender until mid-1959 ) or were equipped with fingerboard and bridge of ebony , such as the Gibson Les Paul Custom or Super 400.

Can you still get rosewood?

As of November 26 2019, CITES laws on rosewood have been lifted. It means you can buy, sell and move freely with guitars made of rosewood – even if it comprises over 10kg or 22lbs as stated by the previous ruling. Restrictions on the rarer Brazilian rosewood are still in place.

Why is Brazilian rosewood so expensive?

Rosewood is one of the most exploited species of trees around the world, as it is used in making luxurious furniture, musical instruments, as well as producing rosewood oil, bringing its species to the brink of extinction. This scarcity of rosewood resources has led to prices rise, with no signs of slowing down.

Why are there no more rosewood fretboards?

The USA doesn’t really produce Rosewood though. There were ways to be able to use Rosewood but it couldn’t be done on a massive scale with the restrictions in place. Therefore many manufacturers started using alternatives such as Indian Laurel, Pao Ferro, and man-made materials designed to mimic wood.

When did Fender start using rosewood fretboards?

1959
About halfway through 1959, Fender introduced a “slab” rosewood fingerboard on most of its models (this lasted until 1962 when a thinner “veneer” style fretboard was introduced).

How can you tell Brazilian rosewood?

Color/Appearance: Brazilian rosewood can vary in color from a darker chocolate brown to a lighter purplish or reddish brown, with darker contrasting streaks. The black streaks can sometimes form a unique grain pattern that is sometimes referred to as “spider-webbing” or “landscape,” very similar to ziricote.

When did Fender switch to Indian rosewood?

Rosewood Fingerboards, 1980 and later: Starting in 1980, Fender switched back to the slab rosewood fingerboard style, made from Indian rosewood (except on certain recent custom shop models).

What guitar wood is illegal?

An international crackdown on illegal logging in tropical forests has ensnared the makers of some guitars and other musical instruments, whose top-end products require small amounts of rosewood, a material prized for its rich, multicolored grain and resonant sound.

Why did Fender stop using Rosewood?

About to be discontinued due to CITES regulations · Source: Fender It’s official and all because of the new CITES regulations that came into force this year. As of June/July this summer all Fender Mexican and Fender American Elite will no longer use rosewood in their construction.

When did Martin stop using Brazilian rosewood?

Supplies grew extremely thin in the late 1960s, however, and Martin and others stopped using Brazilian rosewood in 1969, moving over to Indian rosewood, then other varieties. RECOMMENDED VIDEOS FOR YOU…

Why is Brazilian rosewood so popular?

Given all of the above, Brazilian rosewood’s elevated status comes courtesy of the good old laws of supply and demand, as well as from the vintage mystique: “They used it on pre-CBS Fenders, late-’50s Bursts, and pre-war Martins, so it must be the best.”

Is Rosewood going to be replaced?

Rosewood is still used on many series of instruments, as it is a historically accurate tone wood. The changeover will be somewhat fluid in the market, there is no set date at this time. We are still currently evaluating options for Squier and the acoustics category.