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Making guitars in a changing world

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Re-use, recycle, repair, restore

Posted on February 2, 2021February 2, 2021 by Richard Hobbs

Restoring things – whether it’s aeroplanes, trains, ecosystems or guitars – is fun and important. But deciding how – and how much – to restore is not always straightforward. My life as an ecologist got me involved in all sorts of stuff, and most of my career was focused on trying to find better ways…

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Smoke on the water, a fire in the sky

Posted on January 5, 2021January 7, 2021 by Richard Hobbs

This time January 2020…. “And after every plan had failed and there was nothing more to tellAnd you know that we shall meet again if your memory serves you well” “This Wheel’s on Fire” was written by Bob Dylan & Rick Danko, performed first by the Band 1967, and subsequently covered by the Byrds and…

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Out of Africa: Changing the world one guitar at a time

Posted on December 17, 2020December 17, 2020 by Richard Hobbs

So, the recent series of posts might give the impression that this site is focussed on artisan guitar makers using unusual woods to make high quality (=expensive) guitars. Certainly, I can readily be categorised as one of those privileged old white males who have the capacity to follow our dreams – and the financial independence…

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Sleeping giants: Ancient Kauri from Far North New Zealand

Posted on November 22, 2020November 24, 2020 by Richard Hobbs

A small country in the bottom right of the world New Zealand is a small country far, far away from most of the rest of the world. It’s roughly the same physical size as the United Kingdom, but whereas the UK has about 65 million people, New Zealand has about 5 million. New Zealand is…

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The Cadillac of Woods: Brazilian Rosewood

Posted on October 14, 2020October 14, 2020 by Richard Hobbs

This site is dedicated to the exploration of the materials used to build guitars – where they come from, the ecology of the trees that produce the woods, the sustainability and trade issues and the like. I’m interested in the choices available and how these are changing as traditional materials become scarcer and alternatives are…

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Quenda, Zanda, Jacaranda! What’s in a name?

Posted on August 30, 2020August 30, 2020 by Richard Hobbs

I’ve been writing a piece on Brazilian Rosewood (Dalbergia nigra) – or Braz, as it’s sometimes referred to. While I’m interested in all the various alternative woods and materials used to build guitars, I also need to spend some time focusing on some of the traditional mainstays. Brazilian Rosewood has an almost legendary reputation among…

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Mighty oaks, whisky and guitars

Posted on July 13, 2020July 14, 2020 by Richard Hobbs

Why whisky? And the answer is: “Why not?” Although I live in Australia, I grew up in Scotland and still maintain a strong affection for my home country. Many fine things originate in Scotland, not the least of which is Scotch whisky, and I also maintain a strong affection for good single malt whiskies. My…

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From forest giant in Canada to floorboards in Australia

Posted on May 29, 2020May 29, 2020 by Richard Hobbs

An historical example of the global timber trade that has nothing much to do with guitars A case of cognitive dissonance.. As someone with an ecology/conservation background, I love nature. I am awestruck whenever I’m in the natural world encountering magnificent trees, beautiful wildflowers and fascinating animals. I’m also saddened by the loss of so…

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The big picture: storylines for the nature of music

Posted on May 29, 2020May 29, 2020 by Richard Hobbs

As mentioned in an earlier post, when I started this site, I indicated that the original plan had been to write a book. That may still happen down the track. Regardless, as well as writing individual posts, I still want to develop a broader story-line that delivers a bigger picture of the topics I hope…

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At home with the Hendersons

Posted on April 23, 2020 by Richard Hobbs

Everything starts somewhere. This project owes its genesis to Wayne and Jayne Henderson, a father and daughter in Virginia and North Carolina that both make incredible guitars. I first heard of Wayne in 2016 through coming across a book by Allen St John called “Clapton’s Guitar: Watching Wayne Henderson Build the Perfect Instrument” , published…

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Recent Posts

  • Re-use, recycle, repair, restore
  • Smoke on the water, a fire in the sky
  • Out of Africa: Changing the world one guitar at a time
  • Sleeping giants: Ancient Kauri from Far North New Zealand
  • The Cadillac of Woods: Brazilian Rosewood

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