Weeds: plants in the wrong place A recent post focused on my quest for a guitar made entirely from Australian timbers. The guitar made by Aaron Fenech featuring Wandoo wood from here in Western Australia is certainly a magnificent guitar in all regards. There is much more to be said about native Australian woods in…
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And . . . what are we going to do about it?
In an earlier post, I discussed the multiple dimensions of our individual responses to ecological damage and change. I likened this to the grieving process – grief over what is being lost and destroyed and despair about our individual collective ability to do anything about it. Grief elicits a series of reactions including anger, denial…
Wheatbelt woodlands in Western Australia: loss, hope and a guitar
A Scot ends up in Australia Although I grew up and spent the first part of my life in Scotland, I’ve now lived in Western Australia for over half my life and most of my professional life. I arrived in Perth, the capital city of Western Australia in July 1984, having spent the previous 2…
Re-use, recycle, repair, restore
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…
Smoke on the water, a fire in the sky
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…
Out of Africa: Changing the world one guitar at a time
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…
Sleeping giants: Ancient Kauri from Far North New Zealand
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…
The Cadillac of Woods: Brazilian Rosewood
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…
Quenda, Zanda, Jacaranda! What’s in a name?
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…
Mighty oaks, whisky and guitars
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…