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…
Posts
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…
From forest giant in Canada to floorboards in Australia
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…
The big picture: storylines for the nature of music
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…
At home with the Hendersons
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…