... Good for Taylor but bad for the rest of us because being able to buy the traditional woods from traditional sources maintains the expectation in the instrument buying community of seeing mahogany/cedar in necks and other components...
We've been working on this issue non-stop for the last few months, and we think we have finally come up with a simple, straightforward solution. We have pretty much settled on a new group of woods for our instruments that are not listed in CITES under any apendix at all. As such, we won't need any permits - just the Lacey Act Declaration form. No fees, and not difficult once you get through it the first time. Also, your completed Declaration and it's list of materials may serve your customer in the future should any issues arise with international travel.
I would suggest any small builder take this approach. First, it is not likely you would even be able to obtain the documents neccessary to import restricted materials into the U.S., and second, the time delays on both sides make it difficult, and the fees involved, while maybe not a deal breaker, will add to the cost of your instrument. What this will do, however, is put instruments in two different categories. As Pete mentioned, it will still be possible, and more importantly, practical, for large builders like Taylor to go through the full permit and formal entry process and continue to use most of the regulated woods. Small builders would be using other materials.
Personally, this does not bother me. I am finding it exciting to discover how many good materials are out there. Having been forced to look at it all again, I think we'll actually have a better product, both in terms of performance and aesthetics, than we were going to present using more traditional woods.
The
"expectation of the instrument buying community" that Pete spoke of will be an interesting thing to watch. I'm sure it may hurt us with some people, but overall I don't think we should be overly concerned. People who go to small and custom builders in the first place are usually knowledgeable enough or have enough trust in the builder to begin with, that I don't think it will be so bad.
Bob Taylor is right when he says it will be a transition.