I am all for 100% sustainability and the thing is 'wood' does grow on trees LOL The Guitar trade is such a small factor in the sustainability of wood - the furniture and building trade use far more 'wood' than all the other combined. The issue is that in some areas, the 'harvesting' is way greater than the areas are capable of - and in some cases, the 'wood' is in the way, a bi-product of the land clearing for agriculture and housing. A well managed forest will give you the resources for an eternity - clearing deadwood and 'old' trees to let 'new' growth shoot up, planting at least 1 tree (or moving one or two smaller ones for the 'better') for every one you take down, its a renewable source. I also love wood and to see the wood grain on my guitars. They are made of Natural materials with a 'natural' beauty and in my opinion, it is 'criminal' to paint over that beauty and should at most, be enhanced by a stain - each to their own of course..
Nik sure is passionate about the wood he uses to make guitars. I appreciate the natural wood grains and wonder why guitars with natural finishes are generally less popular as painted ones.
This was a very informative interview and I am relieved, Nik`s wood gamble turned out positive. May many great guitar be crafted from his tree. *knock on wood*
Not sure if you saw that Andy so I'll post it again here. Apparently they're growing renewable big leaf mahogany(same grown in Brazil, Honduras, etc...) in the Phillipines on plantations as a renewable source. Because it's grown there, there are no CITES restrictions on it. I swear I read the same about Brazilian Rosewood, as well but I don't remember where I read it. Whenever the trees get too big for whatever they plant them for, they cut them down and replant them, to cut them down again once they're too big. I think it was on tea leaf plantations? I don't remember exactly. I'd have to go back and read. The main thing I took away was that there are no CITES restrictions on it because it's not a native species or something? I don't recall exactly but its supposed to be a pretty big benefit. And the fact that they grow it as a renewable resource means good things for the industry, as well.
There might not be CITES restrictions because it may be an invasive species in the Philippines. It may have spread beyond the boundaries of the farms, and is starting to cause economic and environmental damage by reproducing faster and crowding out the native species. It has no natural enemies to keep it in check in the Philippines, because it's endemic to South America. So they may just grow it, hopefully cut it down before it reproduces, and make lots of fretboards. Paulownia, on the other hand, is native to SE Asia, it is highly invasive, and has escaped cultivation and spread all along the Eastern Seaboard of the US. It will supply useable wood in three years, and it is the fastest growing tree on this planet. So it is good as a farmed tree, just not outside of SE Asia because of it's invasiveness. It has been planted in the US as an ornamental because it is absolutely gorgeous when it is in bloom. The reason Paulownia is so expensive is that it is very desirable wood in Japan, used for dowry chests and other important decorative items. A single log can bring hundreds or thousands of dollars, so naturally, poaching is a problem both in the US and China. The TL; DR version: Invasive non native plants are bad. Do your research before you buy a tree or plants, and if they are invasive in your area, don't plant them. Sorry for length but I have to find some use for my Natural Areas Management certification, finally.
I just looked at his site. If you have to ask for the price then you know you cant afford it. No prices listed. This is prolly so he see how much you can pay first and then drop the bomb.
I love Santa Cruz, and I'm glad you get to go there. There's a hotel there called The Sea and Sand. I really recommend it. You can open the windows and hear the surf hitting the bottom of the cliff that the hotel sits on. There are also little boutiques featuring hand-made stuff, thrift stores, cool little restaurants, etc. on the main drag. And most importantly, the redwoods. I hope they're still there. I need a trip out there soon for some sun because it'll be cold in lovely NE Illinois before too long. Feh.
I lived in santa cruz for 20 years. Expensive place to live. Nice place to live if you like good weather and the coast. That whole area is good for biking. When i was on the road bike id take highway 9 up into the hills. Back in the very early 90's, highway 9 was closed to cars due to the loma prieta earthquake so you could ride in the middle of the road for miles and miles. But unless you have some serious money to actually buy a house santa cruz is not the place to be as more than %50 of your total income goes to pay some assholes' mortgage. Fuck that. So we left cali in 99. We got priced out. We were made to leave.
@@suminshizzles6951 It's a shame you got priced out, because it is really a nice place to live. I've wanted to live there since I lived in Hollywood in the early '80s. I loved Venice and Zuma beaches. No way could I afford to live there now. I'd have to move in with my sister to be able to do so.
I'm a fan of woods that are NOT the regular mahogany, ebony and rosewood etc. I firmly believe that there are so many alternatives that there is absolutely no reason at all to use those rare "traditional" materials at all. Guitarist need to be educated about these alternatives and use their wallets to steer manufacturers. If guitarists stop buying instruments made from rare and endangered wood, it will soon stop being an issue at all, at least for guitar manufacturers and guitarists at any rate.
I love my Krauster 2 more than other guitars I have but feel the nut a bit thin and the E to E spacing slightly under 35 mm too thin to play blues and classic rock ! Can Ima luthier put a nut with 36mm on a 42 mm nut ? Could Nik answer me please ☺️? Thanks a lot 🙏
As long as the neck is wide enough to accomodate the new nut it is possible. But this might mean that all of a sudden the outside strings are pretty close to the edges of the fretboard.
I am moving away from wood. I have a carbon bike. Now i am getting a carbon guitar. No more neck warpage due little green men and the shape of a certain cloud on the horizon. Then i dont have to worry about the humidity changing my neck on a new daily basis. Neck warpage is what happens when you live in a humid place and humid country.
Great chat, what a nice, sincere and talented guy.
I am all for 100% sustainability and the thing is 'wood' does grow on trees LOL
The Guitar trade is such a small factor in the sustainability of wood - the furniture and building trade use far more 'wood' than all the other combined. The issue is that in some areas, the 'harvesting' is way greater than the areas are capable of - and in some cases, the 'wood' is in the way, a bi-product of the land clearing for agriculture and housing.
A well managed forest will give you the resources for an eternity - clearing deadwood and 'old' trees to let 'new' growth shoot up, planting at least 1 tree (or moving one or two smaller ones for the 'better') for every one you take down, its a renewable source.
I also love wood and to see the wood grain on my guitars. They are made of Natural materials with a 'natural' beauty and in my opinion, it is 'criminal' to paint over that beauty and should at most, be enhanced by a stain - each to their own of course..
Nik sure is passionate about the wood he uses to make guitars. I appreciate the natural wood grains and wonder why guitars with natural finishes are generally less popular as painted ones.
He really is. We could have gone on and on.
These guys just love to show their wood!
Super interesting guys. Thanks for sharing this. Learned a lot. ✌🏼
Super interesting discussion, Nik seems great!
He really is
This was a very informative interview and I am relieved, Nik`s wood gamble turned out positive. May many great guitar be crafted from his tree. *knock on wood*
Not sure if you saw that Andy so I'll post it again here. Apparently they're growing renewable big leaf mahogany(same grown in Brazil, Honduras, etc...) in the Phillipines on plantations as a renewable source. Because it's grown there, there are no CITES restrictions on it. I swear I read the same about Brazilian Rosewood, as well but I don't remember where I read it. Whenever the trees get too big for whatever they plant them for, they cut them down and replant them, to cut them down again once they're too big. I think it was on tea leaf plantations? I don't remember exactly. I'd have to go back and read.
The main thing I took away was that there are no CITES restrictions on it because it's not a native species or something? I don't recall exactly but its supposed to be a pretty big benefit. And the fact that they grow it as a renewable resource means good things for the industry, as well.
Thanks for that info! Anything that is safely done and makes guitars sustainable must be good
There might not be CITES restrictions because it may be an invasive species in the Philippines. It may have spread beyond the boundaries of the farms, and is starting to cause economic and environmental damage by reproducing faster and crowding out the native species. It has no natural enemies to keep it in check in the Philippines, because it's endemic to South America. So they may just grow it, hopefully cut it down before it reproduces, and make lots of fretboards.
Paulownia, on the other hand, is native to SE Asia, it is highly invasive, and has escaped cultivation and spread all along the Eastern Seaboard of the US. It will supply useable wood in three years, and it is the fastest growing tree on this planet. So it is good as a farmed tree, just not outside of SE Asia because of it's invasiveness. It has been planted in the US as an ornamental because it is absolutely gorgeous when it is in bloom.
The reason Paulownia is so expensive is that it is very desirable wood in Japan, used for dowry chests and other important decorative items. A single log can bring hundreds or thousands of dollars, so naturally, poaching is a problem both in the US and China.
The TL; DR version: Invasive non native plants are bad. Do your research before you buy a tree or plants, and if they are invasive in your area, don't plant them. Sorry for length but I have to find some use for my Natural Areas Management certification, finally.
Is it still called Brazilian mahogany / rosewwod or Phillipine as its grown there even though its Brazilian in origin ?
@@malcolmhardwick4258 If it's the same genus and species as Brazilian Mahogany, then it's Brazilian Mahogany, no matter where it's grown.
Thanks for this interview, very cool!
You’re welcome!
If I had the disposable income I'd support this builder with a guitar purchase very likeable chap with morals
I’m with you there. The guitars are also phenomenal
I just looked at his site. If you have to ask for the price then you know you cant afford it. No prices listed. This is prolly so he see how much you can pay first and then drop the bomb.
I love Santa Cruz, and I'm glad you get to go there. There's a hotel there called The Sea and Sand. I really recommend it. You can open the windows and hear the surf hitting the bottom of the cliff that the hotel sits on. There are also little boutiques featuring hand-made stuff, thrift stores, cool little restaurants, etc. on the main drag. And most importantly, the redwoods. I hope they're still there. I need a trip out there soon for some sun because it'll be cold in lovely NE Illinois before too long. Feh.
I lived in santa cruz for 20 years. Expensive place to live. Nice place to live if you like good weather and the coast. That whole area is good for biking. When i was on the road bike id take highway 9 up into the hills. Back in the very early 90's, highway 9 was closed to cars due to the loma prieta earthquake so you could ride in the middle of the road for miles and miles. But unless you have some serious money to actually buy a house santa cruz is not the place to be as more than %50 of your total income goes to pay some assholes' mortgage. Fuck that. So we left cali in 99. We got priced out. We were made to leave.
@@suminshizzles6951 It's a shame you got priced out, because it is really a nice place to live. I've wanted to live there since I lived in Hollywood in the early '80s. I loved Venice and Zuma beaches. No way could I afford to live there now. I'd have to move in with my sister to be able to do so.
There are so many bad jokes to make about this video, but it is nice to hear about Nik's wood! Interesting stuff.
I'm a fan of woods that are NOT the regular mahogany, ebony and rosewood etc. I firmly believe that there are so many alternatives that there is absolutely no reason at all to use those rare "traditional" materials at all. Guitarist need to be educated about these alternatives and use their wallets to steer manufacturers. If guitarists stop buying instruments made from rare and endangered wood, it will soon stop being an issue at all, at least for guitar manufacturers and guitarists at any rate.
I love my Krauster 2 more than other guitars I have but feel the nut a bit thin and the E to E spacing slightly under 35 mm too thin to play blues and classic rock ! Can Ima luthier put a nut with 36mm on a 42 mm nut ? Could Nik answer me please ☺️? Thanks a lot 🙏
As long as the neck is wide enough to accomodate the new nut it is possible. But this might mean that all of a sudden the outside strings are pretty close to the edges of the fretboard.
So has there been a video made about Nik building a Huber Guitar ?
I am moving away from wood. I have a carbon bike. Now i am getting a carbon guitar. No more neck warpage due little green men and the shape of a certain cloud on the horizon. Then i dont have to worry about the humidity changing my neck on a new daily basis. Neck warpage is what happens when you live in a humid place and humid country.
Nik has old wood.
I have wood for his wood