Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

johnhall wrote:

Matt Clark wrote:So what you are telling us is, doing our part for the environments and saving the planet is not using ebony or bubinga fret boards? By what percentage did the cost of bubinga go up by this year John? Be honest!

Okay, Bubinga and Caribbean Rosewood are within 5% of the same cost but the actual yield of Bubinga is better due to less end splits, so it's actually more cost effective.

But another factor in our decision: the Lacey Act. While neither is particularly endangered, the documentation coming out of the African nations is much more suspect, whereas the Caribbean sources tend to be owned or managed by American firms who have a direct stake in abiding by the law.

Cynicism has it's place but this isn't one of those issues.

Matt Clark wrote: Thanks for the candid reply... Of course, you didn’t have to reply at all. I was making a point and meant it as a fairly rhetorical question.

Don't get me wrong here, I like the new fret boards; they are quite beautiful, like every other guitar I’ve got with one. Even on my cheap $100 Squires and my good ol' Peavey T-60. I just don't know that I like the change from the iconic look on a $2000+ RIC. My four decades of RICs all look pretty "iconicly" close to me, but I don't have anything older than 1975. I believe the '64 I had was dang close too though. And, as I said, I found it disturbing and wondered if anyone else did. I’m sure there are lot’s of folks that are saying, “Finally, cool fret board wood.” [see posts above] I just don’t happen to agree. I personally think it will make them look cheaper. (The pictures didn’t help by the way) I guess I’ll have to see a few in person before I can really decide, but I do know what “normal” rosewood looks like--generic and boring most of the time. But, better than blonde maple!

It might actually keep me from buying a new one unless the neck color happens to go very well with the body color. That's the only reason I suggested ebony as a black fret board would go with about anything. Staining the fret board to get it closer to the iconic look, or black, would be fine too! So, let’s just change it to “ebony-like” fret board so all of the tree huggers can relax, as I could really care less about what kind of hardwood it is.

Let me point out that you still didn't say how much it bubinga has increased in price from before the change over, or perhaps even some time before, giving a possible "real" reason for the change, just that they cost about the same (now). It seems to me, by your own words, that it is more about risk than the environment, which technically is a form of indirect cost. But, then again, I am apparently a cynic, along with being an irresponsible (possibly former) customer, and a planet raper.

Thanks John.

Matt Clark wrote:Let me point out that you still didn't say how much it bubinga has increased in price from before the change over, or perhaps even some time before, giving a possible "real" reason for the change, just that they cost about the same (now). It seems to me, by your own words, that it is more about risk than the environment, which technically is a form of indirect cost. But, then again, I am apparently a cynic, along with being an irresponsible (possibly former) customer, and a planet raper.

winston wrote:Matt, your personal views on this subject are getting a little hackneyed. All you really had to say is that you don't like the look of the new fretboard and be done with it.

Like many others here, it just so happens that I have an opposite viewpoint. I like the look of the Caribbean rosewood. I don't think that the change is that big of a deal.

johnhall wrote:

Matt Clark wrote:Let me point out that you still didn't say how much it bubinga has increased in price from before the change over, or perhaps even some time before, giving a possible "real" reason for the change, just that they cost about the same (now). It seems to me, by your own words, that it is more about risk than the environment, which technically is a form of indirect cost. But, then again, I am apparently a cynic, along with being an irresponsible (possibly former) customer, and a planet raper.

I am not aware of any Bubinga price increases in recent history, therefore it's a non-factor and nothing to comment about.

The environmental aspects are, in fact, very important to us and always have been. However, the "risk factor", as you put it, has indeed become a more prominent issue in the news of late but was an entirely secondary, "icing on the cake" part of our decision. Personally I don't care whether you believe that or not.

RIC_FACTORY wrote:So I guess this means that Matt Clark is the only one "disturbed" by this?

rickenbrother wrote:Matt, if you don't like the look of the Caribbean Rosewood, just buy a used Rick in the model of your choice.

IvanMunoz wrote:Will the Reissues still use bubinga?