CITES - What every bass player should know

[s_wood]

The only remaining issue with CITES as it pertains to non-Brazilian rosewood is proving that a bass with rosewood doesn’t contain Brazilian rosewood. Most bass players can’t tell the difference between Brazilian and Indian rosewood, so we probably can’t expect most custom inspectors to know the difference, either. To safeguard Against a mistaken identification, the least you can do is to include paperwork, like something from the manufacturer, with the bass that describes what woods are used in the fingerboard.

 

[Jeff Scott]

The only remaining issue with CITES as it pertains to non-Brazilian rosewood is proving that a bass with rosewood doesn’t contain Brazilian rosewood. Most bass players can’t tell the difference between Brazilian and Indian rosewood, so we probably can’t expect most custom inspectors to know the difference, either. To safeguard Against a mistaken identification, the least you can do is to include paperwork, like something from the manufacturer, with the bass that describes what woods are used in the fingerboard.

So, basically, after the rosewood ban was lifted last fall, we are back to square one as to convincing those in power that what we have is not BRW.

 

[s_wood]

Exactly. If you frequently travel internationally with your bass I highly recommend a musician’s instrument passport, as discussed elsewhere in the thread. If you are selling a bass, I suggest including something in the case, like a printout of the instrument’s specs from the manufacturer, that describes what materials are used.

 

[bigjames]

I simply will not cross the border with my Sadowsky NYC. According to Roger, it has legally obtained BRW from pre-ban, but I do not have paperwork to prove it. I managed to get it from the US into Canada when I bought it (brought it north in my car) and in Canada it shall stay. If I ever tour internationally (not likely), I will buy a less "controversial" instrument for that purpose.

 

[MatchFive]

You would think that they would exempt any instrument that was built before these protections were in place. An instrument made before the restrictions is obviously not making the problem worse.

 

[Garret Graves]

You would think that they would exempt any instrument that was built before these protections were in place. An instrument made before the restrictions is obviously not making the problem worse.

Yes, the instrument passport.

 

[bassman818]

Wow, nuts. I was wondering what Bass Cities Rosewood on custom shop floor travelers meant... I guess those are permanently out for me!

 

[Jeff Scott]

...Bass Cities Rosewood on custom shop floor travelers...

I'm trying to figure out what this means!

 

[bassman818]

I'm trying to figure out what this means!

I'll let you figure this out since I think a five year old could do it by looking over a floor traveler for a bass with rosewood...

Edit: now confirmed.. a five year old has in fact pointed out "Bass Cities RW" when looking at a FT.

 

[Bliff Curton 2]

I bought an Aria rosewood model off Reverb from a seller in Japan.
Rosewood top/back and fingerboard.
The seller listed it as walnut, so no problems at all.

 

[Jeff Scott]

I bought an Aria rosewood model off Reverb from a seller in Japan.
Rosewood top/back and fingerboard.
The seller listed it as walnut, so no problems at all.

Regler ol' EIR is not a problem these days.

 

[s_wood]

Right! The only common guitar/bass wood that’s affected by CITES is Brazilian rosewood. International trade in the other common types of rosewood is not affected. Brazilian Rosewood is frightfully expensive these days and it’s highly unlikely that Aria ever used it.

 

[Bliff Curton 2]

Aria used it for sure

 

[ajkula66]

Aria used it for sure

Most of the MI manufacturers stopped using Brazilian Rosewood on regular basis by 1970 or so. What data are you basing this statement on ?