Bob Taylor on the future of Ebony

[SFIV1967]

You can download Wood & Steel here. Pages 12-19 run the story with pictures.

Ralf

 

[adorshki]

Before Taylor arrived in the Cameroon, the three trees that weren't black were just left lying on the ground, because the perception was that builders didn't want striated ebony.
Taylor was, understandably, horrified at the waste. He's met with a number of builders, Martin and Guild among them, who agree with him. He will be supplying those companies with ebony, so you will see striated fingerboards on Guilds.

Ya know what? I could live with that. 8)

 

[Ridgemont]

I applaud Bob Taylor for doing what he did. But, now that he controls the import of ebony, both solid black and striated, how will it be distributed? I hope Bob Taylor doesn't tarnish his reputation by keeping the "good" solid black ebony for his company while divvying out the "second tier scraps" to the rest of the builders.

 

[adorshki]

I applaud Bob Taylor for doing what he did. But, now that he controls the import of ebony, both solid black and striated, how will it be distributed? I hope Bob Taylor doesn't tarnish his reputation by keeping the "good" solid black ebony for his company while divvying out the "second tier scraps" to the rest of the builders.

In some industries hard-ball is played when a customer says: "You gotta give me some of the good stuff along with the "everyday whitebread" or I won't buy anything from you"
:wink:
Also, without having actually studied who's going to "own" it and "divvy" it up, I'd lay odds the stuff will be contracted before delivery to be delivered in contractually agreed ratios of product. :wink:

 

[SFIV1967]

But, now that he controls the import of ebony, both solid black and striated, how will it be distributed? I hope Bob Taylor doesn't tarnish his reputation by keeping the "good" solid black ebony for his company while divvying out the "second tier scraps" to the rest of the builders.

Bob Taylor addresses that exact concern at the end of page 16 in Wood & Steel!
"Another person suggested that as an ebony supplier, Taylor might be inclined to have two grading standards: one that set aside the black wood for its own guitars, and the marbled ebony for everyone else. It was a fair question. “I told everyone I was already their great experiment,” Bob says, “because I make guitars out of déclassé ebony all the time and have been for years. When the guitars are finished they look great and no one thinks anything of it. We’ll probably start to see a little bit more wood with coloration, but we already buy and use this wood.” Besides, Bob says, consumer acceptance of ebony variegation is easier to achieve if it comes from the entire industry together."
Ralf