Stumbled across this when looking for pics of the back of John Denver's F50 special (trying to deduce if it actually had an AA neck or just the headstock shape); ID'd as a '69 F512 and have no reason to doubt it:
From here:
https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=379287&page=4
Now
that's what I think of when I think of Guild Braz.
:friendly_wink:
Hi, GuildFS4612CE
As to BRW(Brazilian rosewood) back & sides, actually back in the past(prior to 1970), especially Martin (I know very little of other makers like Guild) although figured grains definitely look prettier than straight grains, people wanted straight grain was not because it was "fashionable" but to get wood with high density (the higher the density, the harder they are, the longer the life of a guitar).
Jane's got a ton of experience and I consider her to be very credible.
:friendly_wink:
I've seen that same philosophy about grain as a density indicator cited when it comes to top grading, that even though the standards are cosmetic/aesthetic, it's thought that tighter grains are indicative of denser tops that can be made a bit thinner for better resonance.
In fact now bearclaw has also been claimed to be indicative of denser wood created by twisting stress.
I don't know if it's all true,
seems logical enough to me, but just confirming I've seen both "arguments" and they're not necessarily mutually exclusive.
The need for protection of the remaining Brazilian Atlantic Forest has been recognised, and 35.9% now has some form of protected status. Despite the high rate of deforestation, the Atlantic Forest is still considered one of the world’s top five biodiversity hotspots. This status justifies sustained efforts to conserve the forest community and iconic species such as the Brazilian rosewood.
Right, and it's not just Braz, but in fact
all the dalbergias were
CITES listed effective Jan 2017 because as one species began to get over-harvested and listed, "harvesters" would just move on to the next most readily available species, so they finally decided to quit playing whack-a-mole about rosewoods and list 'em ALL.
Braz is the only one for which international trade of new harvest and finished goods is
completely prohibited, though.
If you want to
legally obtain a Braz rosewood guitar in another country you're gonna have to go there, buy it, and obtain the proper paperwork (where required) to transport it as personal property, where an exemption for 20lbs of weight is allowed.
You otherwise risk seizure by customs at points of exit or entry.
International shipment in a
commercial transaction is strictly prohibited.
