Recent

The New Multi-Purpose Stand from CHAUVET DJ, FLEXstand FX ILS Doubles as a Light Show

September 19, 2025

Registration for The 2026 NAMM Show Is Now Open as the Stage is Set for a Historic Gathering

September 19, 2025

AES Board of Governors Elects Agnieszka Roginska as Director

September 19, 2025

Solid State Logic Appoints CJ Lewis to National Sales Manager, Western U.S., for Audio Creation Products

September 19, 2025

Guitar Center’s Fall Guitar-A-Thon Returns with Exclusive New Launches and Epic Seasonal Savings

September 19, 2025

Gibson x Loog Collection

September 19, 2025

MESA/Boogie Bass-800D

September 19, 2025

On-Stage Endpin Anchor Strap for Bass/Cello Delivers Essential Instrument Stability

September 19, 2025
Friday, September 19, 2025
  • Contact
MMR Magazine
  • Subscribe Now!
    • Subscribe Now!
  • Advertise
  • Email Press Releases!
  • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
  • Newsroom
    • News
    • MMR Global
    • Supplier Scene
    • Upfront
    • People
  • Awards
    • Dealers’ Choice Awards Ballot 2024
    • Don Johnson Award Winners Archive
  • Directory
  • Get Support!
No Result
View All Result
  • Subscribe Now!
    • Subscribe Now!
  • Advertise
  • Email Press Releases!
  • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
  • Newsroom
    • News
    • MMR Global
    • Supplier Scene
    • Upfront
    • People
  • Awards
    • Dealers’ Choice Awards Ballot 2024
    • Don Johnson Award Winners Archive
  • Directory
  • Get Support!
No Result
View All Result
MMR Magazine
No Result
View All Result

Musicwood, Part II – The Rest of the Story: Stop Using Old Growth, Clear-Cut Sitka Spruce in Musical Instruments

Christian Wissmuller by Christian Wissmuller
August 8, 2017
in In the Trenches
0
940
SHARES
2.3k
VIEWS
Share on Facebook
ADVERTISEMENT

America’s largest national forest – the Tongass in southeast Alaska – is the only national forest where commercial clear-cutting continues.

This forest treasure has stood magnificently for thousands and thousands of years. Trees growing as little as six inches a year have fought their way through the dense temperate rainforest for 400 to 600 years and tower as tall as 300 feet. Tight-grained. Straight. Unique strength-to-weight ratio. Incredible music wood.

ADVERTISEMENT

More significantly, the impact on the unique ecosystem and culture of the dense old growth rainforest; the salmon, sea life, birds, wildlife – the interdependent environment – stand as America’s unique natural resource in a world where tropical forests are threatened throughout the world. We advocate for saving the rainforests of the Amazon Basin, the Mayan Biosphere, the exclusive ecosystem of Madagascar, and the belt of tropical forests across Africa, Asia, and the Pacific. Yet, here at home, with our very own treasure, we turn a blind eye, allowing the devastation of forests that have existed for thousands of years. Once clear-cut – they are gone forever.

Alone, the music industry will not stop the plunder. But together, we can stand tall in setting an example of respect in honoring the old-growth Sitka spruce forests of our country. We can all join together in not using ay clear-cut, old growth Sitka spruce in our products!

Over four years ago, Martin Guitars, Taylor Guitars, and Gibson Guitars cooperated in a Musicwood Coalition. They were part of an excellent film, “Musicwood.” They spoke eloquently about the devastation caused by clear-cutting in the Tongass. Yet, sadly, today they continue to build acoustic guitars using clear-cut Sitka.

In the film, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is mentioned as a mitigation solution. Unfortunately, this is not the answer. FSC accommodates clear-cutting where the forests are able to regenerate. But once an old growth Sitka forest is clear-cut, not only is the entire eco-system neighborhood devastated, but also the second growth Sitka trees have no old-growth competition. The rapid growth trees regenerate a different forest.

It is estimated the USA acoustic guitar industry consumes the equivalent of only 200 Sitka trees a year. There are sufficient blow-down, dead, and salvageable trees to meet this supply. Additionally, if individual harvest were necessary, it avoids plundering the entire forest neighborhood.

We have created a website, musiciansforforests.com. Please learn how easy it can be for all of us in the music industry to protect our old-growth Sitka forests. If musicians, retailers, and builders would insist that once all current Sitka inventory is consumed, no more clear-cut trees would enter the supply chain, we can stand tall in living our values and setting an example, that hopefully, other industries will follow. 

Previous Post

Five Values and Guiding Principles of Leadership

Next Post

March ‘Em Off to Class: Back to School Season and Marching Band Instrument Sales

Related Posts

February 2025

Grow Your Woodwind Sales Through Quality Woodwind Repair & Specialty Selling Skills

March 25, 2025
In the Trenches

COVID-19: I Saw the Movie – I Know it Ends Happy, yet I Still Cry in the Middle

March 6, 2020
In the Trenches

‘You Can’t Save the World if You Can’t Pay the Rent:’ Net 30 Terms Need to Go

January 20, 2020
In the Trenches

The Arrogance of Complacency

December 3, 2018
In the Trenches

The Rise of the Electric Guitar

September 6, 2017
Jeff Mazza
In the Trenches

The Last Dinosaur

August 31, 2022
Next Post

March ‘Em Off to Class: Back to School Season and Marching Band Instrument Sales

Please login to join discussion
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest

MESA/Boogie Bass-800D

September 19, 2025

D’Addario Launches Players Choice Custom String Shop

September 19, 2025

Guitar Center’s Fall Guitar-A-Thon Returns with Exclusive New Launches and Epic Seasonal Savings

September 19, 2025

AES Board of Governors Elects Agnieszka Roginska as Director

September 19, 2025

The New Multi-Purpose Stand from CHAUVET DJ, FLEXstand FX ILS Doubles as a Light Show

Registration for The 2026 NAMM Show Is Now Open as the Stage is Set for a Historic Gathering

AES Board of Governors Elects Agnieszka Roginska as Director

Solid State Logic Appoints CJ Lewis to National Sales Manager, Western U.S., for Audio Creation Products

The New Multi-Purpose Stand from CHAUVET DJ, FLEXstand FX ILS Doubles as a Light Show

September 19, 2025

Registration for The 2026 NAMM Show Is Now Open as the Stage is Set for a Historic Gathering

September 19, 2025

AES Board of Governors Elects Agnieszka Roginska as Director

September 19, 2025

Solid State Logic Appoints CJ Lewis to National Sales Manager, Western U.S., for Audio Creation Products

September 19, 2025
ADVERTISEMENT
The Latest News and Gear in Your Inbox - Sign Up Today!
  • September 2025

    Articles | Digital Issue
  • August 2025

    Articles | Digital Issue
  • July 2025

    Articles | Digital Issue
  • June 2025

    Articles | Digital Issue
  • May 2025

    Articles | Digital Issue
© 2005 - 2025 artistpro, LLC
7012 City Center Way, Suite 207
Fairview, Tennessee 37062
(800) 682-8114

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Subscribe Now!
    • Subscribe Now!
  • Advertise
  • Email Press Releases!
  • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
  • Newsroom
    • News
    • MMR Global
    • Supplier Scene
    • Upfront
    • People
  • Awards
    • Dealers’ Choice Awards Ballot 2024
    • Don Johnson Award Winners Archive
  • Directory
  • Get Support!

© 2005 – 2024 artistpro, LLC 7012 City Center Way, Suite 207 Fairview, Tennessee 37062 (800) 682-8114

This is Modal Title

Click Me
Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?