The volume of Punky Fraxinius lumber is low under normal market conditions. Thus, higher density European Ash adds insignificant weight to the guitar. Imagine how foolish Fender looks if they tell their dealers they cannot make Swamp Ash instruments anymore while competitors like G&L, Kiesel, Yamaha and Paul Reed Smith continue to crank out Ash production models. Every winter and spring, rains across the central U.S. combine with snowmelt along the northern reaches of the Mississippi River to inundate the hardwood-dominated bottomlands of the lower Mississippi. “If you’re talking about an early–growing-season flood that flushes out in a couple of weeks, it’s not really a problem for ash,” says Brady Self, a forestry specialist in bottomland hardwoods at the Mississippi State University Extension Service. That statement in of itself casts doubt on the validity of their other claims. “I can adapt to a new wood,” Kotzen says. Accordingly, fewer trees make it to maturity and supply is reduced. And a 2018 study in Nature showed the area’s flooding has become more frequent and severe over the past 150 years. Typically, kiln dried alder wood weighs between 2.2-2.8LB/BF. Ash and alder are the most popular Stratocaster body wood options. After reading the Internet chatter, here is what I did: Despite, the fact that Guitar Station reports an official Fender announcement from VP Max Gutnik, it’s more likely a private email to their dealer network. The emerald ash borer has not reached the lower Mississippi floodplains, but Koch says “it’s only a matter of time” until the beetle does so. “There just aren’t as many trees left.”. While manufacturers rarely outright lie to their dealers, their information needs to be taken in context. Finally, let’s apply some common sense. However, soft ash offers a warmer feel. Many Fraxinius-growing regions of the United States have quarantines in place to slow the spread of this invasive specie. Thus, Southern regions are concerned about future infestation. Fender blamed the dwindling supply on longer periods of climate-fueled flooding along the lower Mississippi—which is endangering saplings and making it harder for lumber companies to reach standing trees—as well as the looming threat of an invasive tree-boring beetle. - Commercial Forest Products, Pingback: Paulownia - Lumber -Wood - Commercial Forest Products - 2019, Pingback: 8/4 Alder Guitar Body Wood - Commercial Forest Products, Pingback: Quarter Sawn Ash Lumber - Commercial Forest Products, Pingback: SASSAFRAS Lumber - Commercial Forest Products. The larvae of this invasive beetle, native to Asia, tunnel through wood and disrupt trees’ ability to transport water and nutrients. Green ash is a fast-growing species, and it has adapted to seasonal flooding. After hearing rumors from several prominent builders, I did my own research. They produce black ash parts and market them under the white swamp ash moniker. Since the late 1950s, Fender has used alderwood to make less expensive versions of many of its swamp ash guitar models. Additionally, the wood has taken on a romantic mystique over the years. I do not know the origins of this confusion. Thus, in order to insulate themselves from raw material volatility, they’re diversifying a little. Scientific American is part of Springer Nature, which owns or has commercial relations with thousands of scientific publications (many of them can be found at, one of the worst harvests in recent history, spread to 35 U.S. states and five Canadian provinces, Antarctic Fish Is a Blood Doping Champion, Repurposed Oyster Farm Bags Offer New Real Estate for Migratory Birds. Since then it has become an integral part of their brand. Many online sources mistakenly identify Northern Black Ash as Southern White Guitar Ash. On the flip side, customers often make their own arbitrary grade rules. Because of the subjectivity involved, there are plenty of opportunities for confusion and disappointment. Search. “If the water stays on for months and at a time when the seedlings just don’t have their heads above the water, they might have trouble surviving,” Self says. Punky Ash weighs about the same as standard alder. Accordingly, its growth rings are tight. Additionally, when Fender purchases Punky Ash the expectation is that is of Southern United State origin. Leo Fender pioneered the production of Southern White Swamp Ash Guitars.. Luthiers frequently search for topics such as: There is plenty of information about Swamp Ash guitars but not so much about Swamp Ash trees or the wood itself. Holiday Sale: Save 25%, Flooding and a wood-boring beetle threaten supplies of storied “swamp ash”. The softness of the tree’s texture and density of the tree’s fiber varies in relation to where the tree grows. Subscribers get more award-winning coverage of advances in science & technology. It then announced that it would be phasing out the wood in most cases, reserving it only for special occasions – historical models and the highest-end offerings. Consequently they market their own Fender ash inventory as the last of Fender’s available production.

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