Re: one day we'll all be playing plastic resin guitars

On Wed, 28 Mar 2007 12:57:56 -0500, Squier <squier@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

In article <1174995069.206955.156040@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, Dr. Zontar <drzontar@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Huh? Last time I checked, wood was a renewable resource. I doubt it's
going to become all that rare and expensive, unless pollution and
global warming make it impossible to grow trees. In that case, corn
resin will probably be a rarity too.

Steinberger used to make some great guitars and basses out of
fiberglass. But very few people bought them. So what do they use for
bodies now? Yep, you got it - wood.

But don't get me wrong - I'm all for experimenting with new materials.
The idea of a resin guitar interests me because it may drastically
lower production costs. The whole instrument (body and neck) could be
cast in one step. Just imagine - a guitar with great sustain and a
neck that can't warp, for under $100 (depending on pickups and
hardware). Plus, since it would be molded instead of carved, body
shapes could be just about anything.

- Rich

You're way off. You must be old.
Wood and corn (and other grain crops) are all renewable resources.
However - this is your big blunder -
After a tree is cut its renewability is measured in _decades_.
Even fast growing poplar takes at least 20 years from sapling to harvest
and this is not a usual thing. For the most part even pulp trees take
30 years or more to 'renew'. Corn (maize) on the other hand takes
only 90 -100 days from seed to flint/dent stage to harvest.

So... that tree that was cut 30 years ago... its replacement will now
take another 30 years. Think back 30 years ago... I'm sure you can.
The demand for wood was lower than that of today and the demand will
only exponentially increase in the next 30 years and so on.
The fact is that managed wood sources are staying fairly level (the acreage
devoted has hardly increased - it will not be able to keep up with demand
in the future). On the other hand, worldwide maize production is increasing
rapidly and acreage devoted to corn is also increasing.

I am not going to quote 'sources' for this. This is simple textbook
knowledge we are being taught in school (Earth Science and Resource).

SO you need to get a grip on reality. In fact - it is people like
you unfortunately that do not see a problem until it is in their own laps.
Unless there is a drastic shift in acreage devoted to managed wood resources,
the demand will outstrip the supply within the next 50 - 75 years.
When demand outstrips supply - then everything from paper to that 2 x 4
is going to cost an unbelievable amount -- however as supply can keep
pace with demand on polymers developed through maize and other quickly
grown botanicals (with the addition of enzymes/biologicals) that 2 x4
might still look like a 2x4 but it will essentially be plant resin/polymer.

Get over it - wood is yet another material that wil become an 'exotic'
and expensive material for the wealthy only -- in America we simply do not realize reality when it
comes to natural 'resources'. The greatest consumerized society the
world has ever known is almost blind when it comes to the realities
of the natural world and what the real cost is going to be for future
generations as present generations use up everything with reckless
abandon. Even as known oil reserves are plumetting (at least deposits
that are cost efficient to drill for) we are still burning little fires
in internal combustion engines that run on petroleum product.

And on and on it goes... wood is just another item on the list.
Please remember there is a BIG difference between a renewable resource
with a 30 or 40 year turnaround and a crop with a 90 day turnaround.
There is also a BIG difference in acreage that is practically static (managed
land that trees are planted)
and grain crop acreage that is very dynamic and expanding rapidly.

You're assuming wood has to be solid pieces for a body. If you use ply
or strand board or even smaller solid pieces then you do not have to
wait 30 years. Maybe 5-10. True, I wouldn't want a guitar made out of
strand board...but someone who doesn't think the wood matters much
(there are a few around here) shouldn't mind.
.

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