I like you Bob

zohn · 2012-06-03T09:08:28+00:00

So it seems the continued supply of Ebony is going to be somewhat different, I'm all for it. Thanx Bob!! =

I like you Bob

GaryMac

Thanks for this Zohn,

What a great video clip.

I wonder if Henry Juszkiewicz is of the same opinion regarding use of resources:-[

GaryMac

Bob-Dubery

I think regard for conservation of natural resources is a good thing, but I also think that Taylor is talking too generally here. Words like "spruce" and "ebony" are pretty general and may refer collectively to multiple species.

Taylor made some alarming comments about spruce early on, but there are 35 different species identified as "spruce". We need to look at things more exactly. The most commonly used spruce for flat top acoustic guitars is Sitka Spruce. Despite anything you may have heard from Bob Taylor, it's not endangered. The IUCN, who publish and regularly update the "red list" of endangered species list it as "least concern". The same classification assigned to human beings. Species categorised as "least concern" are not under threat. The same goes for another spruce used in acoustic guitar manufacture as an alternative to Sitka, Engelmann Spruce. Even Adirondack Spruce, which is regarded as rarer than the others (and thus normally attracts a premium price) falls in the "least concern" category.

If we look at "rosewood" then there are some sad stories, especially about Brazilian Rosewood. That IS a species under threat. Indeed rosewoods (genus dalbergia) generally are under threat. BUT there are responsibly managed sources of such wood - plantations that are replacing the trees that are felled.

"Ebony".... yes, some ebony species are under threat, but others aren't.

My point is this.... don't go around shooting people (metaphorically or otherwise) because they have a guitar with "rosewood" or "ebony". Not all ebonies are under threat, and in the case of "rosewood" it is possible to source the wood from well managed plantations - it's not necessarily about deforestation.

sharonzaz

yet another sale pitch.... ?

deefstes

zohn wrote: right..... who's Bob Taylor anyway....

Yes, good question. I believe he is some guy who made a name by making good guitars. I don't believe he really knows a great deal about conservation and I'm not entirely convinced that he really has conservation in mind as he has making money in mind.

sharonzaz

one thing is taking (important) steps towards saving our planet.
another is ''bragging'' about it.

I own a Taylor, what a great guitar, no doubt.
but this whole vid looks and sounds like a salesman approach to the
subject, and trust me, Im a jew, I know sales tricks ?

Bono does a lot for the planet, so does Sting.
I dont see or hear them attach their agendas to their CD sales.

nonetheless, any step taken for the sake of the planet is a good step.

MikeM

What a sad bunch of cynics.

flatfourfan

sharonzaz wrote: one thing is taking (important) steps towards saving our planet.
another is ''bragging'' about it.

but this whole vid looks and sounds like a salesman approach to the
subject, and trust me, Im a jew, I know sales tricks ?

Bono does a lot for the planet, so does Sting.
I dont see or hear them attach their agendas to their CD sales.

nonetheless, any step taken for the sake of the planet is a good step.

x2.......on everything besides the fact that I own a taylor.

guidothepimmp

Yah yah but can you djent on a taylor

flatfourfan

I know nothing about accoustics, I mean I want to own an ovation........lol.

PeteM

flatfourfan wrote:
sharonzaz wrote: one thing is taking (important) steps towards saving our planet.
another is ''bragging'' about it.

but this whole vid looks and sounds like a salesman approach to the
subject, and trust me, Im a jew, I know sales tricks ?

Bono does a lot for the planet, so does Sting.
I dont see or hear them attach their agendas to their CD sales.

nonetheless, any step taken for the sake of the planet is a good step.
x2.......on everything besides the fact that I own a taylor.

Give the guy a break. Someone has to explain why you won't see pitch black ebony anymore. Why not him? Who else should do it?

flatfourfan

PeteM wrote:
Give the guy a break. Someone has to explain why you won't see pitch black ebony anymore. Why not him? Who else should do it?

and sell a few guitars in the process.........especially seeing that Gibson have been investigated a few times for the same thing.

If he's sincere, then kudos to him, but with every company it's the bottom line that counts.

sharonzaz

MikeM wrote: What a sad bunch of cynics.

no, not at all my friend.

Here's a better and shorter script I would have used:

''Hi everyone, my name is Bob Taylor bla bla bla.
in effort to save the planet and trees I have decided to stop implementing the ONLY dark ebony woods
and from now on you will also see colored fretboards such as this guitar that I am holding.
There is nothing wrong with those guitars, they play and feel just the same as the old ones.''

I am too very much in favor of anything and everything that would prolonge our stay on this planet
and perhaps bring peace too.
but that video is a plain sales tactic, nothing more, nothing less.

PeteM

flatfourfan wrote:
PeteM wrote:
Give the guy a break. Someone has to explain why you won't see pitch black ebony anymore. Why not him? Who else should do it?
and sell a few guitars in the process.........especially seeing that Gibson have been investigated a few times for the same thing.

If he's sincere, then kudos to him, but with every company it's the bottom line that counts.

I think he's a realist and is countering/pre-empting a potential negative response to discoloured ebony fretboards on his guitars.

PeteM

sharonzaz wrote:
MikeM wrote: What a sad bunch of cynics.
no, not at all my friend.

Here's a better and shorter script I would have used:

''Hi everyone, my name is Bob Taylor bla bla bla.
in effort to save the planet and trees I have decided to stop implementing the ONLY dark ebony woods
and from now on you will also see colored fretboards such as this guitar that I am holding.
There is nothing wrong with those guitars, they play and feel just the same as the old ones.''

I am too very much in favor of anything and everything that would prolonge our stay on this planet
and perhaps bring peace too.
but that video is a plain sales tactic, nothing more, nothing less.

Of course it is. What's wrong with that?

sharonzaz

Of course it is. What's wrong with that?

nothing, unless you're pretending to care about the planet
and care more about your sales, which I cannot guess
but only assume what is more important to Bob.

PeteM

sharonzaz wrote:
Of course it is. What's wrong with that?
nothing, unless you're pretending to care about the planet
and care more about your sales, which I cannot guess
but only assume what is more important to Bob.

Why not make a buck and save the planet at the same time. At least he's trying. The fact that he is talking about it is good PR.

MikeM

Again.. So cynical.

He's a business man first, remember that. He is trying to make more money, as inherent in people. However he's also actually doing something about the current situation. Gibson have already been burnt.

So he's doing some good, and self indulging in some PR? So what? Why rag on the guy? Jeez what is with people!?

Exactly Pete.

AlanRatcliffe

Bob has long been involved in the conservation side and was one of the first to bring the issues to luthier's attentions. That is very real - he was publishing articles about it in Frets and other industry publications long before any You Tube videos.

It's also a practical long range view for his business - if he can't get any wood in 10 years time, he's out of business. Other companies are content to source whatever they can while the going is good and damn the consequences, but he's taking the long view. More power to him.

Sure, he's using it to his advantage marketing wise too - but he'd be mad not to now that opinions are finally changing. Also, the biggest hurdle any manufacturer is going to face in the coming years is customer resistance (guitarists are by and large a conservative bunch, especially our acoustic bretheren) to the change that must and is going to happen. He's being very clever in pre-empting that and helping to smooth the way for future changes.

Bob-Dubery

PeteM wrote:
sharonzaz wrote:
Of course it is. What's wrong with that?
nothing, unless you're pretending to care about the planet
and care more about your sales, which I cannot guess
but only assume what is more important to Bob.
Why not make a buck and save the planet at the same time. At least he's trying. The fact that he is talking about it is good PR.

If you support certain environmental practices you should want to see businesses that are visibly adopting those practices AND remaining viable as a business. They serve as examples and encouragement to other businesses (and to us).

Let them make a noise about it. Indeed in a way the motivation doesn't matter. So what if Taylor is doing all of this for business reasons as long as they also really do reduce their carbon footprint, support sustainable wood sources, do lots of recycling and so on? I have an energy saving water heating system at home. Thereby I reduce my carbon footprint a little, take a little load off of the grid. And I have that effect even if my only motivation is to save my own money.

chris77

He-he ? Read the first post, saw it wasn't about mr x-rated and didn't bother again until now.
Ja the vid is kinda cheesy, but I've seen worse. Smart business move in the long run though. With conservation destined to become a global priority somewhere along the line rather than a hip topic to hitch your sales wagon to, it makes sense to get your business lined up for the change as early as possible. Good Pr and good planning that.
Mark my words, when conservation becomes a neccesity, and it will, we'll see far worse sales pitches than Bob Taylor's.