A few musical boxes won't destroy the Amazon rain-forest, but I did
a search for Sustainable Tonewoods used for guitars, etc. to get
a current list of possible woods. I found at
https://aspiresustainability.com/sustainable-tonewoods/ --
"Examples of the most popular acoustic guitar tonewoods include Sitka
spruce, rosewood, cedar, mahogany, maple, and koa. Classical guitars
commonly have tops made of spruce, cedar, mahogany, or maple, with
backs and sides from rosewood, mahogany, sapele, maple, Hawaiian koa,
or cocobolo.
A Guide To Sustainable Tonewoods & Eco Guitars
- Basswood - an alternative to alder or ash, a bit bland but with
a full tonal balance
- Figured ebony - an alternative to traditional black ebony
- Khaya - an alternative to mahogany
- Koa - not yet endangered, but already the focus of extensive
replanting activities
- Korina - another alternative to mahogany
- Poplar - an alternative to maple or alder
- Redwood - an alternative to cedar, but must be sourced responsibly
- Sapele - another alternative to mahogany
- Spanish cedar - yet another alternative to mahogany
- White oak - has been used since the 1920's as a substitute for
exotic tonewoods, but must be sourced responsibly"
Craft stores in the USA often have basswood in suitable sizes for
music boxes.
Many luthiers are using various lamintated woods (plywood) today.
Wallace Venable
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