THE GUITAR GOES VIRTUAL
Many rightly insist that the natural habitat for sitka spruce is SE Alaska and Canada, muso's say it's as the top of acoustic guitars, others insist it's home is in Asian houses. Wherever it is, a key component of great guitars is at risk.

If over cutting continues we'll have to satisfy ourselves with second rate sad-sap casino-circuit guitarists with a penchant for squinting. Air guitar will become cool and chaps like your man on the left will be heroes.

Either that or shitty sounding guitars will become revered.

In response Fender, Gibson, Taylor, and Martin recently teamed up with Greenpeace to establish Forest Stewardship Council certification for sitka spruce. Certified timber in guitars has been an issue for some time. Gibson started looking into it in 1994, and in 2001 partnered with the Rainforest Alliance - eventually creating the 100% certified Les Paul SmartWood.

If you're in the market for a new ax ask about certification. I'm looking forward to taking a closer look onstage at the next gig I get to - I may have to wear my specs...