b'a while I was able to import remaining stocks ofwell intentioned, but the small users such as guitar that reclaimed Sequoia, plus windfall Spruce frommakers who are not part of the problem are hugely Alaska, but now everything has to be heat treated todamaged, and the real causes and culprits are not prevent importing bugs. I think its all a communisttouched. There is a temptation to think that the plot. problem has been solved, but I am worried that the Indian Rosewood logs were easily available up toregulations are being implemented in places where about 1975, when the Indian Government bannedthey do no good. I have lots of stories of unintended the export in order to keep the processing tradeconsequences and unplanned application of such in their own country. Quite right too, but nobodylaws. My personal worry is the amount of timber knew how to do it, so the logs were exported asdestroyed by disease and fire before anybody gets ballast in ships holds to get round the law. Sincechance to use it, but in this case the timber is gone then, cut pieces for snooker cue butts have beenfor ever and the carbon dioxide is released into the exported as chair legs and planks for furnitureatmosphere rather than being locked into useful making have been described as decking, becauseproducts.If global warming continues, excessive the knowledge and infrastructure to turn thetimber cutting, whether it be legal or illegal, will timber into a more valuable product didnt exist innot be the biggest threat to supplies, much of it will the country of origin. burn where it stands before anyone gets near it with a chainsaw.The point I am trying to make is that it isnt allSometime around 1974 there was a big fire in the about the shortage of trees - people who dontold mill where I had my workshop, and we had know enough about it are making the decisionsto rush to evacuate as much as we could. The fire and passing the laws, politics is making it worse. didnt spread far fortunately, but the electric power Nobody who works with rare wood wants to see itwas cut and we lost several weeks of production. I disappear, but they arent consulted.salvaged a lovely wooden statue with an arm burnt The latest massive regulations on timber trade suchoff, which still sits near my sharpening bench. as Cites, Lacey and Flegt are intended to tackleWhile Im on the subject of misfortune, one day a illegal and destructive forestry and are obviouslyguitar disappeared from the workshop. It belonged Al bought several instruments from me, including a purpose built cutaway Ariel. I can see two of them on this album sleeve, plus the Caliban I am holding in the picture on the right, an Orsino 12 string, and an Octavius bouzouki, which Al has tuned as a mandocello. Al Di MeolaI spent a day with Al Di Meola in the CBS studios in New York, dashing back and forth to my apartment to make adjustments to his guitars in the middle of recording Splendido Hotel.In this photo we are recording a duet ofI do like to be beside the seaside, and Al is finding it rather funny.My contribution didnt make it into the final mix so you only have my word for that. Al has recently commissioned a new guitar, life goes in circles.40'