This Months (Feb 2008) Issue of "Australian Guitar" Featuring: Thomas Lloyd Guitars Student & Scientist at Ensis - Andrew Morrow Written by Thomas Lloyd Guitars Student - Will Hancock

The Sound of Science "The quest of native Australian tonewwods steers a new scientific course, with Maton at the Frontline.....What makes a great acoustic guitar?. Well basically it's strong craftsmanship and the use of superior tonewoods. The craft of lutherie, or the making of stringed instruments, dates back to pre-biblical times in its more primitive form, with the last couple of centuries seeing modern guitar design and construction progressing at an amazing rate due to technological advances and the discovery of different timbers. In Australia, a young nation by international standards, luthiers have been experimenting with all the indigenous timbers that our sunburnt country has to offer. ....." The article explains the partnerhip between Ensis, an Industry partnership between CSIRO's - Forestry & Forest products division and its New Zealand equivalent Scion, researching the different types of native timbers that could potentially prove superior to those currently favoured in traditional acoustic guitar manufacturing.   Australian timbers such as Bunya pine and King William Pine are being tested for potentional tonal qualities for large scale soundboard production.  Ensis is teaming up with Maton Australia to research exactly which timbers constitute a superior tonewood and why! The article is well informed and an inspiration to the Australian Industry. Available at most newsagents in Australia.