kevin Prestwich Posted January 23, 2019 Report Share Posted January 23, 2019 I’m currently traveling in Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Combodia. I love mission oriented travel and I’m wondering if there are any things I should keep an eye out for that can be used in Violin making, bow making, varnish making? I’m thinking along the lines of gums, resins, wood. Items which can be legally and ethically exported. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Dorsey Posted January 23, 2019 Report Share Posted January 23, 2019 Shellac. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rue Posted January 23, 2019 Report Share Posted January 23, 2019 Better make sure your Agricultural Agency doesn't take issue with importing bug bits first... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Noon Posted January 23, 2019 Report Share Posted January 23, 2019 Jujube. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael_Molnar Posted January 23, 2019 Report Share Posted January 23, 2019 You might want to ask local makers what they use. They should have lots of experience with the local wood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duane88 Posted January 23, 2019 Report Share Posted January 23, 2019 Viet. Ebony. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Wiese Posted January 23, 2019 Report Share Posted January 23, 2019 My wife is from Bangkok. I have traveled to Thailand many times before I got into building. I bought my first gouges from the woodworkers at a Teak furniture factory. Home made, cheap. I still use them. I would look for some ebony and pick it out first hand. I would bring a small sample with you so you can show people what you want, because of language barriers. But, I do not know where to go to get it in Bangkok. Bangkok is very hard to get around in due to traffic. Jat Du Jat (spelling is questionable, Jak du Jak) is a GIANT market in Bangkok where they sell anything you can imagine. It would be a good place to start. There are shippers there that can package what you buy and send it to U.S. We had that done with a good experience. The only other thing I can think of is finding some mastic. If you were traveling to Greece I would say load up on it. Mastic is expensive here. My wife bought me some at less than half the price when she went to Greece. I have no clue if it could be found in Bangkok. If you have Thailand questions feel free to write me at Darbyviolins@gmail.com You will have a great time on this trip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimRobinson Posted January 23, 2019 Report Share Posted January 23, 2019 Some years ago we were in Vietnam and in the paint and varnish street in Hanoi there were lots of resins etc very cheap. However, I didn't think it a good idea to try to bring bags of white powder through customs in Sydney. Have a great trip. Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deo Lawson Posted January 24, 2019 Report Share Posted January 24, 2019 Ivory Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle duke Posted January 24, 2019 Report Share Posted January 24, 2019 The gum resin of the cambogia guttifera aka gamboge. Purest comes from Siam, which is now Thailand. From the Heron-Allen book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl Johnson Posted January 24, 2019 Report Share Posted January 24, 2019 Rosewoods. Ebony. Ivory. Precious metals. Silk. Lizard skins and leather. you might be able to find tortoiseshell. all were available for sale in the past. "ethically" depends on whats for sale and who you buy it from. In the past markets had more than a little obviously unethical goods for sale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Jennings Posted January 24, 2019 Report Share Posted January 24, 2019 49 minutes ago, Carl Johnson said: Rosewoods. Ebony. Ivory. Precious metals. Silk. Lizard skins and leather. you might be able to find tortoiseshell. all were available for sale in the past. "ethically" depends on whats for sale and who you buy it from. In the past markets had more than a little obviously unethical goods for sale. That list could get you 10 to 15 in Leavenworth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Bress Posted January 24, 2019 Report Share Posted January 24, 2019 6 hours ago, Michael Jennings said: That list could get you 10 to 15 in Leavenworth. I was there recently. Great place for BBQ. Oh, you mean the prison! Never mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JacksonMaberry Posted January 24, 2019 Report Share Posted January 24, 2019 8 hours ago, Michael Jennings said: 10 to 15 in Leavenworth. Or eleven years in Twelveworth! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin Prestwich Posted January 25, 2019 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2019 Thanks for all the ideas. I’m in Laos now and am late for my boat down the Mekong River! I’ll keep an eye open for this stuff! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janito Posted January 25, 2019 Report Share Posted January 25, 2019 On 1/23/2019 at 12:58 PM, duane88 said: Viet. Ebony. Yep - can be amazing stuff. The best is very dense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin Prestwich Posted January 27, 2019 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2019 On 1/24/2019 at 3:58 AM, TimRobinson said: Some years ago we were in Vietnam and in the paint and varnish street in Hanoi there were lots of resins etc very cheap. However, I didn't think it a good idea to try to bring bags of white powder through customs in Sydney. Have a great trip. Tim We’re headed to Hanoi in 3 days. I’ll definitely try to find this place. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin Prestwich Posted January 27, 2019 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2019 I’ve been seeing some really nice rosewood here in Laos. Beautiful stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin Prestwich Posted January 27, 2019 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2019 On 1/24/2019 at 1:13 AM, Joe Wiese said: My wife is from Bangkok. I have traveled to Thailand many times before I got into building. I bought my first gouges from the woodworkers at a Teak furniture factory. Home made, cheap. I still use them. I would look for some ebony and pick it out first hand. I would bring a small sample with you so you can show people what you want, because of language barriers. But, I do not know where to go to get it in Bangkok. Bangkok is very hard to get around in due to traffic. Jat Du Jat (spelling is questionable, Jak du Jak) is a GIANT market in Bangkok where they sell anything you can imagine. It would be a good place to start. There are shippers there that can package what you buy and send it to U.S. We had that done with a good experience. The only other thing I can think of is finding some mastic. If you were traveling to Greece I would say load up on it. Mastic is expensive here. My wife bought me some at less than half the price when she went to Greece. I have no clue if it could be found in Bangkok. If you have Thailand questions feel free to write me at Darbyviolins@gmail.com You will have a great time on this trip. We’re flying out of Bangkok on February 27. Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl Johnson Posted January 28, 2019 Report Share Posted January 28, 2019 On 1/26/2019 at 10:49 PM, kevin Prestwich said: I’ve been seeing some really nice rosewood here in Laos. Beautiful stuff. yes, it certainly was when I was there. Much of it may be illegally logged and almost certainly "unethically " logged. Laos and Cambodia have had lots of illegal logging for a number of years now. One of the major rhino horn and ivory smugglers in the world was hiding out in Laos for years https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2018/01/20/a-kingpin-smuggled-ivory-tusks-and-rhino-horns-for-years-police-say-the-suspect-was-finally-caught/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimRobinson Posted January 28, 2019 Report Share Posted January 28, 2019 On 1/27/2019 at 3:49 PM, kevin Prestwich said: We’re headed to Hanoi in 3 days. I’ll definitely try to find this place. Thanks. This is the thread from many years ago about the only maker I could track down then: Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Beard Posted January 28, 2019 Report Share Posted January 28, 2019 Obviously, the violin doen't originate in Southeast Asia. So the only materials would be secondary ones that worked their way into luthiery in later times. The Old Italian Materia for the arts did include many imported items, but these were more from Greece, North Africa, the Near East, and India. Would be interesting to know when goods from Southeast Asia became more common in Northern Europe. You might find some of the items that historically came through India. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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