I took a trip to Valencia last week as that is where we get most of our wood.  I don’t know the history but for years Valencia has been the main port of entry for wood and wood products.  Of course the fact that most of the spanish-made factory guitars come from that general area helps make the wood business a success there.  I attended the Maderalia Trade Fair where I spoke to a few suppliers about veneers and was able to see a some new tools in action and meet the spanish distributors. 

Of course the other motive for my trip (a five hour drive each way) was to choose the wood which I will be using on the guitars I make 15 years from now.  Eveherardo at EAG International has great Indian rosewood and some nice swiss spruce.  I have ordered from him a few times in the past and the rosewood has always been just what I was after.  He just received a shipment of ebony and are cutting it up into fretboards and whatever else instrument-makers are looking for.  I didn’t need anything else this time but he has everything you might want at the warehouse just outside Valencia.