Gibson matched their commitment to legendary quality & sound with their commitment to the environment in their SmartWood line of Guitars. The Les Paul SmartWood Guitars are made from the worlds most beautiful and desirable wood, all harvested from managed renewable forests and certified by the Rainforest Alliance. These models are all backed in Mahogany and topped with the following wood (pictured above from left to right): Ambay Guasu, Banara, Curupay, Peroba & Muira Piranga. The result, killer guitars that are easy on the eyes, ears and planet. Rock out with your Green side!
I love these, I’ve played a few but am trying to locate a Banara smartwood. I’ve read that the scientists may have inadvertantly introduced some errors in counting the population of Banara wood available, and that’s what lead to Gibson producing these particular instruments in such small qauntities. I’ve read some journals, with various latin names ascribed to the different species of Banara I believe they were available in much lower numbers, as few as six felled trees by one account, than any of the others. I guess that would make a Banara Smartwood Gibson among the rarest of all Les Paul guitars made.