[catfish]

Originally Posted by AndrewG

Russia, they have millions of acres of birch forest!
https://media.gettyimages.com/photos...daur6804000112

I checked the web sites of the companies who sell tonewood for musical instruments in Russia, none of them carry birch. And, I did not see modern instruments made in Russia made of birch, they use maple for b&s instead, even for balalaika. Globalization.