#1
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Monterey Cypress
Any opinions on Monterey Cypress for steel string guitars? I see a lot of references to classicals, but very few for steel strings. The local candy store has a big stack of very impressive, birdseye Monterey Cypress that had my full attention for awhile yesterday...
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#2
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You are talking back and sides, right?
Commonly used for flamencos; almost never for classicals or steel strings. A traditional flamenco guitar is a very specialized instrument--it is all about a quick, loud, percussive attack.
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"Still a man hears what he wants to hear, and disregards the rest." --Paul Simon |
#3
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Yes, back and sides, absolutely. Thanks for the info!
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#4
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A nice piece of cypress can also have a lovely resonant tone.
I owned the Cordoba FCWE Reissue which had Cypress Back and Sides. In addition to having a great flamenco tone, it also had one of the best classical tones I ever heard. Insanely loud. I would be practicing in my office/studio at the music store I used to teach at with the acoustically treated doors closed, and the clerks would have to come and repeatedly ask me to play quieter. So, I know that doesn't solve the steel-string question, but yes you can get a sweet tone out of cypress as well. |
#5
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Monteray Cypress
As I understand it, Monterary will sound essentially the same as Spanish Cypress. Though a softwood by definition,; it is harder than some hardwoods. If the Monteray is a straight tree, it should make a good guitar. Most of them are crooked, buffeted by ocean winds, and tend to warp and crack because of this.
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#6
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I think Monterey Cypress is fairly common for lower end Mexican made Flamenco guitars.
I have one and it's a great sounding guitar. I remember asking a respected European flamenco luthier to the differences between Spanish and Monterey and he said there wasn't enough to mention. |