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  #1  
Old 02-12-2018, 10:04 PM
Racerbob Racerbob is online now
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Default paulownia for top question

I'm looking at a custom build and was leaning toward Cedar or maybe even Redwood but the builder suggested using Paulownia in place of Cedar. I don't have any experience with the wood in person. I know it is supposed to be very stiff to weight but softer than Cedar.

So those who have experience with it, how do you compare it tonewise to Cedar ?
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Old 02-12-2018, 11:11 PM
runamuck runamuck is offline
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Tap a piece for yourself. All the paulownia I've had my hands on has been acoustically dead.
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Old 02-13-2018, 12:23 AM
DamianL DamianL is offline
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Softer than cedar?

That’s a no from me then....
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Old 02-13-2018, 12:44 AM
Jeff Scott Jeff Scott is offline
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My paulownia topped guitar is the finest sounding guitar I have played; YMMV. I was considering an all paulownia guitar but, in the end, after discussing the various differences between woods with the luthier I ended up with a guitar that has cocobolo B&S with the paulownia top. Truly wonderful for fingerstyle and the occasional strumming I do, and it is a loud guitar when needed to be and it doesn't breakup or choke out doing so.

I say, go for it.
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Old 02-13-2018, 12:54 AM
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That’s the Tony Yamamoto special right there. Tony has been using paulownia for a few years to great success. It has a specific look and certainly (at least in Tony’s hands) it sounds great. There should be some examples to check out on the Might Fine Guitars website.
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Old 02-13-2018, 08:10 AM
redir redir is offline
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I've been wanting to try paulownia for a long time now ever since I met a mountain dulcimer builder in North Carolina who said it's his favorite top wood and that in fact when customers come into his shop and try out dulcimers they are almost all impressed with the paulownia one's. Plus it grows like a weed here in VIrginia.

My only thought is that it might be risky to have one made by a luthier who has never worked with it before. Obviously yours has so that's good.
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Old 02-13-2018, 11:15 AM
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El Conquistador El Conquistador is offline
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Here ya go:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrCxZ_txmRw

Steve
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Old 02-13-2018, 07:40 PM
runamuck runamuck is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by El Conquistador View Post
Jeeze, it sounds great.
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Old 02-13-2018, 09:24 PM
printer2 printer2 is online now
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DamianL View Post
Softer than cedar?

That’s a no from me then....
Then my balsa guitar is out then?
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Old 02-13-2018, 09:47 PM
Racerbob Racerbob is online now
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Appreciate the posts. I'd already searched for any video on line, was hoping someone actually had experience as to how it compares to Cedar. Thanks Jeff Scott. Tony seems about the only one building with it on a regular basis.
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Old 02-14-2018, 12:48 AM
Jeff Scott Jeff Scott is offline
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I totally love everything about my Talus VS-12. This guitar checks all the boxes for me, in tone, feel, comfort. Everything!

Here are some photos of the VS-12:







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  #12  
Old 02-14-2018, 12:54 AM
Jeff Scott Jeff Scott is offline
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Here is an excellent video of a Paulownia/Cocobolo Talus.

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