#1
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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 ? |
#2
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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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#3
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Softer than cedar?
That’s a no from me then.... |
#4
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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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(insert famous quote here) |
#5
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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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#6
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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. |
#7
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__________________
Still crazy after all these years. |
#8
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Quote:
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#9
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Then my balsa guitar is out then?
__________________
Fred |
#10
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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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#11
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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:
__________________
(insert famous quote here) |
#12
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Here is an excellent video of a Paulownia/Cocobolo Talus.
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(insert famous quote here) |