Quilted Sapele OM for TAMCO

[Harmonist34]

Man - that's just a beautiful instrument. I love quilted sapele, and I've hoarded quite a lot. As you and others have noted, it does vary quite a bit in color/figure/properties.

This set's figure is my favorite kind - the really vein-y stuff. Definitely one of the best you'll ever see!

Nicely done.

If you don't mind asking - did you source this set way back when the stuff first appeared on the market, or did you buy it recently?

[Steve Kinnaird]

Thank you, Andrew, I appreciate the kind word.
No I don't mind your asking. One of our dealers, Danny Brevard, had that set. If memory serves, he obtained it from LMI. He had it for some time, and then it's been in my stash for a few years. So it does go back a ways, though both of us missed its initial entrance into the market.
If you have been hoarding this, then you really have something!

Steve

[Harmonist34]

I wondered if it wasn't one of the original LMI sets. They had the best I've seen, but they should have been great for the $650/set they were charging 10 years ago!

Thank you. As I'm sure you would expect, I've only got a few in this class, but even the "lesser" quilted sapele sets tend to have better figure than all but the very best figured Honduran.

What an awesome guitar - very nice work.

[TomB'sox]

Hello Richard,

Just wondering if you had any more updates after living with this new found beauty for a week or so?

[Welshboy]

Originally Posted by TomB'sox

Hello Richard,

Just wondering if you had any more updates after living with this new found beauty for a week or so?

Hi all

Apologies for the delay, but I've been travelling with work pretty much constantly since I received the guitar.
Firstly, let me say that it looks even better in the flesh (or wood?!) than it does in the photographs. I am so pleased with this guitar. A little while ago, I took delivery of a wonderful Baranik black and blue Meridien. These two guitars complement each other wonderfully and I'm so fortunate to own them.

The Kinnaird OM is superb. It retains the balance of a typical OM, with a slightly stronger, fuller bass. It's a really articulate finger picker and the strummed sound is just about the best I've heard from an OM. It's an incredibly versatile instrument. The custom nut width and scale length are perfect for me and the build quality is flawless. The materials are superb and I love the silver inlay. It was a great idea of Steve's and I'd definitely want something similar on my next order.

Any UK forum members are welcome to try it out some time.

[Steve Kinnaird]

Richard, we are pleased more than we can say, that you are happy with the guitar. And thank you for the glowing report...wow! That it can respond to fingerpicking as well as strumming is a testament to the fine design of the OM. So kudos to Martin for yet another design worth copying.
And a round of applause for the mighty Sitka tree! I was tempted to say "lowly", but it need not stand in the hallway with hat in hand. We have been consistently pleased with the voice of Sitka, and the bearclaw figure is icing on the cake.
Glad you like it too!

Steve

[guitarman001]

Originally Posted by Steve Kinnaird

This is my first chance to work with Sapele in its quilted form.
Previous guitars used straight, ribbon-grained sets. Visually quite different, and we'll see about tonally. This set seemed a little softer than other Sapele I've worked...a feel not dissimilar to Big Leaf maple. The box *thumps* with a promising response, and I'm anxious to hear what differences there might be.
Also, first deep-bodied OM in this fine material. I love working with customers who push you into uncharted waters!

Steve

I have a few questions regarding this if you would be so kind to answer....

- Any tonal differences between regular straight-grain quartersawn ... and quilted flatsawn sapele?
--> I have heard conflicting descriptions for quilted - some say brighter, some say warmer (Taylor says warmer). As long as it retains the treble shimmer....
- Any worry re cracking with flatsawn quilted sapele?
- Do you prefer a specific top for sapele (lutz, engelmann, sitka?)


Thanks so much and amazing guitar.
And FYI I think sipo would also be a great wood, being closely related to sipo and sitting between sapele and cuban mahogany re weight & hardness.

[Steve Kinnaird]

Originally Posted by guitarman001

I have a few questions regarding this if you would be so kind to answer....

- Any tonal differences between regular straight-grain quartersawn ... and quilted flatsawn sapele?
--> I have heard conflicting descriptions for quilted - some say brighter, some say warmer (Taylor says warmer). As long as it retains the treble shimmer....
- Any worry re cracking with flatsawn quilted sapele?
- Do you prefer a specific top for sapele (lutz, engelmann, sitka?)


Thanks so much and amazing guitar.
And FYI I think sipo would also be a great wood, being closely related to sipo and sitting between sapele and cuban mahogany re weight & hardness.

Hi Guitarman001, thanks for the kind word. I marveled that this thread was revived from the annals of yore, but it helped me relive a pleasant project, so my thanks for that. Of course, I also had to relive the Photobucket debacle, but we takes the bad with the good, aye?
So, quilted Sapele v. straight-grained—I’m not one to speak categorically on such things. I believe each piece should be considered for its own strengths. For instance, we recently finished a guitar with quarter sawn straight grained Sapele, which sounds differently from the guitar of this post. (If I can successfully remember back that far!)
I would be more inclined to judge by the stiffness and density of the piece in question. For instance, this quilted Sapele was on the softer, lighter side, whereas our recent guitar used Sapele quite stiff and noticeably heavier. Sound differently? Yes. But also, one guitar was an OM with Sitka top, the other a dread with Adirondack. So what can you say? And what REALLY are you hearing in those different models? I think you’d be hard pressed listening to the two, back to back, (blindfolded, let’s say) and then remark “Yep…that’s quilted for ya”.

Am I worried about cracking? Richard takes good care of his guitars, and lives in a region blessed by the sea’s humidity so I’m not worried. By nature quarter sawn wood is more stable, but as I say, I’m not worried about this one. Now, if the client lived in Arizona…..

I don’t have a favored top for Sapele. Every species you named can make a wonderful instrument. I would rather approach the choice by asking what sort of sound the customer is looking for, and what type of guitar it is desired to be? (Flat-picker, finger style, etc.)

Hope these thoughts make sense,

Steve

[guitarman001]

Originally Posted by Steve Kinnaird

Hi Guitarman001, thanks for the kind word. I marveled that this thread was revived from the annals of yore, but it helped me relive a pleasant project, so my thanks for that. Of course, I also had to relive the Photobucket debacle, but we takes the bad with the good, aye?
So, quilted Sapele v. straight-grained—I’m not one to speak categorically on such things. I believe each piece should be considered for its own strengths. For instance, we recently finished a guitar with quarter sawn straight grained Sapele, which sounds differently from the guitar of this post. (If I can successfully remember back that far!)
I would be more inclined to judge by the stiffness and density of the piece in question. For instance, this quilted Sapele was on the softer, lighter side, whereas our recent guitar used Sapele quite stiff and noticeably heavier. Sound differently? Yes. But also, one guitar was an OM with Sitka top, the other a dread with Adirondack. So what can you say? And what REALLY are you hearing in those different models? I think you’d be hard pressed listening to the two, back to back, (blindfolded, let’s say) and then remark “Yep…that’s quilted for ya”.

Am I worried about cracking? Richard takes good care of his guitars, and lives in a region blessed by the sea’s humidity so I’m not worried. By nature quarter sawn wood is more stable, but as I say, I’m not worried about this one. Now, if the client lived in Arizona…..

I don’t have a favored top for Sapele. Every species you named can make a wonderful instrument. I would rather approach the choice by asking what sort of sound the customer is looking for, and what type of guitar it is desired to be? (Flat-picker, finger style, etc.)

Hope these thoughts make sense,

Steve

Hi Steve -

Yes, a truly stunning guitar... bravo, sir!

I have to say, you have such great input on this forum, and your YouTube videos are fantastic.

I wonder if the softer sapele sounded warmer whilst also, critically, retaining the sweet shimmer in the trebles. That is really what I am after. So really, it's down to the particular piece of wood with no universally confirmed tonal difference between a quilted vs straight grain piece of wood.

I have to say that I find bog standard sapele a very striking wood. I like the stripes but even the wood itself seems to shimmer when looked at, at least with mine which seems to have some sort of silking going on which gives it a near 3D effect.

I tend to both strum and fingerpick so I always have a tough time choosing top wood!

Thanks for replying and rock on with the guitars (and aye, I'm Scottish lol - hopefully you have visited and partaken of a whisky!)

[Steve Kinnaird]

Originally Posted by guitarman001

Hi Steve -
Yes, a truly stunning guitar... bravo, sir!
I have to say, you have such great input on this forum, and your YouTube videos are fantastic.
I wonder if the softer sapele sounded warmer whilst also, critically, retaining the sweet shimmer in the trebles. That is really what I am after. So really, it's down to the particular piece of wood with no universally confirmed tonal difference between a quilted vs straight grain piece of wood.
I have to say that I find bog standard sapele a very striking wood. I like the stripes but even the wood itself seems to shimmer when looked at, at least with mine which seems to have some sort of silking going on which gives it a near 3D effect.
I tend to both strum and fingerpick so I always have a tough time choosing top wood!
Thanks for replying and rock on with the guitars (and aye, I'm Scottish lol - hopefully you have visited and partaken of a whisky!)

Again, many thanks for the very kind words. And yes indeed, we have visited bonnie Scotland 3 times. Wonderful trips! Your home is magical, and if I could afford it, I’d set up shop near Pitlochry. Or maybe Ullapool…or Fort William…and since I’m dreaming, Fort Augustus could use a luthier also. One from Texas, that is.

If you’re looking for a do-it-all top wood, and are toying with the idea of another guitar, you might look into Lutz spruce, or at least ask your luthier to do so. I think you would be pleased with the results.

Thanks again,

Steve

[guitarman001]

Credit where it's due!

Amazing - glad you have enjoyed your trips here

Yeah I've been recommended lutz. Just now trying to decide between sapele & Honduran - first world problems...

Cheers