#1
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Rosewood/Mahogany "tweener" tonewood
Hope it's okay to ask a question of all the luthiers and players here!
I'm considering a custom build. Looking at a 00-size to complement my HD-28. Spruce top for sure. In 00 guitars I've played, I love the ringing overtones of rosewood back/sides, especially for delicate fingerstyle arrangements, but the midrangey woodiness of mahogany suits Travis & flatpicking more. What back/side tonewood do you think is a "tweener" that might have a bit of both? I haven't had the opportunity to play a lot of others. Koa? Maple? Other exotics? Hopefully folks here have more experience with some others they might recommend. Wish I had the money for two guitars, but.... |
#2
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I'd check out oregon myrtlewood or bastogne walnut. I've owned guitars with those tonewoods and always felt like they hit the "tweener" range you're seeking.
Just my 2 cents--YMMV... Good luck in your quest!
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2013 Stehr Auditorium (Carpathian/Myrtle) 2015 Stehr Auditorium (Adi/BRW) 2020 Baranik Meridian (Blue Spruce/Manchinga) 2020 Wilborn Arum (Tunnel 14/Coco) 2021 Kinnaird Graybeard (BC Cedar/Bog Oak) 2022 Kinnaird CS Student Build (Adi/Padauk) 2023 Kinnaird FS (Italian/Koa) |
#3
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Ziricote, Black Walnut, Australian Blackwood....
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#4
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I have made perhaps 45 guitars from Dalbergia tucurensis, which is one of the true rose woods, but MUCH lighter weight that EIR or BRW. It's dominant character is (IMO) that is is forgiving and musical like Mahogany (fun to play), while having more focus and versatility at the same time. I like to say that it is the ideal compromise, especially as it seems to have little to no humidity issues and I cannot recall a single one coming back for repair unless it went through a door sideways. It has been called Honduras Rosewood, Panama Rosewood, and currently Guatemalan Rosewood by Martin who seems to like it as well. Mine came from Belize, so I suppose it has a fairly wide range. I have about 30 more sets.
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#5
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Quote:
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Fazool "The wand chooses the wizard, Mr. Potter" Taylor GC7, GA3-12, SB2-C, SB2-Cp...... Ibanez AVC-11MHx , AC-240 |
#6
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No, D. grenadillo is dense and is more similar to D. retusa (Cocobolo) in its properties than the low density D. tucarensis that Bruce is talking about.
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A bunch of nice archtops, flattops, a gypsy & nylon strings… |
#7
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Honduran Rosewood...
I LOVE my two John Kinnairds. HRW but not as light as the stuff Bruce S is describing...
The Tasmanian Blackwood on the Taylor CS GS I am selling is awfully nice too. Loud, light and aggressive. Walnut is always a good choice, too. Big help I am... haha Remember your Luthier, and the top, and the construction, and the finish, etc. all affect tone tremendously. Have a fun search! Cheers Paul
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3 John Kinnaird SS 12c CUSTOMS: Big Maple/Cedar Dread Jumbo Spanish Cedar/WRC Jumbo OLD Brazilian RW/WRC R.T 2 12c sinker RW/Claro 96 422ce bought new! 96 LKSM 12 552ce 12x12 J. Stepick Bari Weissy WRC/Walnut More |
#8
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After trying more than half a hundred guitars of varying tonewoods, I would say walnut is a good compromise between the two. I currently have two Bastogne Walnut and one Black Walnut which, depending on the top, really hit that "tween" line for me. Redwood over Bastogne Walnut is awesome, especially if you are singing.
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Life is like a box of chocolates .... |
#9
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Of course the guitar, the luthier and the construction are important. I just wanted to have some other ideas/second opinions before the discussion starts. Thanks for everyone's input!
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#10
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Quartersawn oak is another good one.
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#11
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For what you describle (and staying with spruce top), I'd consider Koa and maybe a very dense Cuban Mahogany.
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Chuck 2012 Carruth 12-fret 000 in Pernambuco and Adi 2010 Poling Sierra in Cuban Mahogany and Lutz 2015 Posch 13-fret 00 in Indian Rosewood and Adi |
#12
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I am certainly no expert in guitar building, but I do own 2 guitars with red spruce tops and walnut B&S -- one English Walnut and one Bastogne Walnut. They both sound great and seem like a good compromise to my ear.
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#13
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Movingui rings like rosewood but density is closer to mahogany. I've never played a finished guitar with it, but in raw form it seems like one of the best inbetweens.
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#14
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I have an all-Tasmanian Blackwood and it really is just that bit darker. Cole Clark makes a bunya/blackwood that might suit you but not in a 00 size, it's a 000. I've played Breedlove's all-Myrtlewood 00 at our local guitar shop and loved the sound. They make a 00 with myrtlewood back and sides and spruce top and that one has that bit more zing which it sounds like you're looking for. I'd suggest you try it out.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Martin 000-15M Breedlove Studio Concert 12-string (2014 model) Cole Clark Angel 2 AN2EC-BLBL Gone and not forgotten: Gibson LG1 (1957 model) Norman B15 12-string (2003 model) |
#15
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I'll throw a vote in for Palo Escrito......
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"One small heart, and a great big soul that's driving" |