Build thread a Quilted Maple SJ for J-F-C by Tellier Guitars

Originally Posted by tbeltrans

Though I have been playing guitar for many years, I really don't know much about the building side of it at all (i.e. woods, bracing, etc.). So I am curious - what is the difference between quilted and flamed maple? I really don't see people making this distinction, but McPherson seems to on their site. Do these comes from different tree types of maple, different parts of the same tree? Do these types of wood sound different or is the difference purely cosmetic? McPherson charges a bit more for flamed maple. Is this arbitrary or based on some real factors?

Thanks,

Tony

Flamed:


Quilted:


Hopefully the differences are obvious without verbal description

[tbeltrans]

Yes, I have seen the differences, but I don't know if the two woods sound different, whether they come from different parts of the same tree, etc. Why would one be more expensive than the other?

By the way, the top picture is what my guitar looks like.

Tony

[J-F C]

Originally Posted by tbeltrans

Yes, I have seen the differences, but I don't know if the two woods sound different, whether they come from different parts of the same tree, etc. Why would one be more expensive than the other?

By the way, the top picture is what my guitar looks like.

Tony

"The makers of other instruments are probably glad that not many flattop guitars are made of maple, which leaves the supply of good stuff for them. Maple sort of proves my point about tonewood. Quilted maple is soft and floppy. Bird's-eye maple is very hard and stiff. Flame maple can cover the whole gamut. Yet guitarists believe that all maple sounds the same, which goes against the rules they have set up for rosewood and mahogany. Go figure. Figured maple can put up a fight when bent and might ripple badly across the grain. It's also very abrasion-resistant, which makes it difficult to sand out scratches. Blond guitars can be hard to sell if they aren't shaped like a Gibson jumbo. Pretty maple can often by found at the lumberyard, which makes it a bargain guitar wood if you have the means to resaw it."


Quote taken from http://www.guitarnation.com/articles/calkin.htm

[fetellier]

Yes, I have seen the differences, but I don't know if the two woods sound different, whether they come from different parts of the same tree, etc. Why would one be more expensive than the other?

Quilted maple is only found about 10% as often as other figured maples and can be much more difficult to build with being it is not quarter sawn.

The scarcity and workability issues cause the prices to be higher

I have been looking for another set to replace this one in my wood collection and have found nothing even close to this set in colour, figure depth and even distribution of the figure.

Fred

[tbeltrans]

Originally Posted by J-F C

"The makers of other instruments are probably glad that not many flattop guitars are made of maple, which leaves the supply of good stuff for them. Maple sort of proves my point about tonewood. Quilted maple is soft and floppy. Bird's-eye maple is very hard and stiff. Flame maple can cover the whole gamut. Yet guitarists believe that all maple sounds the same, which goes against the rules they have set up for rosewood and mahogany. Go figure. Figured maple can put up a fight when bent and might ripple badly across the grain. It's also very abrasion-resistant, which makes it difficult to sand out scratches. Blond guitars can be hard to sell if they aren't shaped like a Gibson jumbo. Pretty maple can often by found at the lumberyard, which makes it a bargain guitar wood if you have the means to resaw it."


Quote taken from http://www.guitarnation.com/articles/calkin.htm

From what I typically read in forums regarding maple, it does seem that we lump maple together as simply "maple", while making very intricate distinctions about rosewoods. I don't know why that is, but the fact that there are different types of maple used to build guitars is the reason I am asking these questions.

Just as players go on and on about the differences in the sonic properties of rosewoods, I am asking about these types of differences in different types of maple. So far, nobody has commented on this, so until this information is laid out, I suspect we will continue to believe that "all maples sound the same". Is there a sonic difference between quilted and flamed maple? If so, can this difference be characterized? Can different maples be characterized as rosewoods seem to be?

Thanks,

Tony

[J-F C]

Originally Posted by tbeltrans

From what I typically read in forums regarding maple, it does seem that we lump maple together as simply "maple", while making very intricate distinctions about rosewoods.

One simple explanation for this is the fact that there is so few guitars that are maple built vs rosewood or mahogany.

Hope this might bring something to adress your questions. An old thread.

http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/f...p/t-24915.html

I think that, after all that being said, Fred's work will probably be of a most important factor in the overall tone of the guitar.




JF C

[tbeltrans]

JF C:

Thanks for that thread link. It is quite interesting to read, and seems to concur with what I see now on the McPherson page where they are describing woods (it seems the flamed and quilted maple are the same price, and less expensive than the rosewoods):

Flamed Maple is a stiff and stable tonewood with a loud and bright voice. Highly reflective, Flamed Maple balances a tight crisp high end with warm lows.

Sometimes referred to as "Big Leaf" Maple, Quilted Maple is generally softer than Flamed Maple. Quilted Maple's tone is therefore slightly warmer and darker.

Engelmann Spruce ($300)

Light in color with a rich, complex tone. This wood best suits a more gentle touch. Great for fingerpicking with warm bass and complex overtones.

Your comment that the builder is probably the most important factor, I strongly agree with. My earlier comments about the guitar being "done right" were exactly about that factor. Of the 7 or 8 different McPhersons I have had the pleasure to play, I like mine best. Whatever McPherson does with their bracing and building, it seems to work well with those woods. I don't know much about custom builders, but I would think a skilled builder would bring out the best in whatever tone woods were being used. When I purchased my McPherson, I really did not know anything about the builder. I simply really liked the instrument I was playing, and knew it would haunt me as the one that got away if I didn't buy it. It was at The Podium when they were in the process of shutting down and not yet knowing if they would reopen somewhere else. I wanted the best guitar I could get as a reminder of all the years I had done business and been friends with those people. Later, I found out that McPhersons are rather controversial here, but are considered fine instruments overall.

I have to play an instrument to know whether it is right for me, so I would most likely not be particularly comfortable trying to guess at what I would like from a builder before it is built. I am sure that is my loss, since there are so many fine builders around these days. I am sure Fred will do a fine job and you will have a wonderful lifetime instrument.

Thanks,

Tony

[fetellier]

Finally an update on J-F-C's guitar. The box is now closed and the binding is bent. Here are a few more photos.















Thanks for looking
Fred

[J-F C]

This is a Merry Christmas !

Pics of my guitar are a great gift this morning

These back and sides are quite something. Fred told me he was at the right place as far as the top and tone are concerned ; 2014 is going to be a great year !


JF C

[J-F C]

Fred forgot to post this one...

[J-F C]

Originally Posted by theEdwinson

I'm curious: What do you have in mind for the finish? Are you going to do a natural clear coat, or a shaded finish, or a burst?

We are going with a natural clear coat to keep the maple as pale as possible, and have the aesthetics based on the contrast of ebony binding, armrest, bridge, board etc.

The englemann is also very pale and is part of that contrast.

[fetellier]

I finally completed the binding on the Maple guitar and got some pictures taken.

The maple is ready for final sanding and the top will have the shellac sanded off once the neck set and bridge location are completed.















Thanks for looking
Fred

Wow! Striking.

[J-F C]

Isn't that a beauty ?

The excitment is building at the same pace as the guitar

[mikealpine]

I'm a big fan of contrasting colors, and the dark bevel against the creamy white top and sides...the whole look is just beautiful!!