Does a all "cedar" weissenborn sound's good?

Vindellama · #1 06-11-2017, 07:58 AM

Hi there!
I came by this interesting piece for sale in my country (where weissenborns are usually rare and expensive), from a luthier of the state.
Suposedly it is made in all cedar.
I'm really interested because of the low price.
But i don't want to spend any money on a 2 hour travel to get it, if it sounds bad.
Any ideas?

Vindellama · #2 06-11-2017, 08:03 AM

forgot the link
http://produto.mercadolivre.com.br/M...no-luthier-_JM

tdq · #3 06-13-2017, 04:25 AM

I have a walnut/alpine spruce Weissenborn that I enjoy, although it's not my main instrument so perhaps I'm not the best one to get an opinion from. It was made in Italy so a bit closer than a US made instrument, at least! There is a weissenborn players group at the reso hangout that you could try, although it's not exactly a high traffic group.

http://www.resohangout.com/group/weissenbornplayers

Silly Moustache · #4 06-13-2017, 04:45 AM

Hi, mine is a locally made all mahogany and sounds great to me and to others (so I'm told) but is not remarkably loud.

Cedar as a top is perfectly acceptable - tends (I think) to be a little warmer than spruce.

I've not met an all cedar guitar but see no reason why not.

If it sounds good to you and the price is right - buy it.

Ask the seller to send you some videos/sound recordings?

printer2 · #5 06-13-2017, 04:39 PM

I can not speak of weissenborn guitars but can say that I have made all softwood guitars and they sound fine to me. But then again I might be biased.

dekutree64 · #6 06-14-2017, 07:46 PM

All depends on the skill of the luthier. I've never personally played a Spanish cedar soundboard, but as far as average density/stiffness is concerned, it should be one of the best hardwoods for soundboards. Better than mahogany or koa.

Rob Anderlik · #7 06-15-2017, 08:03 AM

without hearing and playing the guitar for yourself I'd say it's a little difficult to say. In general, however, I would expect an all cedar guitar - Weissenborn or otherwise - to be a very warm sounding instrument, but it's also very likely to be lacking in projection and volume. Cedar is an exceptionally soft wood and easy to damage.

Vindellama · #8 06-17-2017, 08:56 AM

Thx for the replies!
I went and bought the darn thing, haha.
As expected for a low end weissenborn there are some minor issues, and a seriously poor "money-saving" choice made by the guy who built it.
But low end quality issues aside...
It seems stable enough, and is extremely light and easy to play, which can't be said about my also low end bottleneck reso. Which is why i wanted to buy one in the first place.
Maybe in a few years and several songs later I can justify upgrading to a high end one that costs 5 to 10 times more.

And a little sample video taken by phone, currently with regular light pb acoustic guitar strings tuned to open c (Also accepting suggestions about strings capable of handling open C, G, Dm. Maybe regular mediums or heavy tuned down 2 steps?):
https://www.instagram.com/p/BVcbmkaH5tW/

H2O · #9 06-19-2017, 09:35 AM

Hi there Vindellama,

Congrats on your new purchase. That's an interesting looking Weissenborn style guitar you picked up. What are some of the cost saving choices/issues with it that you referenced?

I have been stringing my Bear Creek with Martin PB Medium strings and have found it able to handle open C (CGCGCE), D/Dm, and G (taro patch) just fine.

Enjoy man, they are fun and interesting instruments!

EDIT: By the way I am having trouble accessing your link.

mstuartev · #10 06-19-2017, 11:00 AM

John Pearse makes excellent weissenborn specific string sets
Something with a 60 on the low end and mid-upper teens on the treble side will drive the top good.
http://www.juststrings.com/jps-3160l.html
I play in D and G and C on a baritone Weiss
if you go C6, you must get much lighter strings

Open C is more for a baritone weiss