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  #1  
Old 01-13-2017, 05:53 AM
Quickstep192 Quickstep192 is offline
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Default Giant Sequoia Falls

You may have seen that the Pioneer Cabin Tree in California fell in a recent storm.

http://www.today.com/money/pioneer-c...fornia-t106860

I wonder how many guitar tops there might be in there.
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Old 01-13-2017, 10:35 AM
tahoeguitar tahoeguitar is offline
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I'm not aware if sequoia is used for tops? It's not the same species as redwood. I wouldn't mind getting a few chunks and trying it out.... Anybody have any experience building with it?

here's a link with a little more info on the tree.

news story link
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Old 01-13-2017, 08:00 PM
Fleetingthought Fleetingthought is offline
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I carved an archtop sound board out of an old stump cut piece (supposedly from a tree that was logged in the early 20th century) about 10 years ago, my particular piece carved somewhere between hard cedar and soft spruce. I do remember it was a pleasing experience working with it but to aggressive an attack with the finger plane tended to tear the wood instead of cutting. The guitar makes warm buttery notes but not a lot of distinction between notes. I've still got half the piece left that would do another archtop or several flat tops with.

Tom
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Old 01-13-2017, 09:25 PM
runamuck runamuck is offline
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I bought a billet of Sequoia from a tree that had blown down in the Sierras that was said to be about 2500 years old. It was very pink at first, darkening up as it oxidized, and was no where stiff enough for guitar making.
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Old 01-13-2017, 09:38 PM
Otterhound Otterhound is offline
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Was anyone there to know if it made noise ?
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Old 01-13-2017, 11:16 PM
tahoeguitar tahoeguitar is offline
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I'll bet that was a tremendous noise.
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Old 01-14-2017, 12:33 AM
Earl49 Earl49 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Otterhound View Post
Was anyone there to know if it made noise ?
Speaking as an acoustical engineer, the official answer is "yes".
The tree fell and disturbed the air around it, thus creating sound waves. Whether anyone was nearby to hear it is a different issue.
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Old 01-14-2017, 12:37 AM
dekutree64 dekutree64 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by runamuck View Post
I bought a billet of Sequoia from a tree that had blown down in the Sierras that was said to be about 2500 years old. It was very pink at first, darkening up as it oxidized, and was no where stiff enough for guitar making.
Do you still have it and is it for sale?

The sequoia I've handled was softer and lighter than cedar, with color similar to redwood but a bit more pink. Very interesting wood.
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Old 01-14-2017, 03:20 AM
Howard Klepper Howard Klepper is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Otterhound View Post
Was anyone there to know if it made noise ?
According to Bishop Berkeley, God was.
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Old 01-14-2017, 09:56 AM
runamuck runamuck is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dekutree64 View Post
Do you still have it and is it for sale?

The sequoia I've handled was softer and lighter than cedar, with color similar to redwood but a bit more pink. Very interesting wood.
I don't have any left.
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  #11  
Old 01-14-2017, 05:18 PM
Carbonius Carbonius is offline
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The reporter said, "we don't know why the tree fell down" only 20 seconds after mentioning the very large hollowing out that occurred over 100 years ago. Hmmm.... I bet that that large hollow section right at it's base had something to do with it.
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