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#1
09-14-2020, 10:16 PM
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Mesquite as a tonewood?
Hello,
What are the thoughts of the luthiers here on mesquite as a tonewood? Thanks.
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Martin OM28 (European Spruce/EIR) Collings OM3A (Adirondack/EIR) Greven OOO (Lutz/Brazilian) Greven OO (Lutz/Maple) ARK Senorita S6-12 (Adirondack/Mahogany) Circa OOO-12 (European Spruce/Mun Ebony) 
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#2
09-14-2020, 10:40 PM
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I know it’s extremely hard and dense. Might make a good bridge or fingerboard. Never seen a piece wide enough to make back or side plates, at least here in California.
Edit: Sorry, in my dazed and confused state of mind I was thinking manzanita, not madrone. Only ever used that in the charcoal state.
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BradHall _____________________ Last edited by BradHall; 09-15-2020 at 06:29 AM.
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#3
09-15-2020, 07:20 AM
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I've used it for FB's and bridges but have never seen quarter sawn sets large enough for a steel string guitar.
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#4
09-15-2020, 08:21 AM
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I have a Pawless Mesquite Special. Vince Pawless found mesquite large enough to quarter saw for 2 piece backs. IIRC, he had enough for 6 guitars, this is #3 of the 6 (IIRC without checking the label). I had him make the fingerboard from mesquite as well, although if I had the choice again I'd probably go with ebony.
Brad [IMG]  [/IMG]
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Guild F212: 1964 (Hoboken), Guild Mark V: 1975 (Westerly), Guild Artist Award: 1975 (Westerly), Guild F50: 1976 (Westerly), Guild F512: 2010 (New Hartford), Pawless Mesquite Special: 2012, 90s Epi HR Custom (Samick), 2014 Guild OOO 12-fret Orpheum (New Hartford), 2013 12 fret Orpheum Dread (New Hartford), Guild BT258E, 8 string baritone, 1994 Guild D55, Westerly, 2023 Cordoba GK Negra Pro. Last edited by brad4d8; 09-15-2020 at 08:36 AM.
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#5
09-15-2020, 08:34 AM
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Here it is in action:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z729pI0L6iQ
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Guild F212: 1964 (Hoboken), Guild Mark V: 1975 (Westerly), Guild Artist Award: 1975 (Westerly), Guild F50: 1976 (Westerly), Guild F512: 2010 (New Hartford), Pawless Mesquite Special: 2012, 90s Epi HR Custom (Samick), 2014 Guild OOO 12-fret Orpheum (New Hartford), 2013 12 fret Orpheum Dread (New Hartford), Guild BT258E, 8 string baritone, 1994 Guild D55, Westerly, 2023 Cordoba GK Negra Pro.
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#6
09-15-2020, 09:17 AM
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I have not seen it in a guitar, but in Texas have seen many slabs wide enough for a guitar. In fact I saw one that was close to 5 feet and was going to buy it to build a live edge dining room table, it would have been quite awesome I believe, but the timing and price were not right. It is really cool wood.
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PS. I love guitars!
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#7
09-15-2020, 09:55 AM
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Quote:
Also, if it'd be used as charcoal, could the guitar be advertised as torrefied to the supreme degree? OK, back to a serious discussion now.
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----------------------------------- Creator of The Parlando Project Guitars: 20th Century Seagull S6-12, S6 Folk, Seagull M6; '00 Guild JF30-12, '01 Martin 00-15, '16 Martin 000-17, '07 Parkwood PW510, Epiphone Biscuit resonator, Merlin Dulcimer, and various electric guitars, basses....
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#8
09-15-2020, 11:23 AM
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My generous brother--bless him--gave me a set of not only quartered Mesquite, but curly as well. It is beautiful. Not extremely large, but big enough for an OM.
It IS hard, and also stable. And what music must lurk within? Afterall, in its native growing range it has "been to hell and back" as the saying goes. One of these years we will build with that set and report back. Steve
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#10
09-15-2020, 12:17 PM
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But you know, if you get frustrated with a mesquite guitar you can always use it to smoke a steak.
Bob
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"It is said, 'Go not to the elves for counsel for they will say both no and yes.' " Frodo Baggins to Gildor Inglorion, The Fellowship of the Ring THE MUSICIAN'S ROOM (my website)
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#11
09-15-2020, 09:16 PM
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Bill Burke, a maker out of Flagstaff, has used it a number of times.
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The Bard Rocks Fay OM Sinker Redwood/Tiger Myrtle Sexauer L00 Adk/Magnolia For Sale Hatcher Jumbo Bearclaw/"Bacon" Padauk Goodall Jumbo POC/flamed Mahogany Appollonio 12 POC/Myrtle MJ Franks Resonator, all Australian Blackwood Blackbird "Lucky 13" - carbon fiber '31 National Duolian + many other stringed instruments.
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#12
09-16-2020, 06:05 AM
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My first thought when I saw the thread was to wonder if there was any mesquite big enough. Brad answered that one.
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Bill Guitars: 1910's Larson/Stetson 1 size guitar 1920 Martin 1-28 1987 Martin Schoenberg Soloist 2006 Froggy Bottom H-12 Deluxe 2016 Froggy Bottom L Deluxe 2021 Blazer and Henkes 000-18 H 2015 Rainsong P12 2017 Probett Rocket III 2006 Sadowsky Semi Hollow 1993 Fender Stratocaster Bass: 1993 Sadowsky NYC 5 String Mandolin: Weber Bitterroot
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#13
09-17-2020, 09:45 PM
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Steve Kinnaird pics
Steve K and Ryan have pics of a very nice looking set of mesquite on their current thread.
Worth a trip over to check it out! Cheers Paul
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4 John Kinnaird SS 12c CUSTOMS: Big Maple/WRC Dread(ish) Jumbo Spanish Cedar/WRC Jumbo OLD Brazilian RW/WRC Big Tunnel 14 RW/Bubinga Dread(ish) R.T 2 12c sinker RW/Claro 96 422ce bought new! 96 LKSM 12 552ce 12x12 J. Stepick Bari Weissy WRC/Walnut More
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#14
09-18-2020, 09:46 AM
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Mesquite as a tonewood?
I have been trying to find examples of mesquite acoustic guitars and have found the following:
Luthier Bill Burke https://vimeo.com/38178115?ref=em-share Luthier Charlie Hoffman https://youtu.be/HkRTpxxiusw
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Martin OM28 (European Spruce/EIR) Collings OM3A (Adirondack/EIR) Greven OOO (Lutz/Brazilian) Greven OO (Lutz/Maple) ARK Senorita S6-12 (Adirondack/Mahogany) Circa OOO-12 (European Spruce/Mun Ebony)
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