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#1
11-08-2023, 01:57 PM
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Madrona Guitars Introduction
Hello,
I would like to introduce myself and my guitars. My name is Joe Whitman, I have been building guitars since 2014 in Whatcom County, Washington. I’ve also been a daily visitor to this forum for almost as long, quietly in the background soaking in all the amazing work that is posted here! You can find my bio on my website madronaguitars.com. I work as a one-man shop where I design and build my guitars by hand. Currently I am working on two spec guitars that I will be displaying at the La Conner Guitar Festival in the spring. I plan on posting build updates along the way. Thanks for letting me share. Here are some images of my last guitar build. It is my Vendovi OM size in Claro Walnut and sinker Cedar. 
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#2
11-08-2023, 04:40 PM
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Beautiful! I like the body shape - different but in a simple way. And the non-glitzy aesthetic is great and lets the beauty of the natural material speak for itself. Haven't gone to the website yet but will next. Nice work and thanks for sponsoring the forum!
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#4
11-08-2023, 04:59 PM
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Yowzah--beautiful guitar! Thanks for sharing and for your sponsorship!
__________________
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)
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#5
11-09-2023, 03:40 PM
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Thanks everyone! I'm excited to share my guitars here! This forum is such an inspiring place to visit.
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#6
11-10-2023, 01:28 AM
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That’s a very nice guitar Joe, thanks for sharing it with us. Normally I think sinker redwood looks strange but the way you have used it makes it look just right. Great choice of woods and colours.
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#7
11-10-2023, 10:55 AM
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Madrona Guitars Introduction
Quote:
Thanks Colins! I started calling this guitar “stripes” as it came together. It just seemed that each part needed some kind of stripe to match the top set. I found this top wood in a stack at a local wood supplier who has an old stash from a luthier he knew probably back in the 80’s. It had a bad water mark across the top but I thought I would give it a chance. After I ran it through my sander I was glad I did. When I handed this guitar to a musician friend the first thing he said was wow it’s so light! It really has some punch and a nice sustain. IMG_3206.jpg Last edited by Joe Whitman; 11-10-2023 at 02:32 PM.
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#8
11-10-2023, 03:25 PM
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Nice work Joe! Your brand name got me thinking - has anyone used madrona wood in luthiery I wonder?
So many of our other PNW woods work so well; WRC, Sitka spruce, Engellman, Big Leaf Maple, myrtle....
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#9
11-10-2023, 04:33 PM
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Quote:
I’d be curious to know as well. In my research in using it in the name I didn’t find much in the way of guitars. I hear it can be a brittle wood. Only recently I have seen it available at a local hardwood supplier. The way they grow I would be concerned they may contain a lot of tension when cut. For me the Madrona is such an icon of the PNW, where I grew up. I love the way they stand out in the forest. Hopefully my guitars can do the same [emoji3]  Has anyone out there used Madrona in a guitar?
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#10
11-10-2023, 08:36 PM
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I have a madrona back and sides parlor with a European spruce top. There have been no problems with the back and sides. The guitar is I think 7 years old or so.
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#11
11-11-2023, 10:06 AM
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Quote:
That’s great to hear! How’s it sound? I might need to keep a lookout for a set of Madrona.
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#12
11-12-2023, 09:56 PM
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Quote:
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#13
11-13-2023, 05:15 PM
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Quote:
Thanks for sharing! That’s one thing I really love about building guitars, is the variety of woods to choose from, and how they each bring different aspects to the overall sound and experience.
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| Tags |
| claro walnut, handmade guitar, om size |
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