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View Poll Results: Which back and sides wood when paired with spruce top?
Padouk 29 54.72%
Ovankol 9 16.98%
Pau ferro 13 24.53%
Zebrawood 2 3.77%
Voters: 53. You may not vote on this poll

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  #1  
Old 08-10-2017, 04:07 PM
Prizen Prizen is offline
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Default Which of these less common woods for back and sides

Assuming a spruce top on an OM or slightly larger body, what's your preference from this lot?
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Old 08-10-2017, 04:10 PM
TuckerRE TuckerRE is offline
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Default Woods for 200 Points!

I'll take 'Cool Woods' for 200 Points!
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Old 08-10-2017, 04:20 PM
JoeCharter JoeCharter is offline
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If it's my decision I wouldn't take any of them (spruce top or otherwise).
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Old 08-10-2017, 04:21 PM
jaymarsch jaymarsch is offline
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I voted pau ferro because I have played a couple of guitars with spruce and pau ferro and loved the tone of them. They were each from very accomplished builders so I never know truly if it is the wood or the hands that are voicing it and shaping it. It so depends on the tone you are looking for.

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Old 08-10-2017, 05:20 PM
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Padauk is one of the best and most underrated tone woods on the planet. I'd put it up against some of the best BRW in terms of Q and sustain.

Some people are very allergic to Pau Ferro so be careful using it on fret boards and bridges. It's a non issue under a finish.

Zebra wood is very totally similar to mahogany if that is your cup of tea.
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Old 08-10-2017, 05:37 PM
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I voted Padauk as best of the four to go with your Sitka. Pau Ferro is an excellent tone wood as well but it shines better with cedar or Redwood. The other two on average just aren't in the same league IMO.
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Old 08-10-2017, 09:07 PM
The Bard Rocks The Bard Rocks is offline
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Default vote

I went with the Padauk, but I am a little biased. I have great respect for Pau Ferro and Ovangkol, as well.

Incidentally, these woods would not be expected to all come up with similar sounds.
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Old 08-10-2017, 10:09 PM
TuckerRE TuckerRE is offline
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Default Which of these less common woods for back and sides

Quote:
Originally Posted by TuckerRE View Post
I'll take 'Cool Woods' for 200 Points!


OK I'll quit being weird. At least for a moment. I voted (first and) for Padauk because I actually have one. The first and one of only two, I hear, that Richard Hoover (at SCGC) ever built. Was wood I book matched and started to build from and then I awoke to realize I am NOT a luthier and Richard was kind enough (with encouragement from Frank Ford) to build it for me. An early and treasured instrument.
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Martins 00-21, D12-20, D-45S, 000-21 Custom, D-18S (Ditson Ltd Ed)...yada yada...
St. Kinnaird Koa, Af BW, Bubinga, Myrtle, Kauri [Robinson inlay], SR Parlor, RenOvation, Mango Xover, IR/CoBluSpr 00
Santa Cruz Quilt Mah "The Tree" Ltd Ed VA and Padauk Custom F
Collings SJ Braz/Ger, 000-42Koa, UC3 Killer Koa
Jeffrey Yong's Seismic 2011 Japan Earthquake Tribute and a Quilt Mah "The Tree" Olson
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Old 08-11-2017, 10:08 AM
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iim7V7IM7 iim7V7IM7 is offline
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Default Two thoughts...

  1. I would listen closely to the individual builder who is making the guitar to understand which set they thought might be best meet your goals in the context of their building paradigm.
  2. I would also choose whichever individual back and side set is best seasoned and quartersawn.
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Old 08-11-2017, 10:11 AM
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I'm not sure why you've narrowed it down to these 4 species, but I'd be talking to my builder about the outcome I wanted to achieve and see what they thought about tonewood.
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Old 08-11-2017, 11:35 AM
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I voted Padauk because it is the only one I have used, or even heard. I have made one guitar only from it, but it was very successful.

Using an unusual wood because of democratic concession is quite foolhardy IMO, and a much better idea is trusting your builder's opinion.
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Old 08-11-2017, 11:53 AM
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Yet another vote for Padauk! I have built three guitars from this, and remain convinced it behaves like rosewood. In fact we think highly enough of it tonally, that it is our wood of choice for bridge plates.

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Old 08-11-2017, 03:40 PM
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I have to go with the Pau Ferro aka Bolivian Rosewood. It sounds great. Unlike Padauk, it is beautiful. From a builders perspective it is very nice to work with as well.
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  #14  
Old 08-11-2017, 05:02 PM
JoeCharter JoeCharter is offline
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I would go with a less traditional tonewood only if I fell in love with an instrument or if a builder had a very special set.

Otherwise there's a reason why the less common tonewoods in this poll are not particularly sought after. They don't bring anything special sonically, they aren't especially visually desirable -- and they're not traditional.

The only thing going in their favour is the novelty factor -- and IMHO that aspects wears off after a while. For long lasting pleasure and satisfaction, I vote rosewood, mahogany, maple and koa.
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Old 08-11-2017, 06:19 PM
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Darn, hate to spoil tradition. Handled some Zebra wood, did not excite me. Have a few sets of Padauk, taps nice and I like the color. The other two I have no experience with.
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