Do YOU think Pernambuco is beautiful?

[K III]

The time will come when Pernambuco will be the highest appreciated guitar wood.

[runamuck]

My bias is for the best tone and most stability in wood. Having never heard pernambuco but relying on your say-so, I'd be interested in using it myself.

But the reality is that people seem to like flashy stuff. The fact that many builders are now using BRW flat-sawn stump wood is one example. So, I would think that pernambuco would be a bit on the hard sell list - even if it is the best sounding and most stable wood in the world. (We all know that "best sounding" is subjective and we also know that the majority of guitar buyers probably don't know what a truly great sounding guitar even sounds like)

I've also seen posts here that refect the fact that many people like what's familiar and yellowish, golden colored wood doesn't fall into that catagory.
So that's strike 2.

I suppose strike 3 would be if no other builders started using it to bring it more into people's consciousness.

Jim McCarthy

[Howard Klepper]

Originally Posted by runamuck

I've also seen posts here that refect the fact that many people like what's familiar and yellowish, golden colored wood doesn't fall into that catagory.
So that's strike 2.

I suppose strike 3 would be if no other builders started using it to bring it more into people's consciousness.

Jim McCarthy

Good points, Jim, but I think there are some facts that cut the other way.

Re 2, Pernambuco is not a yellowish, golden colored wood like many North American hardwoods. It is not at all bland. It is a rich, chatoyant orange overall, with a variety of other colors that are seen when looking close up; it slowly turns darker and redder with age.

Re 3, So far as I know there have only been two sources of the wood (for guitarmakers) in Brazil, and the supply there is limited to older down logs and old house beams. But the wood that has come into the US has gone mostly to elite builders. Jim Olson has some, and so does Kim Walker. Paul Reed Smith has some neck stock. I believe Wayne Henderson may have a few sets, too. Ervin Somogyi has expressed an interest in getting some from me and trying it. So it's never going to be on the wall at the Guitar Center, but it doesn't need to get into the consciousness of the mass produced guitar market. It will only be available from a limited number of hand builders, but among them are a group at the very top of our profession. I think that should be sufficient to make its reputation with buyers who seek the best in custom built guitars.

[Herb Hunter]

Originally Posted by runamuck

...The fact that many builders are now using BRW flat-sawn stump wood is one example. ...

I feel compelled to point out that some so-called stump wood has straight grain and some wood farther up the tree can be highly figured.

[eportman]

There have been a couple comments on the thread describing how difficult it is to accurately describe the tonal qualities that best articulate pernambuco. Would a good recording demonstrate this difference? Is anyone on the thread in a position to do this?

In terms of looks - personally I am in the 'it isn't bad looking' crowd - and for some of the sets I actually think it is pretty nice looking.

And if the tonal difference is as significant as Bruce, Howard and others indicate, I'd be more than willing to buy a guitar made from it... Given my practice time constraints I need all the help I can get :-)

[Herb Hunter]

Originally Posted by eportman

There have been a couple comments on the thread describing how difficult it is to accurately describe the tonal qualities that best articulate pernambuco. Would a good recording demonstrate this difference? ...

I don't think so. Can anyone, upon hearing a recording identify, with a meaningful degree of certainty, whether the guitar was made of mahogany, rosewood, maple or any of the more exotic woods? Even if the recording were especially accurate, playback equipment and room acoustics could easily alter the tonal quality captured during the recording.

[runamuck]

Originally Posted by Herb Hunter

I feel compelled to point out that some so-called stump wood has straight grain and some wood farther up the tree can be highly figured.

Yeah, you're right. It seems no matter I say I always leave something out.

Jim McCarthy

[runamuck]

Originally Posted by Howard Klepper

Good points, Jim, but I think there are some facts that cut the other way.

Re 2, Pernambuco is not a yellowish, golden colored wood like many North American hardwoods. It is not at all bland. It is a rich, chatoyant orange overall, with a variety of other colors that are seen when looking close up; it slowly turns darker and redder with age.

I didn't know that. I've seen pernambuco in bows and always assumed that it was a different specie as it was usually much darker.

All the photos of pernambuco I've seen online remind me of S.A. satinwood, which is quite goldenish.

JM

[Howard Klepper]

Originally Posted by runamuck

I didn't know that. I've seen pernambuco in bows and always assumed that it was a different specie as it was usually much darker.

All the photos of pernambuco I've seen online remind me of S.A. satinwood, which is quite goldenish.

JM

You will only occasionally see a natural color pernambuco bow. Most bowmakers use dye or chemical stain to darken them. But there is only one pernambuco species.

[runamuck]

Originally Posted by Howard Klepper

You will only occasionally see a natural color pernambuco bow. Most bowmakers use dye or chemical stain to darken them. But there is only one pernambuco species.

Thanks for that. I'm surprised to read that most bows are dyed.

jm

[lclyman]

Originally Posted by eportman

There have been a couple comments on the thread describing how difficult it is to accurately describe the tonal qualities that best articulate pernambuco. Would a good recording demonstrate this difference? Is anyone on the thread in a position to do this?

This clip is from a cd that was just released where I used my Sexauer WRX-P guitar on a number of cuts.

During the recording the engineer on the session remarked that in his opinion this guitar needed absolutely nothing in terms of eq or compression..it just sat in the mix perfectly...and the mix engineer said the same thing...

This clip features the guitar pretty much by itself at the opening and continues to sit perfectly as a few more instruments and a vocal enter...I think it very accurately demonstrates what a Pernambuco guitar sounds like.....

http://nancywalker.net/downloads/All...-wood-demo.mp3

LC

[eportman]

Originally Posted by lclyman

This clip is from a cd that was just released where I used my Sexauer WRX-P guitar on a number of cuts.

During the recording the engineer on the session remarked that in his opinion this guitar needed absolutely nothing in terms of eq or compression..it just sat in the mix perfectly...and the mix engineer said the same thing...

This clip features the guitar pretty much by itself at the opening and continues to sit perfectly as a few more instruments and a vocal enter...I think it very accurately demonstrates what a Pernambuco guitar sounds like.....

http://nancywalker.net/downloads/All...-wood-demo.mp3

LC

Larry the clip sounds great! Thanks for posting!

[handers]

The mp3 has 2 acoustic guitars: the first one panned hard R an the second that comes in more L around 0.19. I assume that the Sexauer is the first R channel guitar? The 2 guitars sound v diff but that may also be recording tehnique. Are they both the Sexauer?

Hans

[lclyman]

Originally Posted by handers

The mp3 has 2 acoustic guitars: the first one panned hard R an the second that comes in more L around 0.19. I assume that the Sexauer is the first R channel guitar? The 2 guitars sound v diff but that may also be recording tehnique. Are they both the Sexauer?

Hans

Hi Hans,
Yes, the Sexauer Pernambuco guitar is heard first in the right channel...and that's a John Greven 000-28 (mahogany/lutz spruce) coming in on the left channel...an acoustic guitar match made in heaven if you ask me...

That's my wife, Nancy Walker, playing that part and eventually heard on vocals as well...

Her primary guitar is usually a Goodall 000 12 fret, a wonderful sounding guitar, but this particular tune required her to play a part up the neck that was a bit difficult to reach on a 12 fret neck...an area easily accessible on the Greven...and a better match for the track in any event...

The recording technique was the same...no smoke and mirrors...just a very good mic, a well played part, and a good song...pretty much my standard modus operandi when I'm in the producer's chair...

And here is a shameless promotion if you are curious about the rest of the music...that CD has just been released and is available at this website.

Thanks for the question,
Larry

[Truman]

What a wonderful recording! Please tell Nancy how much it was enjoyed! In addition to the talent displayed by both of you - the guitars sound awesome.