Rosewood baritones?

ericcsong · #1 08-31-2006, 08:24 AM

I was just wondering your thoughts on rosewood baritones?

some feel that mahagony or koa is the way to go.

any experience or thoughts on rosewood baritones?

Alan Porton · #2 08-31-2006, 08:48 AM

I have a Mustapick Deep Baritone with German Bearclaw Spruce/ Cocobolo Rosewood. Seems like the perfect combo to me. If anything; the Rosewood seems to boost the bass which sometimes can get buried do to the lower frequencies of the bass.

ericcsong · #3 08-31-2006, 08:49 AM

is your baritone the one on his website?

Alan Porton · #4 08-31-2006, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ericcsong

is your baritone the one on his website?

Yes it is. I'll post more pix later as I'm unable to post links where I'm at right now.

There is a world of difference in what this handmade beauty brings to the table vs. what you might obtain from a factory or even smaller boutique builder.

I guarantee, if you played this guitar.........you'd never look back!

The "right" luthier can make the "magic" appear........

dberkowitz · #5 08-31-2006, 06:10 PM

Eric, it depends upon the scale length and the rosewood involved. Shorter scales lengths do better with rosewoods than do longer ones. This is because the longer ones get the bottom from their long scale and the fatter strings. Shorter scale guitars need reinforcement to their low end because they don't have as heavy gauge strings and don't have the scale length. Brazilian seems to do ok with the shorter scale baritones because it has highs. Cocobolo because of its density also would be fine. East Indian I'd say it depends on the piece because some of it can be wonderfully dense and almost like brazlilian and some can be very light and rowey like a mahogany.

This isn't hard and fast but scales under 28" rosewood would be fine, but I'd rather see koa or padauk on something 28" and over.

David D. Berkowitz
Berkowitz Guitars

Simon Fay · #6 08-31-2006, 06:38 PM

I have heard that Lance Mcollum is building some of the finest baritones in the world. He is definitely a builder you would want to look up; atlhough, his instruments are pricey.

I also have been hearing rave reviews about Matt Mustapick's baritones. Also, while I haven't heard a review of David Berkowitz's baritones - I have heard from a number of folks who have absolutely glowing reviews about his "regular" guitars - it seems to me he would certainly have the skills to make a killer baritone. Not to mention Matt and David both frequent this forum.

Over and Out,
Simon

Oracle · #7 08-31-2006, 07:52 PM

Lance is currently building a Bari for my friend, Andy McKee.
Should be a tone monster.
I have a Larrivee BT-60 Bari. Indian Rosewood, Sitka - 27"
scale length. It will rattle the fillings out of your teeth

Great guitar, with great tone, and classic looks.

Mike

tim farney · #8 09-01-2006, 08:03 AM

I've long held the opinion that maple and mahogany are better for big guitars. They seem to preserve the clarity of the deep bass. I've played more than a few guitars that are exceptions to that rule, though.

Tim

Palomorado · #9 09-04-2006, 09:14 AM

I have a Matt Mustapick Baritone made with Adirondack & Zebrawood. The Zebrawood is similar to rosewood and produces a very rich, complex tone. I have not tried mahogany but the maple bari's i've played were very direct and nice, but no where near as full and interesting of a sound as the Zebrawood.