Official Luthiers Forum!

This is some outrageous figured redwood I thought that I'd share it with you and get some opinions.
I bought it last weekend and just got it today. I plan on making a double top out of it, backed directly to Lutz.
Do you like it?
Is it too much?
What back/sides would you build with it?

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"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered." G. K. Chesterton.

Definitely.....and I mean definitely.....way too much. Send it to me and I'll use it on a trashy Dobro.....they're gawdy anyhow.....<smile>

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Formerly known as Adaboy.......

Gorgeous indeed!
I'll though in a few choices....

Koa, Camatillo or any other rosewood.

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Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

I'm breathless. It's some of the most stunning zoot I've ever seen. You could pair it with almost anything but a fabulous and equally stunning set of Claro b&s would be awesome. l'm jealous!

Wow - that's some serious natural bling. Maybe just frame it and put it on your wall.

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The member formerly known as erikbojerik....

Wow -
What extraordinary figure. Yeah, that's way over the top - go for it!

For my two cents, I think you can go a couple of different ways with back and sides; 1) keep them subdued (something dark with no figure - dark rosewood?) 2) Go over the top with back and sides as well - (tricky, you don't want it to clash - you'd really have to get them side by side and check it out. Ziricote? Zebrawood?), or 3) find something that complements the top in terms of tone and figure (maybe a nicely figured mahogany?)

I think I'd go with #3 - and in that case you might find some Koa or Mahogany with a subtle figure, and complementary tone. Looks like fun - Keep us posted.

How does it sound when you tap it? I know the raggedy edges are going to dampen the taptone somewhat, but you should have some idea of the tone and sustain.

If it has a wonderful taptone, to go with the incredible natural stain (early spalt?), then I would consider using it. That is because I have read several serious luthiers that have built guitars with composite (layered) soundboards, that have said that the layered soundboards can sound excellent. If it is kinda 'dead' sounding, then I would probably pass on using it as the show layer of a composite top, and use it as a 'drop-top' on an electric instead.

Mighty pretty Redwood!

Dennis

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Dennis Leahy
Duluth, MN, USA
7th Sense Multimedia

Stunning!!!

I would go with very light or very dark (my preference) and plain sides and back...use them as a frame for the top. This would allow that awesome top stand out and be the focal point of the whole thing. Maybe even a black or dark charcoal stained curly maple (violin type flame).

And yeah...that would make a fantastic top for an electric. You may have enough to do two or three...a series of matched instruments?

-Matthew

Macassar ebony

wow .....camatillo back and sides