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Just finished my first build, and am moving on to the next one. This one will be an OM (14-fret body w/12-fret neck) made from black walnut (thank you, RC Tonewoods) and a redwood top (thank you, Dave Maize). Here's my predicament. I originally was going to use a piece of afzelia burl for the rosette. The wood has been stabilized. In any event, I was told that there's a great likelihood that the wood would break apart as we took it down thinner for the rosette itself. So my question is - what other woods/rosettes have you all made with the redwood top? Pictures would greatly help in my choosing something similar.

Here's pics of the back and top woods I'll be using:



My thoughts were to make a rosette that had more of a subtle contrast to the redwood, rather than a stark contrast. I also was thinking of keeping it rather simple - a band of wood with the black stripe on either side of it. Here's what I did on the first one:



Thanks for any suggestions you all may have.

I assume you are aware that all the top bracing and sound hole location will need to adjust to a 12 fret position based on the scale you use and will not be in the same location as is typicall of a 14 fret body

match your rosette wood to your binding is on choice.

Thanks, Mr. Payne. I had gotten the Norman Blake plans from Blues Creek.

I used some Redwood burl on this redwood top (with ebony/pear/ebony around it), on a Cuban mahogany B&S. I like to work in the complimentary colour pallete

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Excellent suggestion from Colin. Spalted maple would also be very nice.

Hi Kevin - I used Koa on a redwood top and you may have seen this pic before on Uncle Bob's aka: The Zootman's RC Tonewoods site:



I was going for a stealth rosette.... Also Please don't call me Mr. Hesh, it's OK to call Michael Mr. he is an old fart....

And Hesh...........well........he isn't old!

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

I'd go with burl of some sort. Redwood is not a bad idea!
Or if you want a "mirror" image, maybe bird's eye maple or spalted maple for rosette and bindings

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Francis Richer, Montréal
Les Guitares F&M Guitars

Birdseye maple (on sinker redwood)

Thanks for all the suggestions so far - much appreciated.

This is a poplar and purpleheart rosette that I used on a redwood topped crossover. Maple would look similar, but I would use something that matches your binding. Cocobolo looks nice with redwood also. Sorry I don't have a close up of that one. I like Colin's a lot too. No surprise there, his are always nice.

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Ken Franklin
clumsy yet persistent
https://www.kenfranklinukulele.com

How about Macassar Ebony and Maple?
Please excuse the dust, this one's getting pore filled right now.