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I recently started my number 3, and pulled the only rosewood set I can use right now for thinning, and it i snot looking too good. The sides are a strong purple, while the back is mostly brown, with only a small hint of purple, definitely not as much as the pic shows. But the sides are as purple as the pic...go figure...
Under a wipe of shellac the difference reduces but still...
I heard the purple tone disappears in time.

Would you build with it?
Or should I order a couple more sets and match them better. Unfortunately that would mean at least a couple months of setback...

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Build log

Alexandru-
I personally would use that set in a heartbeat. Under a glossy finish and with a little photoaging you will later wonder what the fuss was about

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It's not the miles ahead, it's the stone in your shoe


In Markham,Virginia

Alex, I would use the set too. Under finish, I don't think you are going to be able to see the difference in the woods, particularly since they will be at right angles to each other. Go for it!

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

It all turns the same colour with age...which could be to your benefit. Leave the sides sit in the sun a bit (indoors), on the order of a few hours, and they'll fade toward brown. You can probably get a really close match. Or, as mentioned, you'll notice it's all the same colour in a couple years anyhow!

I left a set of ten very differently coloured IRW fretboard blanks in my 'foyer' here, where they'd get some sun every day. After a couple days they were all identically brown. Face mill them, though, and the brown only went to a certain depth (ie: upon machining new, unfaded colour showed up).

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Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services

Agreed. The most recent set I used was very similar with regards to the purple vs. brown issue, and by the time I got to the pore fill the colors were indistinguishable. I would think you're ok. And by the way, I like the purple stuff best.

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Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

Thanks, I'll go ahead and use it as is.

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Build log

No! Do not use it. Mail it to my home address.

Mike

Dang, why didn't I think of that!

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Wow Alex !
These guys are right on the money !
Use it!

With the wood supply & deforestation were lucky to get any nice woods from India -or anywhere that does not limit slash & burn or clear cutting!

Guitar wood prices are going sky high!!!!
-because the supply is low & the demand is high!
Plus-what does color match have to do with the tone & sound of your guitar??
Mike

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Mike Collins

I wasn't really going to throw it out the window, just put aside and wait till I buy more sets and mix them around.

And I actually like to use as much of the wood as possible. For example a neck blank if not undersized and if cut carefully easily yields two back braces, plus a bunch of individual lining blocks...

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Build log

Well, mailing it to one of us is not "throwing it out the window", is it? That's sharing!

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

I already shared the pics! my wood is my wood, can pry it only from my cold dead paws

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Build log

I once had a famous builder mention to me that the finish ties the sound together, and a tint in the finsih ties the color together. I don't know if he meant the kind of situation you describe.

How did I already know that?

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Well gotta agree with ya there. I'm pretty picky about who gets to have some ...

Oops. Family site.

Mike

Alexandru, I'd use it too. In fact, I must have had the sister set to that one, or the matching pieces to your mismatched pieces.
Well, it/they turned out just fine.
Another solution is to buy a set of maple, and build a dark/light guitar like Howard Klepper does. You'll have enough wood for two guitars, and then the match won't matter. They'll be staring at the rosewood against the maple, and vice versa.

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com