Official Luthiers Forum!

We are starting a new year and we have some new materials to offer for 2010. Please check out our new Myrtle and Claro sets we are offering http://www.luthierscooltools.com/Mts.htm and the new Sinker sets along with some new “special and unique” sets also http://www.luthierscooltools.com/Sinker_Gallery.htm



Thanks for looking and let us know if you see anything you like that we can help you with.



Deana Micheletti


707.459.0820



LuthiersCoolTools.com

Are you still offering the bolt-on neck kit? I dont see it on the website.

Hi Deana,

Understanding that there are very many variables that contribute to a guitar's sound, and that sound quality is very subjective, I wonder if you or Rick can offer us some observations on the sound of guitars made with sinker redwood. I've read Rick's article in Acoustic Guitar, and it really doesn't say much about this. I haven't had the opportunity to hear any guitars made with it yet. I have one set in my stash (which I got from Tom Thiel, but which I believe originally came from Rick), and its tap tones are decidedly unlike any other top wood I've heard, including ordinary redwood - it has a far more "glassy" ring. Does this seem to produce guitars with some kind of distinctive sound quality, and if so, in what way? I also wonder if you and Rick have found that any particular back and side wood seems to combine especially well with the sinker redwood for outstanding sound, and/or if this top wood seems to really shine with any particular size of guitar.

By the way, I've sent you an email inquiring about one of the tops shown on your web site.

Thanks!

_________________
Todd Rose
Ithaca, NY

https://www.dreamingrosesecobnb.com/todds-art-music

https://www.facebook.com/ToddRoseGuitars/

Hi Todd,

Deana asked me to answer your question regarding the sound of sinker redwood. From the beginning we were amazed at the quality of sound and projection that was achieved from this material. When we started selling it to other builders, we began hearing rave reviews so we knew it wasn’t just us. The most common comment from builders and players is a “full” or “rich” sound which really is an observation on overtones. I have to agree with this assessment.

Kevin Ryan made this comment about sinker: "As a result of its high strength-to-weight ratio, it really shines at the upper registers like cedar, only a little darker," he says. "It sounds great in big, open alternate tunings, and it has a lush sound that fingerstylists really love.”
Simon Fay also stated: "I have been able to get very good clarity but also a tremendous amount of overtones," he says, adding that it combines some of the best qualities of spruce and cedar.
Lars Rasmussen, a luthier in Sweden, made this comment regarding an L00 sized guitar: “I showed the guitar to a really good player yesterday. He has one of my guitars, same body/scale in Braz/alpine, and he thought this one was really good. It’s much rounder, and 'sustainier' almost responds like a classical guitar. At first I was a little disappointed with the sound, thought it was sort of 'flat' sounding. I thought it would act more like a cedar top, being more open from the start. But it has actually matured a lot the last month, now it’s a lot more dynamic, and the trebles and overtones that I was missing is now a lot better. Now it sounds really good, with an 'explosiveness' that I really like.”

Even from the classical guitar world we are hearing good reviews: “The guitar has been completed and I now have it in my possession. Man, what a jewel this guitar turned out to be. My instructor, Mel Hallam, came over Thursday and played it for over 2 hours. He said it compared to his Jose Oribe and could not believe how bright the guitar sounded, and the projection and volume that it already possesses, being only a week old. You can see it at http://www.jeffreypossguitars.com/. Click on the "- Sinker Redwood" link on the left of the page. There are several pictures, as well as some soundclips of the guitar.”

Well, anyway I hope this answers your question.

Thanks - Rick

Hi Ed,

You're right, we have not been offering the bolt-on neck kits. Part of the kit are two aluminum bars that are inset and stablize the neck. They are very costly to machine and anodize. We have run very low on them and don't want to get caught "short handed" so to speak.
We are currently working on an idea of replacing them with wooden bars. There are several pluses to doing so, one being ease of removing material should the slot not be cut to a perfect depth. There are other advantages too but we just have not had time to develop a replacement. We've been really busy milling up all that beautiful sinker we just got a hold of. Thanks for asking. We'll keep you posted on our progress on that project. Deana

Rick, that sounds like most of the redwood topped guitars I've been able to play. Does the sinker redwood take those qualities to the next level?

Hi James,

I'd like to answer yes to that question but I think the truth is this material sounds a lot like really good old growth redwood. The possibility that the trees were thousands of years old, likely felled by '49ers gone bust and jumping into the brand new western timber industry, sat at the bottom of the river for 150 years or so then salvaged tends to cloud one's assessment as does it's looks.

Rick