Official Luthiers Forum!

Just bought a set for a reasonable price on the bay, and I'm interested to see it in the "flesh".
Has anyone worked with figured EIR?
I'd be interested to see a pic of a finished guitar if you have one.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Hey Colin

I built one with figured EIR. I had a bit of a problem with the backs warping as I recall. And if I recall correctly, it didn't have much of a tap tone to it. It turned into a nice guitar though. Sounds great. Italian top. Bloodwood binding.

Here's a couple pictures:

Thanks Neil, good looking guitar.
The tap tone I expect to be like cardboard, and the warping is no shock.
Glad it turned out such a good looker.
Any chance you remember how thick the back ended up?

_________________
The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

This is one is in process. I think this photo makes the back look a bit lighter than it is, but you can see the figure.

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Tim Allen
"Never hurry, never rest."

So from "opportunity grade " to "figured" EIR.....

Ha! Yes, it's not a defect, it's an opportunity, and it's not just an opportunity, it's figured!

You used to be able to get "opportunity grade" sets from Allied Lutherie for about $25 a set, if i remember correctly. I have a couple. I thought they were worth the money, but the characteristics that made them "opportunity grade" were generally serious enough that they required epoxy filling, at least on mine; it wasn't about wavy grain. EIR sets with straight-grained sides and figured backs, similar to those shown in this thread, seem to cost about 20-30% more than similar straight-grained EIR sets. For example, see the inventory of OLF sponsor West Penn Hardwoods.

I like the look of figured EIR, but I've only bought one set because I do have some concern about its long-term stability. The wild-grained BRW Martin used in the late 1960s tended to be crack-prone in some cases. I had to repair a couple of cracks in my 1969 D-35 in the late 1970's. Since then it's been OK. I'm not 100% sure about moderately figured EIR, but my impression is that it's a pretty stable wood. So I did build with the set I have been hanging onto for the last 9 years, which hasn't cracked in that time--of course, it hasn't been under stress. Fingers crossed. Anybody have any long term experience with this type of EIR?

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Tim Allen
"Never hurry, never rest."

That's the kind of info I was looking for.
This set was bought inexpensively due to lack of bids.
I liked the price, and look of it, so bought it out of curiosity I suppose.

_________________
The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

I bought a set of "wild figured" eir from Grizzley 6-7 years ago, and built a really nice drednaught. Unfortunately my skills at the time were not up to my standards, so I finished it, and hung it on the wall in my garage. Several years of cold, dry winters, and hot humid summers have produced no visible damage.

Al

I bought about a dozen sets of the "opportunity grade" sets some years ago. Buying multiple sets allowed me to color match backs and sides a little better. Since I build a number of different instruments and sizes, I choose pieces where I can cut out the defects to "upgrade" the wood a bit.
I don't see opportunity grade listed any more, and in fact Allied mentions that "anomalies" in the wood can put it in a higher grade. Who'd a thunk it!

Hi Colin,
How's the set in the flesh? Some more listed on the bay,

Mike

Hi Mike, only arrived the same day I left, so got a quick look before I went to work, but looked OK, if slightly warped.
Got it weighted down.

_________________
The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

I picked up this set from RC at the ASIA symposium 3 years ago and was quickly requested by a client for his build.

Before finish


Completed

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Fred Tellier
http://www.fetellierguitars.com
Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/FE-Tellier-Guitars/163451547003866

Beautiful,!!!! I like it all...straight grained old school dark spider webbing landscape figured blisterd birdseyed discoloured stump spalted rotten WOOD

Cheers, alex

Some very nice work featuring that horrible nasty figured stuff.

Steve

Beautiful guitar Fred

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Beautiful and unusual tone woods at a reasonable price.
http://www.rctonewoods.com/RCT_Store
The Zootman
1109 Military Rd.
Kenmore, NY 14217
(716) 874-1498

Very nice Neal. Beautiful work

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Beautiful and unusual tone woods at a reasonable price.
http://www.rctonewoods.com/RCT_Store
The Zootman
1109 Military Rd.
Kenmore, NY 14217
(716) 874-1498

Bob that back and side set came from your stash 3 years ago. Pete showed it to me at ASIA and I had to take it home.

Fred

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Fred Tellier
http://www.fetellierguitars.com
Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/FE-Tellier-Guitars/163451547003866