Official Luthiers Forum!

I have 2 guitars I am comparing. Both close to the same spec and build sheet. 1937 Martin spec 5/16 braces forward shifted small plate BRW red spruce tops. Same strings Martin SP mediums.
I used a Sony Handy Cam next to my PA speaker with sure 57s . I can hear in person a touch more sustain. The Torr top was strung up about 4 days ago and it is still opening up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gow0SP1KBHc

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

Well this settles that once and for all - sunbursts don't sound as good as non-sunbursts!

Seriously....

Thanks for putting the demonstration together John, very well done!

I'm really torn as to which one sounds better. Another comparison a couple of months down the road would be interesting. Did the torrefied top work any differently, John? Thanks!

Alex

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"Indecision is the key to flexibility" .... Bumper sticker

I think that the torrified topped guitar sounds richer and more complex.. Wow, very nice. The other sounds good, but much more "compacted" in sound, and not as complex.
Nice comparison!

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Guitar Maker and Purveyor of the World's Finest Tonewoods
http://www.aaronhixguitars.com/
http://stores.ebay.com/A-Hix-Tonewood-a ... r-Supplies

Well like you said it's not definitive but certainly interesting. Each guitar has it's own voice and each one sounds good. I am partial to the Sunburst one myself but only barely. The torrified guitar had a more direct sound, individual string sound, while the other one was more encompassing and perhaps why I like it better but I don't know. Using English to describe guitar tone is never easy.

The torr top does have a crisper, cleaner sound to my ear.

One question, has the other top been baked?

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

I like the torrified top more better, it sounded louder to my 62 year old ears even under headphones.
Has anyone ever done a baked vs. deep fried top comparison?
Sorry.

Who is selling torrified (iPhone autocorrect wants to change it to horrified or terrified LOL) top wood now?

sailor-6219 on ebay auctioned two of them last month.

Alex

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"Indecision is the key to flexibility" .... Bumper sticker

I like them both. Sounds different, but both sound great. Incidentally, John, I see you still have most of your hair. That's a plus for follicly challenged guys like me.

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Under Compensated Nut!

The burst top sounds much more pleasant. The torrefied top sounds harsh on the top end to my ear, whereas the non-torrefied top has a lush tone to it. Clear highs and good note separation too, if it were in better tune we could hear it better.

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Old growth, shmold growth!

to answer working of the Torrified top Yes it did work differenty. Glue won't penerate like raw so you need to apply a longer clamp time. I used 12 hr on fish glue and 8 for tite bond.

One thing is how flat the top stays between the grain line. Also it was clean on routing.
I like these so much I am ordering more in to sell and may be sending other woods to have then processed.

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

Hi John,

I have a guitar I am restoring and would really like to use torrefied wood for the top.

Can I order some torrefied wood from you for my project?

Dan