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TJ Thompson is one of the top Luthiers today and someone who I very much enjoy learning more about. He is also known for saying something like if you want to build great guitars try being a good person.

This is a NPR clip in which TJ discusses some of the top woods that we use for guitar building. It is also one of the best sound clips that I know of for actually being able to very clearly hear the wood ring. Although this has been posted prior it's been a couple of years and I thought that some of the newer members might enjoy this: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6665726

Man, NPR really knows how to use a microphone, don't they?

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Evan McCartney

Thanks Hesh! I had not heard that before.

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The member formerly known as erikbojerik....

Exactly one of the impressions that I had too Evan!

Cool link. It sounds like he is really putting some oomph into his taps. I didn't realize that you're suppose to tap it that hard.

btw, that sitka sounded kinda dead didn't it.

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Jeremy Douglas

I can't wait to get home to hear it!

Great interview ! thanks for sharing Hesh ! Jody

From what I could hear the Adirondack sure sounded nice. I don't have any and now I want some

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Thank you Hesh. I really liked TJ's philosophy of finding the music in the wood.

Thanks for sharing!

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"After forty-nine years of violin building, I have decided that the search for a varnish is similar to the fox hunt. The fun is in the hunt."
Jack Batts Maker and Repairer of Fine Violins

I wonder if he was using some type of hammer? It sure sounded like he was 'whacking' them pretty good!

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Ken Mitchell
Durham, NC

Hesh,

Thank you so much for all your help! Also, loved the soundclip! His philosophy makes total sense. You can tell he is totally immersed in what he does and has a profound love for his craft.

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Janet

Awesome find Hesh! What I like most about this, is that due to the high fidelity of the clip, it gives me a good Idea what to aim for, especially for a noobie like me who doesn't have trained ears just yet. Athough this did give me an idea, and was curious if something like this have ever been discussed before, has there been any thought or discussion in compiling a library of target tap tones for several species of wood? I think that would be an excellent resource for anyone who wants to hear a tonal comparison between different species or as said earlier, a target reference, for someone who may want to rely more on sound than thickness.

Just a thought

Greg

I think that's a great idea.

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Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com