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Has anybody used Walnut for a top for a dred? The guy says he would like to have it on his. But I think he simply likes the look of Walnut. I don't want to have to change it out later on if it sounds like a gourd.

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RJS

not on a dread , but I did one on a Larrivee style a few years back... nice tone, darker than a typical spruce top would have been ... I would do it again ( have done a couple koa as well)

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

taylor had and still may have (havent paid attention in a while) an all walnut jumbo. possibly a 12 string as well? im not sure if they still have their walnut series or not though. google would probably yield some images at least.

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sweat the small stuff.

Though dean guitars are not known for acoustic they make a walnut top acoustic that i actually seen at the music store. It was quite nice looking. Can't tell you about the sound since I didn't play it. Mike Link to photo below
http://www.deanguitars.com/dean_winter_07/exotica_walnut_enlarged.htm

I built an all walnut a few years ago. The sound is a little thinner than a spruce top. But, it is also a nice tone- warm and mellow. As the walnut ages, it becomes a little bit stronger. The thing I like most about it is the sustain. It lasts forever. I used black walnut. I don't know how much different claro walnut might be.

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I played one and I wasn't impressed . I don't know what the bracing patter was .

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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

I'm interested about the sound. You're right--Deans aren't know for sounding particularly amazing and I saw one today with a zebrawood top that sounded like a turd. It was probably laminate though... I didn't look at it very closely.

My first assumption is that there aren't many walnut topped guitars because they don't sound all that good, but there weren't many mahogany topped guitars on the market between the 50s and 90s either...

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Don't confront me with my failures--I have not forgotten them.

I have had two of the Taylor W65 (All Claro Walnut 12 String) and they were both wonderful. Dry and woody and warm is how I would describe the tone.

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jw ( o)===:::

Long time no talk, Joe! Thanks for the input.

Not to jump off topic, but I am gluing on the neck to the guitar you helped me with. I can't thank you enough for your help. I have a buddy in town who builds electrics and he has a drum sander I can borrow from time to time. I hope you are doing well and that your family has a merry Christmas.

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Don't confront me with my failures--I have not forgotten them.

Any thoughts on Walnut as a top wood for an acoustic bass? Working on one now with a cedar top and there are areas that are just flexible enough to make me nervous...not too thin I don't think. The sides and back are matched Walnut and if I need to redo the top, it would look hot with a matched/figured walnut top.

-Matthew

I was under the impression all the dean guitars with hardwood tops were veneered..

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