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I went to an all-day seminar by David J. Marks this past weekend which was fantastic. He was telling me about some guitar sets he had seen from "the tree". Was wondering where you could find such sets today and what to going rate is for them. Also, are the sets, if out there, as beautiful as the ones i have seen several years ago? Any help would be appreciated.

thanks
Steve R

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"We might not be big but we sure are slow"

Last time I saw a set, albeit on my computer, it was Allied Lutherie that had sets from "the tree". It was a while back now, but it may be worth a call.

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Jamie M

Ok, I'll ask the question for everybody that are asking themselves this questions but are too shy to ask it (so am I).

What is "the tree"?

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Francis Richer, Montréal
Les Guitares F&M Guitars

A particularly spectacular figured Honduras Mahogany log was that was milled into a decent amount of guitar sets many years ago. I am sure someone will post a picture of guitar made from one of these sets soon. Actually, if you go to the classified section I think John Mayes has a picture of Uke set from the tree there.

Shane

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Canada

Hopfully Brock doesn't mind. Here is a picture of a guitar he made from "The Tree" which was posted on the AGF in May 2008

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My Facebook Guitar Page

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WOW that is just over-the-top beautiful Brock!!!

Thanks.

Check this set out!

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

If memory serves, David has some planks from the tree, I saw him show them off on one of his TV shows.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

I think LMI used to have some, still have photos on the website, but now they are saying "lengthy backorder"...
Let me say that "The Tree" is not the only tree in the world. In the mandolin world there is the famous Gilchrist "D log", but I have always preferred the famous "e-bay log" for mandolins.
There is a lot of fine wood out there and making some chunk the epitome of the gods just makes it's $$$ rise...

HOLY MOLY! That is a fine looking guitar....and the back post is AWESOME! I'd be afraid to touch it. Just hang it on the wall.
Kent

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EXCELLENCE IN SCULPTURE, CARVING, LUTHIER, ARCHITECTURAL MILLWORK AND DESIGN

http://www.kabart.com

I think part of the mystique of The Tree is the heroic efforts they had to go to to get it out of the forest. They looked at that thing for years before they figured out how to get it out of there. That is a big part of the legend too.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

They can be bought. For a lot.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

I have these two pieces that were bought from a veneer mill in the 1980's or 70's. I am not sure, but I have often wondered if they were part of it. I do not know the exact date that they were originally cut because the fellow I bought them from was not particularly helpful. I just knew they were very rare and so I bought them. They have some defects, and probably each will only yield 2 good bookmatched backs, even though they are 36 inches long and 13+ wide. I have just often wondered if they were part of the tree, and think that the one on the right that I photographed closer in the first photo is perhaps of the tree or a similar example. You can see some veining in it. The back sides are an old dirty surface, and there are dog marks on some of the edges, so that is what looks like that was where they were slicing veneeer from. I just never resawed them because of the possible dissapointment. Maybe there are more logs that look like this, I just thought it was similar.

Here's a profile on The Tree mahogany:

http://guitarbench.com/index.php/2009/1 ... e-article/

Not to high-jack but another interesting stick is LS Redwood. That's a good story too!

I have a couple of "The Tree" sets but both with lesser figure and hopefully that nice ring when gently persuaded to become a guitar... This is the only one that I have a pic of and IIRC the other one looks just like it.

I think that there are sets around but if others are like me they are squirreled away for that special project one day:

I have a rather fantastic set of the tree that I purchased here on the OLF at a steal..

It's probably the best investment I've ever made I should have maxed out my visa and bought as many as I could. Last time I saw any for sale they were going for almost 3x what I paid.

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CVT Inc.
A tour of our shop (Somewhat outdated)
My Personal eBay profile. BCWoodBug

My understanding of "The Tree" was that when they cut it down, it fell into a ravine or gorge, and stayed there for years - hence the heroic efforts they had to go to, to get it out.

And so the legend continues...

It is pretty wood though.

This looks like Pomelle sapele to me. The wood that I've seen from "The tree" has distinctive big phat cellular looking quilt..!

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http://www.PeakeGuitars.com

Steve-

I bought 4 sets from Allied Lutherie that look similar to Hesh's sets. They were around $400 at that time but these are considered low figure "The Tree" sets. They aren't really low figure but compared to the picture of the back that Brock posted, they are. If you can find someone to sell you a set like what brock has in that second picture you might pay $1500+. I have actually seen one set like that, at that price. It was a long time ago and it's long gone.

These sets mimic the prices of Brazilian rosewood back and sides. I would start by calling Todd at Allied. If he doesn't have any, he may be able to hunt some down for you. Good luck.

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John Lewis
Wannabe builder owned by 2 crazy dachshunds

Here are a couple photos of "The Tree" bodied instrument currently under construction in my shop. This set, and a couple others, were from David Marks quite a while back. Lance McCollum and I bought a few sets each early this century. David had a couple of billets left at that time but they would only accommodate an OM body, max. I'd bet by now they are long gone.

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Hank Mauel

I think it does look like the pom sapele that is sold today in that photo. You have me worried. I better look closely. Maybe it is the scale of the photo, though, that piece is 14 inches wide. I did think it had the feel and color of honduras when I purchased. I have not checked it closely. I always look for a white line along the annual rings that can be seen in honduran, usually it sort of fades in and out when viewed from different angles. At least, that is how I was taught years ago to tell honduran from the african types. So far I have always found it true. Don't know if this is a characteristic others look for. I will study some more. There is some veining, although that photo does not show it.
Thanks. Mike

I'm about 90% sure that you have pomelle sapele - I was around a bunch of this at one point and those pics look identical to the stuff we were working with. It's great stuff...it just isn't "the tree"..!

I can usually tell the difference between african and honduran mahoganies just be looking at them and feeling them. African is usually lighter in density and kind of fuzzes up when you machine it/route it. Honduran is more "solid" stuff and works more nicely. African is also usually a bit more orange while honduran is more brown/tan colored.

Trev

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http://www.PeakeGuitars.com

I think I'm the only one with sets of quilted mahogany from "The Tree" for sale right now but haven't really been trying to sell them. Been too busy playing music. I've also got one big board left that was a conference table that I'll billet sometime in the next year. It's a nice 13 1/2 foot by 37 inch wide board. Brock got a couple of sets from me. I've been a junkie for The Tree for years. Love the wood and it makes great guitars. I know of builders that have a few sets stashed, just don't think they are selling.

A shot of my kitchen table with some sets.

Here is a Breedlove I had made from a set. You can tell she liked it, or is that licked it.

Had to check that board again. I am pretty certain it is honduras, it displays the characteristic white line along the annual rings, and I do own a lot of lumber. Also, looking at the other lumber I got form this fellow, it is honduran, too. He had 4 or 5 big crotch pieces I also bought. This piece may not be the tree quality, but it is pretty good.
I am very much coveting that 37 inch by 13 long plank. I do have 10 acres of swampland in Kentucky I could trade.