Official Luthiers Forum!

Silly thread - but just want to hear from others....

I just got back #006 from Joe White - a Claro Walnut/Sinker Redwood guitar.

#004 has a redwood top - but it is reclaimed redwood from an old mill.

The Sinker has some amazing sparkle to it.

I'm assuming this is from minerals that got into the wood while sitting underwater for so long.

Is this a correct assumption?

Are others of you seeing this "sparkle"

It is amazing!

My reclaimed top was a LOT stiffer - but this Sinker top is gorgeous.

_________________
P A U L B U R N E R
Burner Guitars

You know Paul my friend seeing sparkles and pretty colors in your wood when staring at it for long periods of time is symptomatic of the onset of SWAS.

SWAS (severe wood acquisition syndrome) is similar to WAS (wood acquisition syndrome) but more advanced and hence more difficult to treat.....

Although WAS is known to respond nicely to visiting the web sites of our wood selling OLF sponsors SWAS OTH requires one to pick up the phone and directly call one of our OLF sponsors who sells wood and speak directly with them resulting in the placement of an order for more wood/zoot.

This remedy has been tolerated well by most SWAS afflicted builders however if you experience unusual, vivid dreaming, and urge to eat a banana while sitting in a tree, or a persistent desire to scratch your bum... in public... please see a wood vendor at once.

Uh-Oh.....

I did that about an hour ago!

I'm in big trouble!

_________________
P A U L B U R N E R
Burner Guitars

I knew it.... Join the club my friend!

So that's the top wood they used on Taylor Swifts guitar.

Hey Paul,

Funny you should post this. I recently got some old Redwood siding from a friend. None of it is big enough for a guitar, but I resawed a couple slices and ran them through the thickness sander. They might squeeze out a flat top mandolin, and definately fit a ukulele. When I looked up close I saw what were like small sugar crystal type stuff throughout the board. This wasn't reclaimed wood, but siding so it was exposed to rain and the typical weather stuff.

I guess I don't have an answer, but my first thought was mineral deposits from rain etc.
Either that or I too have come down with a case of SWAS. I sure hope it's not a bad case of the SWAS cause I'm broke and could never afford treatment right now

I do not know if I am correct as it may be menerial deposits but I was once told that the sparkel you speak of is caused by the harding of the resin in the wood at near freezing tempature of the water that redwoods are typically sunk in. i was also told by the sam person that the better resonance of sinker Redwood vs air dried redwood is also related to the harding of the resin.

Hi Filippo,
As honoured as I am for a newby like me to be quoted by you, I think you meant to quote my cousin Rick Micheletti. I haven't built any guitars with sinker yet.

Except that redwood contains almost no resins...

Any sinker wood that has been under for a extended time will absorb the water mineral chemistry. There are 100's of mineral traces in water at different parts per million/billion...Some absorb and then crystallize....so unless you take a sample to a lab (expensive), you may never know (exactly) what it is. However, IF you know where it came from, you can collect data from a nearby drinking water source (municipality) on know organics in the water and make a reasonable determination. Certain minerals are in heavier solid forms and will probably only absorb or cling to the surface (Manganese/Iron) etc...but calcium, fluorides and forms of salt (chlorides) can absorb deeply and MY GUESS is that is that you have a salt base crystal in your wood. And since redwood has a large pore makeup....there is ample room for crystallization that will be visible.

This post was under the supervision of a water engineering firm. I take no responsibility for it's content....but would never question what my wife tells me.
Kent

_________________
Wood Creations by Kent A. Bailey
EXCELLENCE IN SCULPTURE, CARVING, LUTHIER, ARCHITECTURAL MILLWORK AND DESIGN

http://www.kabart.com

I know it's my favorite top wood. Haven't built with my set of Lucky Strike yet. But i just know that Sinker sounds fantastic. I have it on a jumbo and an OM. My main stage guitar is a jumbo with Walnut and Sinker.

Plus I have a nice stash of Rick's collection. Might be getting more.

Jay

Paul, you probably don't want to have it analyzed. If you did you may have to add that the guitar contains substances known to cause cancer in California.

_________________
Chris Oliver
Infinity Luthiers
...in the shop.

live every minute...

So how did they get the top on the Taylor Swift guitar to sparkle without losing the sound quality from the top?
Chuck

Probably wasn't a primary concern.

_________________
Jim Hansen