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Redwood ?
https://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=37577		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  DannyV [ Tue Aug 28, 2012 11:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Redwood ?
I've just come into a tidy pile of very nice looking, fairly stiff, old growth Redwood. I have never built with it and it is in fact the first time I have ever held a piece of the stuff in my hand. This wood looks great and has about the nicest medullar rays I have ever seen in a fine grained top wood. And it is exceptionally fine grained. Too fine to even count on half the board. I'm just not sure where Redwood would have it's best application in acoustic guitars. Where have you guys found that Redwood shines? What about the density or hardness? Does it dent easily? How would it's hardness compare to WRC or Spruces? I know there are no definite answers but I'm just curious where it's worked well.

If anyone is interested I have enough to post a few sets in the classifieds.

Thanks,
Danny
Author:  jac68984 [ Wed Aug 29, 2012 12:28 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Redwood ?
DannyV wrote:
I've just come into a tidy pile of very nice looking, fairly stiff, old growth Redwood. I have never built with it and it is in fact the first time I have ever held a piece of the stuff in my hand. This wood looks great and has about the nicest medullar rays I have ever seen in a fine grained top wood. And it is exceptionally fine grained. Too fine to even count on half the board. I'm just not sure where Redwood would have it's best application in acoustic guitars. The top of the guitar mostly. Where have you guys found that Redwood shines? When used for a guitar top, finished and buffed out well, and in full sunlight. What about the density or hardness? Does it dent easily? Yes. How would it's hardness compare to WRC It's close or Spruces Softer than most spruce? I know there are no definite answers Correct but I'm just curious where it's worked well.

If anyone is interested I have enough to post a few sets in the classifieds. Of course.

Thanks,
Danny


beehive
Author:  jac68984 [ Wed Aug 29, 2012 12:34 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Redwood ?
Redwood is a great tonewood. I think it works well when paired with a back and side set a bit further down the liveliness ladder, like walnut, mahogany, mango, maple, koa, etc.
Author:  Don Williams [ Wed Aug 29, 2012 5:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Redwood ?
Danny,

Redwood shines on a finger-style instrument. The tone is similar to cedar, but perhaps more airy. It is very soft. Take precautions when using it. I also came into a big supply a few years back and sold a bunch to OLF folks back then. There's almost always more room in the wood arsenal for redwood for folks. I'm building right now with some for a Size 5 instrument.
Author:  Colin S [ Wed Aug 29, 2012 7:28 am ]
Post subject:  Redwood ?
I love redwood, I think of the nearly 40 steel string guitars that I have made, the very best sounding to me was a redwood topped Cuban Mahogany OOO. Redwood seems to be WRC with attitude, you have the warmth and openness of WRC with the clarity and separation of spruce. Ot can be a bit splintery, so rout with care when doin the rosette and binding, but paired with a mahogany/ walnut spectrum wood it is superb.

I've still got a couple of sets of the LS waiting for that special (ie rich) customer.
Author:  DennisK [ Wed Aug 29, 2012 8:25 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Redwood ?
It's my favorite top wood as well. The density seems to span the full range between typical WRC and spruce. Every source I've bought from has been quite different in terms of density, hardness, stiffness, damping, and brittle-feeling-ness. My favorite is some extremely light weight, fine grained, and low damping tops I got from Darren Hippner a while back. I built a little classical using one of those tops and Honduran rosewood, and it's my best guitar yet. Very lively, complex sort of sound.

I'm always happy to add more to my stash, so I'll be watching the classifieds :)
Author:  WaddyThomson [ Wed Aug 29, 2012 9:28 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Redwood ?
I'd be interested in a couple of sets. Get 'em up!
Author:  Pete0530 [ Wed Aug 29, 2012 10:17 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Redwood ?
Built a 000 a few years back with a redwood top and walnut b&S. Nice for fingerstyle. Extremely soft, dents easily. Perhaps consider a little more thickness than spruce.

Pete
Author:  Goodin [ Wed Aug 29, 2012 10:46 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Redwood ?
I have heard redwood is not well suited for dreadnoughts because it would be too bassy for such a big guitar. Anyone built a dread with redwood and care to comment?
Author:  DannyV [ Wed Aug 29, 2012 10:56 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Redwood ?
jac68984 wrote:
DannyV wrote:
I've just come into a tidy pile of very nice looking, fairly stiff, old growth Redwood. I have never built with it and it is in fact the first time I have ever held a piece of the stuff in my hand. This wood looks great and has about the nicest medullar rays I have ever seen in a fine grained top wood. And it is exceptionally fine grained. Too fine to even count on half the board. I'm just not sure where Redwood would have it's best application in acoustic guitars. The top of the guitar mostly. Where have you guys found that Redwood shines? When used for a guitar top, finished and buffed out well, and in full sunlight. What about the density or hardness? Does it dent easily? Yes. How would it's hardness compare to WRC It's close or Spruces Softer than most spruce? I know there are no definite answers Correct but I'm just curious where it's worked well.

If anyone is interested I have enough to post a few sets in the classifieds. Of course.

Thanks,
Danny


beehive


I know, I kinda walked right into that one Craig. :D The only way to know for sure is to put it on a guitar to find out for yourself. I'll just have to do that. [:Y:]
Author:  Daniel Minard [ Wed Aug 29, 2012 10:57 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Redwood ?
Hey Danny;
My first guitar was a redwood / H. mahogany dread. Huge sound! Especially considering it was a first instrument & we had a lot less information about making a guitar sound good in the early 80s.
The only thing I didn't like about it was the dark (almost purplish) colour clashed horribly with the mahogany.
I haven't used redwood again, but with a supply of tops so close at hand, I'd be tempted to try it again. Call me when you've sliced the wood up. I'd love to drop by & take a look.
Time for a visit anyway, now that my summer work madness is calming down.
Cheers! Dan
Author:  DannyV [ Wed Aug 29, 2012 10:59 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Redwood ?
Colin S wrote:

I've still got a couple of sets of the LS waiting for that special (ie rich) customer.

Here's hoping for a good bump in the economy over on your side Colin. Thanks for the comments.
Author:  DannyV [ Wed Aug 29, 2012 11:31 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Redwood ?
Filippo Morelli wrote:
Excellent tonewood. In my family's possession are 3 redwood topped guitars - one classical/EIR (fantastic instrument), a double top steel string and a 00 size steel string. Needless to say I have a good size stash of redwood and consider it fantastic tonewood. I would not compare it to cedar - stiff redwood top will give the best spruce top a run for its money when it comes to volume. Very responsive.

Filippo


That's what I was hoping to hear Filippo! What was your double top method? Sounds like a very versatile wood. I look forward to giving it a try.


Thank you all for your favourable responses. I'll try to get a few sets up on the classifieds.

Cheers,
Danny
Author:  Ken Franklin [ Wed Aug 29, 2012 1:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Redwood ?
Goodin wrote:
I have heard redwood is not well suited for dreadnoughts because it would be too bassy for such a big guitar. Anyone built a dread with redwood and care to comment?

My second guitar in 1974 was an EIR and redwood Dread. It was a well-balanced instrument with exceptionally clear trebles but plenty of bass too. Some observations about redwood: It can split rather easily. There is a wide range of density. In Brian Burns testing some sets had the highest Q numbers he had ever found. Generally I leave my redwood tops a little thicker than spruce tops but not as thick as WRC.
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