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    Pardon my ignorance, folks, but it's been a few times now that I hear mention of 'The Tree'...

    Now, I wonder what is so fascinating about this tree that makes it stand appart from the million of other trees that one simply needs to mention 'The Tree'...

   Clearly, it's legendary. Is it figure? Size? Combination of both? Or is it one of the Liberty Trees that I know Bob Taylor used to make a run of custom guitars...

   Just wondering out loud. Thanks in advance.

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

Alain,

I don't know, but would also be interested to find out.

I like your avatar!

Jeff

... Jeff, I like yours too!!!   Your avatar, that is... Alain Desforges38860.675462963

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

"The Tree" was a very unique tree (Honduran Mahogany) that was cut up for instrument wood and other things back I think in the 80's or 90's. Quite figured in a way that I was not all that impressed with, although there was a lot of buzz around and sets were sold at high dollars and appearantly still are. I prefer BobC's jewel sapelle myself. I know LMI had some in the past and I don't know who else. There are several people that come around here who know more than I and I think Lance McCollum probably has some stashed away for the rainy season.

If you go to Lance's website and click the details button, there is a picture of a guitar made from "The Tree". Plus it's a cool place to look around.John How38860.6840277778

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

Here is another. by Harvey Leach

John How38860.7055208333

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

I have a couple sets stashed away and it does look spectacular under finish. Sound real nice, too.
Here is a photo on one Lance built with the Tree wood:

Kinda small, but you get the idea.

Thanks for the information guys. I agree with Hesh, that does look very cool indeed... So the going rate on a set is about 1K? Correct?

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

Greetings everyone. Todd Taggart here, from Allied Lutherie. Brian said there was a little buzz on this last weekly special,and I thought I'd check it out. I'm surprised as much as anyone that someone would pay $3000 for a Brazilian rosewood set, but that's what we had to have to make it worthwhile for us. Almost all that wood went in a few hours.
Re: "The Tree." At our website, you can click on the images of an article that appeared in the 1985 Sept/Oct. issue of Fine Woodworking. http://www.alliedlutherie.com/specialsale2.htm That'll give you some information on it. This wood is/was different than a lot of quilted mahogany out there. I was looking at several huge boards of this in around '84, (most of this wood came into a Sausalito, Calif. operation)telling the proprietor that luthiers probably wouldn't go for this wood because it wasn't quartersawn. He told me to see if I could fine any quartersawn face on the board. In fact, every edge looked the same. Even the end grain was quilted. It's also harder than most Honduran mahogany. I don't know if it makes much difference these days, but there might be a marketing advantage in being able to say your guitar is made from   Genuine mahogany rather than African mahogany (quilted mahogany vs. quilted sapele). But I doubt it.

Thanks Todd.

It is wonderful when vendors visit the forum and contribute their knowledge and wisdom. Makes me feel good when I better know the folks I am dealing with. It seems like for most of the vendors it is not just a business, but an obsession/addiction, just like it is for us.

Keep those specials coming, I may have some money next time!

Jeff

Thank you very much Todd for that information. I'm off to study this very interesting subject...   

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...