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A friend has asked me to build a dred for him. It's pretty much up to me to choose everything, the only thing is that he wants it fairly dark, even the top. No burst or black, natural wood. I have a set of mad rose that I'd like to try. My question is what top would work well aesthetically with mad rose and tonally for a dred?   Redwood, Koa, Mahogany (though plain mahogany is not exciting enough for him)? Other suggestions that are tonally, aesthetically, and structurally suited?

Also, what binding/purfling would go well?

Thanks,
Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

Ron, i think Hesh is on to something with the redwood top although koa was my first choice for a darker top.

Ebony bindings with rope purfling would just look killer on that Dread IMHO.

[QUOTE=Hesh1956] Ron mad rose should make a very cool dread.

How about redwood? It would be fairly dark and has better attack and over tones IMHO which would work well on a dread too.

Are you planning on wood bindings? Koa would work well with this combo or even mad rose "stealth" bindings. In not wood then tortis colored bindings would be great too.[/QUOTE]


I was planning on wood bindings, although I do have a set of tortoise from LMI or Martin. Hadn't thought of using that. The only bindings I have "in stock" are curly maple, but I could get whatever you guys, with better taste than me, recommend.    Redwood was the first top I considered, but I wanted some feedback.

Thanks, Hesh

Ronold man39096.9571759259

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

[QUOTE=Serge Poirier] Ron, i think Hesh is on to something with the redwood top although koa was my first choice for a darker top.

Ebony bindings with rope purfling would just look killer on that Dread IMHO.[/QUOTE]


Thanks, Serge. Ebony is the only binding I've used so far, and I really like it. Hmmmmm.

Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

[QUOTE=old man]   but I could get whatever you guys, with better taste than me, recommend.
Ron[/QUOTE]

Hey Ron, the 3 Wisdom gitters that flew out of your shop were really awesome, i'd say you have quite an eye for good taste as well and this new guitar will be just as awesome also, i'm sure you will give the best care and love to this project my friend! And i want to see pics of course!

Ron, i'd say go with the sinker my friend!!!!!!!No doubt!

Hey Ron, I think that a Redwood top would give you what your looking for.

Than I would use the curly maple bindings you have to contrast the rest of the dark body.

I like light on dark

Rod True39097.0560069444

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[QUOTE=Rod True] Hey Ron, I think that a Redwood top would give you what your looking for.

Than I would use the curly maple bindings you have to contrast the rest of the dark body.

I like light on dark

[/QUOTE]


Thanks, Rod,   that picture helps a lot.   The maple trim looks great.

Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

I had an other picture that I wanted to upload but the server was giving me problems. Let's see if I can upload it now.

Nope, for some reason I can't upload pictures, this one is hot-linked from the archives.

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"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

Here comes another Don Opinion. Be prepared to duck...

I think you should first ask your friend what type of music he plans on using this guitar for. Is he into bluegrass? Then I wouldn't go for redwood but use red spruce instead, or sitka spruce. Is he a light strummer, or does he play more fingerstyle? Does he use a heavy pick? (Redwood dings and dents easily.) All these questions will lead you to knowing if redwood is for him or if he should have an adi top etc.

If he prefers a more mellow tone, and enjoys sparkle in the highs and mids, opt for mahogany rather than the Madrose. Madrose will give you that real dark vibrant bass and sparkle of a great rosewood like Brazilian. But folks who play bluegrass prefer mahogany.

Color can be attained with stains, but sound cannot...
Allow the design process of "Form follows Function" to work. You'll both be happier in the end.

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Only badly."

Thanks, Don. He does play mostly bluegrass/gospel. Strumming and flat picking. I need to talk to him about the top choice again. I too think we'd be better off staying with a spruce.

Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

I agree with the other Don (ducking as well). I don't think a redwood top would give him what he wants for strumming and flat picking. Go with red spruce or sitka possibly tinted with shellac to give an aged look.

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Don Atwood
Arlington, VA

Awwww, don't duck Guys, it's really suggestions like yours that make this place great. Most of us just went with the question at hand.

You guys have helped out our friend Ron there a heap.

If you do go to spruce Ron, you could get some nice BRW appointments for that great guitar.

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"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

Thanks, guys, appreciated.

Ron

_________________
OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......