Official Luthiers Forum!

Well thanks Steve! I intend to bring a cypress tornavoz guitar with me to the next LINT meeting, but you can't have it...

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Instagram: @jfrenchluthier
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Tracy, that is a good idea. We could all build one specifically to show off at the next GAL convention, and have ourselves a little sub-convention..

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[QUOTE=tl507362] What would be really cool is if one of the builders here made a great sounding guitar, then it was passed to all the builders to evaluate the guitar for sound. [/QUOTE]

I don't like this idea. If you look at the feedback on other member's work that is posted on this forum, you won't find much negative said about anything. This is necessary to maintain a cordial atomosphere. If there is something about a guitar that we don't like, most of us remain mute about it and we emphasize the things about the guitar that we do like. This gives encouragement to do more. If I feel compelled to say something negative I usually respond in private and then agonize over how to exactly phrase my comments. I only do this if I feel that the builder can take some specific concrete steps to either address the issue or avoid it on the next instrument.

Taste in sound is so subjective. Imagine spending a lot of time trying to capture the "L-00" sound and then overhearing someone say, "Did you hear that guitar? I sounds as bad as a Gibson".

There are so many great styles of guitars, I would have to have a great one of each...

Pre-Torres: Anton Stauffer (I have a LaCote and a Pages, both in rough shape but restorable)
Torres: Any
Flamenco: Either Dominigo Esteso or Santos Hernandez
Steel String (6 string): Rick Davis
Multi-string: Manzer Picasso
Baritone (steel string): Doolin
Archtop: DeAngelico New Yorker

Having just completed my first......I hope to WANT to own one that I make someday

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Guitars...One's too many...Twenty is not enough.

[QUOTE=jfrench] Well thanks Steve! I intend to bring a cypress tornavoz guitar with me to the next LINT meeting, but you can't have it...[/QUOTE]

We'll see.... We'll see....

Oh yes, and while I'm dreaming, and before I awake, I'll change the binding option to the Mexican Kingwood, please.
Right there at Clark's, just awaitin' fer ya

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Steve check out what I got a Clark's a few years ago: one 10th LMI price

Have you ever used that kingwood theyhave? Its pretty stuff.

Shawn - a D'Angelico... great choice! I'm amazed that so many people's dream guitars can be had for less than $10,000. I was expecting more replies along the lines of yours...jfrench38470.6019907407

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Joshua--that's really pretty. I'm guessing when you saw that board at Clark's, the heart beat faster, and you walked around w/ it in hand for the rest of the shopping spree.

Yes, poking around the Kingwood bin can be frustrating. Cracks, splits, worm damage.... I did find one perfect piece, though, 1x3x36. Perfect for bindings. I've got half of it sliced up, and it's put aside for my own guitar. (Cuban mahog)

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Steve... there were probably 100 boards just like it. I got several, but if my heart was beating with anything it was not having the money to buy them all! Reportedly, more Madagascar Rosewood this fall. I am saving my money and I'm going to keep checking... resawed the last of what I got recently, and it was all top quality stuff.

Yeah that kingwood is full of cracks. Gorgeous stuff though! They have a whole new section there with some "top quality" woods, but its nothing like what they had a few years back (few hundred pounds of Brazilian Rosewood, for instance). Last I was there they had some Indian Rosewood now - not useful for back though, some nice cocobolo, ziricote, a bunch of maple. If you get Mahogany there, you might check out Hogan Hardwoods instead, which is where I've been buying spanish Cedar (they have most woods in 4/4, 6/4, 8/4, and 12/4).jfrench38470.6458796296

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[QUOTE=Mike Mahar]
I don't like this idea. If you look at the feedback on other member's work that is posted on this forum, you won't find much negative said about anything.

Taste in sound is so subjective. Imagine spending a lot of time trying to capture the "L-00" sound and then overhearing someone say, "Did you hear that guitar? I sounds as bad as a Gibson".
[/QUOTE]

Actually Mike I was more refering to not critiquing the guitar so much, but instead it would be an excercise in finding out what sound everyone likes. Like you said, some may hate the sound, but others may like it. It would interesting to find that you felt this guitar was too much midrange, and the other builder felt it was too much bass, and so on. So it wouldn't be a critique, it would be a way to find out how luthiers define sound, and it would also show each other what sounds each of us likes. The guitar could be the ugliest one ever made, it is just the sound that would be critiqued. Hope that makes sense.
Tracy

[QUOTE=tl507362]
Actually Mike I was more refering to not critiquing the guitar so much, but instead it would be an excercise in finding out what sound everyone likes. Like you said, some may hate the sound, but others may like it. It would interesting to find that you felt this guitar was too much midrange, and the other builder felt it was too much bass, and so on. So it wouldn't be a critique, it would be a way to find out how luthiers define sound, and it would also show each other what sounds each of us likes. Tracy[/QUOTE]

Or, Tracy, who among us has got the best ears?

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Alright, Joshua, where is this Hogan Hardwoods?
Maybe we could make a whole day of it...and include Hogan's as well.

To show how eclectic my tastes are, last I was at Clark's, I found two stunning boards of Chakte Kok, which I almost bought. If I hadn't already shot the wad on Mahogany, I'd have 'em here at the house. As it is, some shop student probably turned them into really pricey bric-a-brac.

Next time you find some Madagascar, lemme know?

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Steve I know my ears arn't that great. When I build for myself I tend to build in extra midrange. I guess that is one of the reasons I like Koa as a top wood.

Steve, I'll let you know as long as you don't mention to them you're a guitar maker. If they get wind of everyone turning their $35/bd. ft madagascar into guitars, and happen upon LMI's site we're screwed. You gotta be ready for a quick trip down here as soon as it comes in though, before anyone else hears!

Hogan is just a big warehouse where they sell mainly to the home construction industry I think, but they had a *lot* of Mahogany and Spanish Cedar there (many other species too). If the price and quality of their Spanish Cedar is any indication, its the best place I've found here for neck woods. I don't think the average woodturner is buying anything there or even knows about it. I only found it because suppliers for Spanish Cedar thick enough to faccilitate a V-joint require much searching.

Come to Houston, we'll go wood shopping. Making a day out of it sounds good to me.

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