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I came across this set quite a while back from Woodcraft. I got it pretty cheap. I have not seen any figured or flamed EIR B/S before. Is there a reason for this? Is this set worth pursuing as my next build ?


As Always
Thanks,
Richard

I hope so, I have 4/5 sets.
It's not so popular probably because so much straight grained has been available and it will be less stable.
But look at some of the BRW sets!
I would say build away, as long as it has been well seasoned.
If you don't know its history, it could have been cut recently, I would leave it stickered in a non-controlled environment (I keep mine in a shed with no AC or heating) for at least a couple or 3 years.
Bourgeois, and others have used it.
https://artisanguitars.com/bourgeois-custom-vintage-d-figured-indian-rosewood-and-adirondack-spruce-id-8730

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

At one time "bear claw" was also considered a defect. When it covers the whole top it is considered a "wow" factor and looked favorably on. I think "figured" EIR falls in this same catagory. To some it will be a low grade set, and others will love the character it adds to the wood. Ultimately it's not the wood that determines the quality of the guitar, but what you do with it.

One thing that set on the Bourgeois has going for it is that it may well be quarter sawn, where many figured sets are rift or flat sawn, with lots of runout. At least EIR seems to be one of the more stable rosewoods.

I've built with quartered and flat sawn BRW without problems, but they were aged sets. Key here is seasoned, as Colin said. I do have one flat sawn set of BRW in my stash with beautiful figure. It's been stickered for ten years and it's still moving. I guess it's a crap shoot.

Pat

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formerly known around here as burbank
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com