Official Luthiers Forum!

Owned and operated by Lance Kragenbrink
It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 11:06 am


All times are UTC - 5 hours


Forum rules


Be nice, no cussin and enjoy!




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 9 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: Tonewood description.
PostPosted: Sun Jan 21, 2018 1:48 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member

Joined: Sat Sep 14, 2013 9:46 pm
Posts: 755
Location: Napa Valley
First name: David
Last Name: Foster
City: Napa
State: CA
Zip/Postal Code: 94558
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Ebay and some of the non main wood suppliers have been cracking me up lately. Whats up with exhibition grade, 5A 6A a bazillion grade? It seems as if to sell ones product these days one must come up with a monkey that pushes the limits of the previous last action or set sold haha

_________________
https://www.instagram.com/fostinoguitars/
https://www.facebook.com/PuraVidaUkuleles/


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sun Jan 21, 2018 3:13 pm 
Offline
Cocobolo
Cocobolo

Joined: Fri Nov 02, 2007 2:53 pm
Posts: 443
Location: Canada
How about 'Mystic' rosewood ?


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sun Jan 21, 2018 3:44 pm 
Offline
Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:15 pm
Posts: 7219
First name: Ed
Last Name: Bond
City: Vancouver
Country: Canada
Focus: Build
Status: Professional
It's human nature. Why isn't aaa considered good enough anymore?

Maybe cause what passes for aaa these days is what used to be a generous aa even a few short years ago...


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sun Jan 21, 2018 4:38 pm 
Offline
Cocobolo
Cocobolo
User avatar

Joined: Sat May 12, 2007 6:11 am
Posts: 176
Location: Canada
This speaks to the arbitrariness of wood grading, as it always was and always will be. In my opinion, triple A was never an objective grade, nor was any other classification. We'll always have to rely on our wits and intuition in selecting wood.

_________________
Under Compensated Nut!


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sun Jan 21, 2018 4:44 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member

Joined: Sat Sep 14, 2013 9:46 pm
Posts: 755
Location: Napa Valley
First name: David
Last Name: Foster
City: Napa
State: CA
Zip/Postal Code: 94558
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
It would be nice to have a standardization. At least with people like LMI,Allied, Notable woods,Hibdon, RC and a few other reputable dealers you get what your asking for.

_________________
https://www.instagram.com/fostinoguitars/
https://www.facebook.com/PuraVidaUkuleles/


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sun Jan 21, 2018 10:39 pm 
Offline
Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Sun Mar 30, 2008 8:20 am
Posts: 5924
"It would be nice to have a standardization"

Even where there is some rhyme or reason to a grading system it is based on cosmetics rather than the sonic properties of the wood.And a lot of "high dollar" wood is sold on a back story rather than any real quality to the timber.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Mon Jan 22, 2018 11:41 am 
Offline
Cocobolo
Cocobolo
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jun 14, 2013 6:08 pm
Posts: 218
First name: Gregor
Last Name: Crothers
State: Ontario
Country: Canada
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Aaron Hix is an ebay seller, and sponsor of the forum, who has sold exhibition grade woods.
Maybe he could answer your question as to what constitutes Exhibition Grade in his eyes.
He is reputable, and liked on this forum as far as I can tell.

A while back I bid (and won) on and Exhibition set of Yellow Cedar.
I have not used it yet, but visually it is impeccable and just a treat to look at. : )

_________________
Wake up and smell the rosewood!


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Mon Jan 22, 2018 12:46 pm 
Offline
Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Thu Feb 12, 2009 10:27 pm
Posts: 2082
Location: South Carolina
First name: John
Last Name: Cox
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
The problem is that actual wood doesn't grow into neatly organized categories. There is a whole continuous spectrum from "firewood" all the way to "Holy Grail"......

So say you split this into 5 categories... Below A, A, AA, AAA, and Master.... There is a ton of wood that doesn't make the cut to AAA - but just barely. And so now that stuff is AA - but it's better than a lot of AA that is in the stack.

And wood suppliers recognize this..... Often as not - when you talk with them - not only are there the "normal" grades - but there are slots between the grades as well.... It's just the nature of wood....

Several years ago - Shane ran a special for us and got rid of a giant stack of "A" grade wood that fell out because of knots... If not for the knots - it would be AAA or Master it's just that beautiful. And it's WAY WAY better than Ordinary A grade wood I have normally received. But that's wood..... Trees don't always plan ahead 400 years as we might like them to. ;) ;)


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Mon Jan 22, 2018 1:25 pm 
Offline
Koa
Koa

Joined: Thu Sep 10, 2009 4:01 pm
Posts: 1887
Location: UK
A couple of years ago I made an experimental guitar. The Euro spruce soundboard cost me all of . . . . $6. Wide grain, around 9 or 10 GPI. It had some mild colour streaks but in terms of runout it was pretty good. It was also sold as an undersized soundboard but it just fit within my pattern. Sounded just as good as soundboards that I've paid $100 for. Fancy swirly figured walnut might have a wow factor but it really isn't going to sound any better than plain boring straight up and down quartered stuff. In fact the plain stuff is probably more stable.


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 9 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: bobgramann, Marc, TripodBob and 53 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
phpBB customization services by 2by2host.com