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Do you all think this is a good set of old growth? Yay or nay?

No idea if it's old growth but it looks a decent set of Back/Sides, certainly not wide grained. What I call 'straight up and down'. Kind of the stuff that behaves itself. I guess it all depends on the cost.

The seller says it is old growth and two luthiers I trust said it is. Just wanted to see what everyone thought!

You really can't tell. I have 'new growth' EIR that's easily as nice.

It's good wood, it's seasoned well, so who really cares?

People will make all sorts of claims to sell / It/s your judgment call.

Whether or not that's the *Good Stuff* or not isn't dependent on old growth or not. The really old growth master grade stuff will have tighter grain and consistent color, and the desired color was that dark purple one used to be able to get with regularity. There's much more variation in the grain and color of this one. I'm sure it will sound as expected though, regardless of when the tree started out or what the color is or what the grain spacing is. Certainly by the standards of old, this isn't "Master" grade, but those are few and far between these days.

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Only badly."

Why? Is he charging an exorbitant price?

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Waddy

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I have bought some superb sets from them. Really dark, even grain, with some character.

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Waddy

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I wouldn't call this old growth it is plantation or natural , Plantation growth is often grown as a companion planting with the tea industry. Here the EIR will grow fast and have a wider grain than natural grown which is what this pictured set is .

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John Hall
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Looks like pretty typical EIR to me. Should be in the $90-120 range at most I'd say. It's pretty easy to get similar EIR in that price range.

Old growth is very rare to come by. Not to many luthiers part with it. As has been said this set looks more like plantation grown with wider grain distance.

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$170 buy it now on ebay.... ...there's one born every minute (or so I hear)

That's a lot. Check some of Allied's sets. They are a bit higher than some I've seen, but the quality of the ones I've bought has been really nice, and extremely stable. I don't sticker my wood, and their stuff stays as flat as it comes. I store them on edge in folder sorters, ala Howard Klepper.

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Waddy

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I have already had three luthiers tell me that this is old growth. Two of them have quite a bit of experience! My issue with Allied is you can never see what you are actually getting until you buy it from them! Unless they would be willing to send pictures and I do not know as I have never bought anything from them.

I just bought a set of EIR from Woodcraft, on sale for $50.
It has straighter AND tighter grain, and is consistently dark colored across the whole set.

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Old growth, shmold growth!

Just out of curiosity, how do the 3 luthiers KNOW it's old growth??

You asked for our advice so we are giving it to you....all for the low price of Free. Some of us are old growth too

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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

I do appreciate the advice and the reason two of them gave me is the color pattern. I also looked it up and it bears out. The light and dark striped pattern is actually indicative of old growth. I have several sets of plantation growth that are dark and even grained all the way across so a darker color does not mean old growth! Also the purple tint some people have commented is a possible indicator along with the grain spacing. I am not saying there are not other sets of plantation growth that do not have tighter grain but not most of the ones I have looked at so far do not and I have visited scores of sights! If I were able to zoom in on the picture the grain is actually tighter than it appears. Let me repeat I sincerely do appreciate all the advice and will admit up front that I am not all that skilled in telling what is good and what isn't! Sometimes though it almost feels like people are poking fun a little at my inexperience instead of being willing to help. I will learn though and know that this forum will definitely aid me in my pursuits!

Just helping you be cautious is all. We've seen a few folks get burned over the years.

If you trust the guys you're talking to and you feel it's good value than go for it

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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

I really do understand and appreciate it! I have been trying to find some old growth for a little bit and it is challenging these days!

This is Bombay Rosewood as it was called when imported in the 1940's into USA. It was grown in the forest. It has a market value of $140 per set now, all sold out now. I wouldn't call it master grade but typical of the many sets cut from trees at the time. The value in this is being able to get several sets at a time so outcome is predictable. So a builder might be able to stock up for a certain model and be willing to accept the higher cost. The marketing punch should not be underestimated.

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Ken

I have never bought a piece of wood from Allied that I didn't see a picture of. I buy from their weekly newsletter only, but they usually have some nice sets posted.

Also, there is old growth and there is forest grown EIR. Here are a few of the sets I just happened to have pics of. These are, as I understand it, forest grown, vs plantation, but I can't prove it. I like 'em though.



I have also bought some sets here from Lance, but they came from Allied, too. All nice.

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Waddy

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Those are beautiful! Are those pictures he sent or are they somewhere on the website?

Allied sends out a newsletter each week to those on their mailing list. They always have a bunch of sets. Often there are new EIR sets, not always though. It's worth being on the list, and a good way to buy from them with pictures, vs the website which does not have pics. Not sure if they would provide some if you needed them.

Here is a link to this weeks postings. You may have to be on the list to order from the newsletter pages. I don't know for sure. It's easy enough to get on it, just sign up. Also, this isn't the best representation of EIR I've seen. Looks like they are getting some new stuff in.
http://enews.alliedlutherie.com/go2.sht ... 9c4b83339/

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Waddy

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Sound Clips of most of my guitars

I have no problem being pointed to Allied I did not know that they had pictures of their sets. The comments I am talking about had nothing to do with providing information. And as for old growth and forest wood I prefer the look of it to the plantation grown wood.

I believe what he showed is forest grown and I can't tell if it is old growth or not. I know the company says it is forrest growth and I would believe it. That is the type of sets I am looking for though!

And Waddy thank you for the info! I had myself added to the email list.

That's what I think.Old growth, SHMOLD growth!

If it has the characteristics I'm looking for, who cares if it's from an old, new, or artificial forest!

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Old growth, shmold growth!