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Post by cottonopolis on Jun 17, 2014 18:44:56 GMT
Does anybody have any information on Birch as a tonewood? Where does it sit regards to sound with the more popular woods such as rosewood, mahogany and maple? There seems to be a few American guitar builders using birch, such as John How and Mike Hauver, in ladder braced guitars. Any info welcome. Cheers.
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Post by vikingblues on Jun 17, 2014 21:54:03 GMT
I believe birch is is reasonably close to the sort of maple sound, though I've had no personal experience of it I'm afraid. Hopefully someone will be along soon that's more in the know.
For what it's worth Alder is a member of the birch family. I'm (fairly) sure I remember seeing that Gibson used Birch quite a lot for back and sides many years ago.
Mark
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Post by Trevor TAMCO on Jun 18, 2014 8:32:57 GMT
Yes birch was standard on Gibson mandolins in the 1910s. Sorry I don't know much about its use in guitars.
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Post by cottonopolis on Jun 18, 2014 10:13:45 GMT
Thanks for the replies, I know that Birch was used in the cheaper end guitars like Kay and Harmony. The guitars being built with Birch now are much more expensive. Maybe the previous use in budget guitars has given it a bad name, what I will say though, the builders using Birch now, make some beautiful looking guitars. Cheers.
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davewhite
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Post by davewhite on Jun 18, 2014 11:29:31 GMT
Thanks for the replies, I know that Birch was used in the cheaper end guitars like Kay and Harmony. The guitars being built with Birch now are much more expensive. Maybe the previous use in budget guitars has given it a bad name, what I will say though, the builders using Birch now, make some beautiful looking guitars. Cheers. Birch was used for these guitars (and Stellas) as it was cheap and widely available - the same reason that Cypress was used for Flamenco guitars. Just because wood is cheap and plentiful it doesn't mean that it can't be beautiful and a very good tonewood for guitars. Fashion trends and the views of "guitar fashionista" may dictate otherwise of course Birch is the new "chic" but it's really just the old birch.
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Post by ocarolan on Jun 18, 2014 13:00:28 GMT
Landola (Finnish brand) used to use birch a lot and may even still do so, if they are still around.
Keith
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Post by cottonopolis on Jun 18, 2014 13:56:03 GMT
Thanks for the replies, I know that Birch was used in the cheaper end guitars like Kay and Harmony. The guitars being built with Birch now are much more expensive. Maybe the previous use in budget guitars has given it a bad name, what I will say though, the builders using Birch now, make some beautiful looking guitars. Cheers. Birch was used for these guitars (and Stellas) as it was cheap and widely available - the same reason that Cypress was used for Flamenco guitars. Just because wood is cheap and plentiful it doesn't mean that it can't be beautiful and a very good tonewood for guitars. Fashion trends and the views of "guitar fashionista" may dictate otherwise of course Birch is the new "chic" but it's really just the old birch. Thanks for the input Dave. Where would you place it tonally compared to other woods? ie; mahogany, rosewood and maple. Cheers.
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davewhite
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Post by davewhite on Jun 18, 2014 14:24:10 GMT
Thanks for the input Dave. Where would you place it tonally compared to other woods? ie; mahogany, rosewood and maple. I've never built with it so I don't really know. My instinct would be that it would be similar to cherry and oak, but that probably doesn't help you much.
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Post by cottonopolis on Jun 19, 2014 8:42:20 GMT
OK Thanks for that Dave. Cheers.
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Post by andyhowell on Jun 19, 2014 22:19:09 GMT
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Post by cottonopolis on Jun 20, 2014 8:49:38 GMT
Thanks for the link Andy , I will check it out. Cheers.
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