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Hi everybody, I tried searching the archives for a pic of a guitar made from kingwood, however I just kept getting results from 'Jim, in Kingwood TX'. Has anybody ever built with kingwood, and do you have any pics? What are the tonal characteristics?

Thanks!

John

Are you asking because you have a set or have one available? All the trees big enough for a two piece back were cut 50-60 years ago. It's hard to find quartersawn wood for a 4-piece back now.

I happen to have a set with 2-piece back that was sawn from wood stashed away in the 1930's. Saving it for something special. I've heard one guitar made with it, by Bruce Sexauer. It sounded good, like his other rosewood guitars.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

Actually it would be used for a lattice braced guitar so it's really a veneer on the back and sides so I guess I'm more curious to see what it looks like than anything else. Tonewise I don't think it would make much difference since lattice guitars are so heavy and stiff, there's probably very little added by the back and sides. Is it a protected species like BRW?

Schramm Guitars

Take a look here...

[QUOTE=RCoates] Schramm Guitars

Take a look here...[/QUOTE]

Actually it was an e-mail from David Schramm that prompted my original post. He mentions Kingwood as a back/side choice, but none of those pics are kingwood. They are all BRW veneers on those first 3 lattice guitars he made. You can see more pics of the finished guitars at the Trilogy guitar website.

It shouldn't be hard for you to find some photos of kingwood. In the system you are considering, it is just a cosmetic layer.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

My favorite lumber yard, Clark's (in Houston), has both "Mexican" and "Brazilian" kingwood.
They look similar, only different.

However, I thought that the Mexican kingwood was the same as Camatillo rosewood. Is that so, or not so?

(Cuz if it's SO, then kingwood can be had easily from LMI.)

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Madinter have classical guitar sized sets of Kingwood they call Dalbergia cearensis. I'm very tempted to get a set for a small steel string. I've used it for bridges and fingerboards etc and really liked it.

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Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010

I received 3 set of Kingwood from Dick Boak of Martin guitars whan he was in charge of the woods -back in the 80's!
All the backs were 3 piece!
the sides had some sapwood and were well 1/4 .
This stuff was heavy and beautiful !!!
I made 3 guitars of it -one is not for sale !
If i could get more I'd buy it !!!!
Nice to work with but dense-bent easy (.090 sides)
took a sheen in the final scraping that I've never seen since !
mike Collins

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Mike Collins

[QUOTE=Dave White] Madinter have classical guitar sized sets of Kingwood they call Dalbergia cearensis. I'm very tempted to get a set for a small steel string. I've used it for bridges and fingerboards etc and really liked it.[/QUOTE]

Dave. I know that Russell bought some from them, I believe he was very pleased with the results. It's always useful to check the sizes with them as some of the classical sets I've had from them would be big enough for a Dreadnaught. If you make a particular request they'll e-mail you pictures of sets. Like seemingly all tonewood suppliers they are very helpful.

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

[QUOTE=John Elshaw] [QUOTE=RCoates] Schramm Guitars

Take a look here...[/QUOTE]

Actually it was an e-mail from David Schramm that prompted my original post. He mentions Kingwood as a back/side choice, but none of those pics are kingwood. They are all BRW veneers on those first 3 lattice guitars he made. You can see more pics of the finished guitars at the Trilogy guitar website.

[/QUOTE]

Looks like he shows at least three different backs on that page... Sorry I can't say which is which. Maybe David can Email you a pic. One 2006 model on the Trilogy site is listed as Kingwood, sadly no pic.
Best of luck.