Official Luthiers Forum!

I just returned from Larry Breslin’s workshop; I had to re-take pictures of my flamenco and classical commissions, since I forgot to remove a “soft” filter from my camera during an earlier photo shoot a few weeks ago, causing all the photos to be a little fuzzy . . . but I finally have some really good photographs now!

Larry was in the middle of packing everything up for his big move next week to a new and smaller location. A few years’ worth of stock will remain in his new workshop, but his billets and some other large hardware is going into storage, including over a dozen Engelmann spruce billets with extensive bearclaw figuration. He told me that he is willing to sell some of this stock. This wood originated in the mountains of Northern Colorado. Larry told me the timber yard indicated the logs came from the largest spruce tree felled in 50 years. The logs were hand-split and have been dried over many years. This was a very old tree that grew slowly in the dry Rocky Mountain climate, which occasionally produces rare and exquisite bear claw figuration.

Since I was there to take pictures of the wood I picked for my guitars, including a bearclaw set from the same tree noted, I offered to take a few pictures of his Engelmann billets and distribute them in the Internet luthier forums. If you are interested, please email me and I will pass Breslin’s contact information along to you, since he’s in the process of moving. Larry will eventually sell some of these billets on eBay, so you may want to negotiate a price before they go up for auction.

Here are a few pictures of the set I chose for my “Poca Loca” flamenco and the billets from which she originates. The set is extremely light and very stiff, and the figuration is extensive:











I will post additional photos on my website soon, including closer pictures of the billets, etc. I will edit this post with the web page URL/address that contains this additional content after the content is posted...

I'm interested. Please forward me the info. paul@woolsonsoundcraft.com
thanks Paul

Purty stuff eh?

I'm interested!!!
Thanks.
wkiralla@earthlink.net

Does he only have billets or can I order a top set??

I'd be interested in a billet or three!

Hey, I visited Larry's shop and home when he was in Cheyenne, WY about 10 years ago. He did a great job fine-tuning my old LoPrinzi guitar. I still remember how clean his shop was and the attention to detail in his work. I understand he's in Colorado Springs now, but where is he moving his shop to?

Just curious,

John

I have published a web page with detailed photography of all available Engelmann bearclawed billets, including Breslin's contact information if you are interested in a purchase. Here is the web page address:

http://www.trentonscott.com/deerheadEngelmannBillets.shtml

Many of these billets are large and should yeild at least 10 sets. Bearclaw figuration pervades all the billets. Here are a few more photographs of my flamenco set, taken from the same stock:












Regards,
Trent
AKA SonicAgamemnon
www.trentonscott.comSonicAgamemnon38397.0327083333

Check your Inbox, Paul. I've sent you all the details...

[QUOTE=Pwoolson] I'm interested. Please forward me the info. paul@woolsonsoundcraft.com
thanks Paul[/QUOTE]

I have sent you an email with all the details, Walter. I know Larry has many Engelmann sets, both with and without bearclaw. You'll have to discuss individual set availability with him...


[QUOTE=WalterK] I'm interested!!!
Thanks.
wkiralla@earthlink.net

Does he only have billets or can I order a top set??[/QUOTE]

Hi, John. Larry is moving to an even nicer location in Colorado Springs at The Broadmoor, but he's moving from a huge place into something less than half the size! Larry and his family are doing fine. He is very busy, building several guitars for the students of Masa Ito and Ricardo Iznaola. Larry is trying to get me into Ito's class. I'll be lucky if Larry can deliver my new flamenco and spruce classical this year...


[QUOTE=John Elshaw] Hey, I visited Larry's shop and home when he was in Cheyenne, WY about 10 years ago. He did a great job fine-tuning my old LoPrinzi guitar. I still remember how clean his shop was and the attention to detail in his work. I understand he's in Colorado Springs now, but where is he moving his shop to?

Just curious,

John[/QUOTE]

Hey Trent,
I live in Colorado too. I know that Robert O'brien knows Ito-san very well. Maybe he can help you get into his class. Check out the Bios for Robert's Information. Good luck...That's some Purdy wood you got there!
Tracy

Thanks for the O'Brien contact, Tracy! I hope Masa will throw Larry a bone and give me some of his attention this year-- I need some help...

I'd love to see some more information on those billets too, if you can.

Thanks,
Pete

I would be interested in a billet or two of this material. Please
send more information to KHageman@adelphia.net.

Thank You

I would like info on both the bearclaw and non-bearclaw Englemann. I only build classical/flamenco and it is really hard to find bearclaw that is not Sitka. John Gilbert had good results with Sitka but most classical builders use Euro spruce, Englemann or WRC. If is getting very hard (and expensive) to get Euro Spruce that is bearclaw (or hazelfiche as the Germans say).

I sent an email to Larry yesterday but have not heard back yet. If you have any other info I am interested in several billets.

Thanks,
Shawn Carlson

Shawn, when I was over at Rivolta they had plenty of E-grade Euro Spruce with bearclaw in it. Granted, most of it was far less dramatic than this stuff is, but they had quite a bit, same price as their 'regular' E grade material, beautifully quartered, stiff, light stuff, at a very reasonable 55 Euros.



That's the best shot I've got of one of the 4 bearclawed tops I picked out. Not necessarily the best clawed top, but the best photo I have. I didn't go through the whole stack of them, as that would've taken another 4 hours at the minimum. If you're looking for something very specific, ask them (Stiffness, looks, etc.), and they should be willing to take a few pictures for you. They're sometimes a tad slow in replying to email, but in my experience, you always get an answer, and usually quite fast.Mattia Valente38398.173275463

Ken:

Check your Inbox; I sent you contact information and other details...


[QUOTE=KHageman] I would be interested in a billet or two of this material. Please
send more information to KHageman@adelphia.net.

Thank You[/QUOTE]

Shawn:

It may be hard reaching Larry this week, since he is moving everything to a new location in Colorado Springs today. Please visit my web page for Breslin's contact information, including his phone number:

Engelmann Bearclaw Billet Link

Larry mentioned that finding Sitka with "good" bearclaw figuration is rare, but finding nice Engelmann bearclaw is even more difficult. What defines a good bearclaw set is subjective, since some people think there are no good bearclaw sets! However, I don't agree. I think a nice bearclaw set is light, has good strength/stiffness and graining characteristics, just like any other soundboard, along with heavy, assymetric bearclaw figuration distributed across the entire top. Again, that's just my subjective opinion.

Regarding John Gilbert, the guitar-making world is pretty small, since Larry knows Gilbert well and uses his gears often. His son makes them now, I think. Breslin also focuses on flamenco/classical guitars and avoids Sitka altogether, unlike Gilbert. I've commissioned three guitars from Larry, and his tapa stock is limited to Engelmann, German spruce, cedar or redwood. I had a hard time deciding between Engelmann or German spruce last month, since they were all close in strength/quality. I decided to go with the more dramatic bearclaw look for my flamenco, since the set equalled or exceeded others in most categories I use during the (horrific!) wood-selection process.

The bearclaw figuration is hard to photograph. From some angles you don't see much; from other viewpoints you are blown away. As you move around the set, the color changes as well, from ivory to a pale pink to a highly reflective silver. I still don't know what color it *really* is! I have never seen wood like this before. The bearclaw set I picked is just as strong/stiff and light as the non-bearclaw Engelmann I went through last month, so why not go with something a little bit crazy for a crazy flamenco negra?

OLE!


[QUOTE=Shawn] I would like info on both the bearclaw and non-bearclaw Englemann. I only build classical/flamenco and it is really hard to find bearclaw that is not Sitka. John Gilbert had good results with Sitka but most classical builders use Euro spruce, Englemann or WRC. If is getting very hard (and expensive) to get Euro Spruce that is bearclaw (or hazelfiche as the Germans say).

I sent an email to Larry yesterday but have not heard back yet. If you have any other info I am interested in several billets.

Thanks,
Shawn Carlson[/QUOTE] SonicAgamemnon38398.4057523148

Mattia,

Thanks. The bearclaw Euro spruce that I get is usually from Rivolta. I too have gotten very nice stock when there. They are really nice people to deal with and will let you spend time looking through their stock.

The key with bearclaw as Trenton was saying is that it is tough to get bearclaw that is "good" and still is just as stiff as non-figured.

If the bearclaw is too slight then people dont want it as they may see it as a flaw. I have seen extreme bearclaw that looked unnatural in the amound of figure but the other characteristics were not up to snuff. I like even, not too extreme bearclaw that still has the other qualities desired.

Trenton, I like the idea of a flamenco with a bearclaw top, Flamenco can look somewhat tame and this should "spice things up". Another indirect benefit is that with time it will hide wear better I have seen flamenco guitars that were literally worn out by playing...(should someone tell Willie Nelson he has a great big hole in his top from using a pick with his nylon string?

Good luck with your hunt for bearclaw, Shawn. I think every builder should have at least a few sets available, since there is a percentage of clients (even Classical players!) who will gravitate towards these soundboards and are willing to pay a premium for it.   

Last month, I visited Breslin's workshop and the first thing I said to him was: "I want you to build me a negra and her name will be Poca Loca!" The "crazy" theme was established from the start, so it was fitting to select unusual wood for the back and tapa, which we did with gusto! If you want to follow construction, please bookmark the following web page dedicated to Poca Loca:

"Poca Loca" Flamenco Negra

I went to the webpage and sent an e-mail a few days ago but have not
heard from anyone. I'd love to get some info...

_________________
John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

I also sent an e-mail to inquire on pricing. I havent heard back either. But I'm sure he has his hands full right now with orders. Those are some pretty billets----Snick