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Birch, Oak, Pine, Fir, and Spruce...?
http://w-ww.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10123&t=34111
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Author:  Krohn [ Wed Nov 02, 2011 8:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Birch, Oak, Pine, Fir, and Spruce...?

Hey folks. I know that pine and spruce are used occasionally on guitars. But I'm curious... why do i never hear of Fir, Oak and Birch? Birch is quite hard, and Fir is quite similar to pine, is it not? And what about Oak?

Any thoughts? Are there reasons I never hear of these woods being used? Are they silly, superfluous reasons like lots of the ridiculousness you hear come out of people's mouths about wood (Sipo vs Mahogany... wait a sec...)?

Thanks folks

Author:  alan stassforth [ Wed Nov 02, 2011 8:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Birch, Oak, Pine, Fir, and Spruce...?

viewtopic.php?f=10123&t=34037

Author:  Krohn [ Wed Nov 02, 2011 8:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Birch, Oak, Pine, Fir, and Spruce...?

oops... thanks!

Author:  toddb [ Wed Nov 02, 2011 8:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Birch, Oak, Pine, Fir, and Spruce...?

Here is an oak Martin, "Arts and Crafts" guitar.

http://www.elderly.com/new_instruments/items/ARTS2.htm

Author:  Bobc [ Thu Nov 03, 2011 3:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Birch, Oak, Pine, Fir, and Spruce...?

Geez Filippo now I'm hesitant to say "I like it" :D

Author:  Mike Baker [ Thu Nov 03, 2011 7:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Birch, Oak, Pine, Fir, and Spruce...?

Bobc wrote:
Geez Filippo now I'm hesitant to say "I like it" :D



:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Funny. But I agree that a lot of Martin's offerings, for a while now, have been pretty much stretching it to call them new models. Especially a lot of the "signature" or "artist" series. A lot of them have a lot of "cosmetic touches", but they are by a long shot not anything very different from their standard offerings(with some exceptions, of course).
However, having said that, Martin still is, and will be for the forseeable future, at the top of the massed produced acoustic guitar ladder. It's ingrained in a large majority of players that Martin is the essence of what a good acoustic should be. True or not, fair or not, there's no denying that(unless you live in another reality).

Author:  Mike Baker [ Thu Nov 03, 2011 7:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Birch, Oak, Pine, Fir, and Spruce...?

Filippo Morelli wrote:
True or not who cares. I love it. It's easy for me to build a superior guitar. Plays right into our hands. Gotta love a general populous with such a low bar.

Filippo

Although it will be a long time before I can produce a superior guitar with any certainty, it's definitely true that the vast majority of guitar players will probably never venture past companies like Martin, Gibson, or Taylor for their instrument needs. But there are more discerning players, and that's where the independent luthier comes in.
And i think that the numbers of players that are seeking more than what the big name companies like Martin are offering is steadily growing. I'm hoping there'll come a day when the builder can actually make a decent living from that. At least I'm keeping my fingers crossed, lol.

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