Official Luthiers Forum!

Hello All,

I am amazed at the beauty of some Bubinga, and was wondering what one could expect tone-wise from this wood.....I would love to build with it. Does it impart a character sound/tone that would be similar to anything I may have heard....Rosewood, Mahogany, Walnut? How would you describe it's sound? Thanks in advance for any input you may have.

Greg

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Gwaltney Guitars

Indian Rosewood-ish. Maybe a bit brighter.

Here's the thing...almost any hardwood that has a *musical* or *crisp* tone to it when tapped can make a nice sounding guitar.

But don't underemphasize the importance of the top and the builder to make the tone what it is. I look at back and side woods as parts that add to the sound, but the top is 95% of it.

How well a back wood reflects sound as opposed to absorbing it is a good measure of what it will sound like. Osage Orange and Brazilian Rosewood have nearly identical damping, so you can conclude that they would sound similarly, and those who have built with osage and BRW both will confirm this. Unfortunately, Osage doesn't look like Brazilian....Don Williams38828.7726388889

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

I've built a couple of bubingas. I think they're a bit brighter than EIR, with a nice midrange ringiness. Very crisp hard attack, great volume.

Sounds like Bubinga should make a fine guitar, I think I'll try one and see. Two votes for a tad brighter than EIR, would that put it in the range of some other glassy Rosewoods...Honduran, Madagascar, Brazilian? Or am I just dreaming.


Greg

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Gwaltney Guitars

The one I built had more of everything.
Looks included. You'll like it.

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com