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What is the comparison between Paolo Escrito back and sides and spanish cypress? What top wood is best for use with Paolo Escrito? Has anyone ever used it for a classical guitar? Am thinking of building classical with red cedar top and Paolo Escrito back and sides. Any suggestions?
I built a cedar top classical with it. Due to the figure, it was somewhat hard to work. At the time, I hadn't gotten my thickness sander yet so I had to hand plane it and it was difficult. Finishing it was about the same as finishing any other rosewood. All in all I was satisfied with it and would build with it again.
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Thank you, sir, for the information. I really like the figure of Palo Escrito. I have built steel string guitars in the past as an occasional hobby, but never a classical or flamenco. So this will be my first one. I'm looking forward to building it and I want it to look special but can't afford some of the more expensive woods. I just hope I can work it to sound really good. Thanks!
You may also want to look into Pau Ferro. It's nonporous so it saves you the pore filling step when finishing. It's got a nice tap tone and it reminds me of Palo Escrito but easier to work. Good luck with your classical!
Tom, do you really find that Pau Ferro and Palo Escrito has the same kind of taptone? I only think they have more or less the same colour.
I find that Pau Ferro is a lot more "dead" without the rosewood "ring" and thats one of the reasons I dont work with it. The other is that its considered to causing serious alergic reaction.
I´ve worked with Palo Escrito and I like its sound qualities. I dont kow how to compare it to Cypress, because Palo Escrito is a true rosewood, so it would be better to compare with lets say East Indian Rosewood. I Find that Palo Escrito is a bit lighter and maybe with a bit more damping or less "ring" in the taptone.
The reason I dont stock it is that its very difficult to get a good piece. It tends to have knots, have parts which are very open pored and the color is not my favorite. Its to pale and lacks the debth of other rosewoods.
But soundwise, its very nice and will work very well for both classical and flamenco guitars,
Another nice and cheap wood is Padauk, but work it carefully. Its splintery and the wood dust is orange and sticks to everything.
I would have uploaded a photo, but it was impossible. (The foro doesnt work very well. I still have serious problems with uploads)
Tom, do you really find that Pau Ferro and Palo Escrito has the same kind of taptone? I only think they have more or less the same colour.
Hi Anders,
The Pau Ferro I've used had a rather nice tap tone. The Palo Escrito on the other hand was dead in comparison. I've only used it once so I don't know if other sets are better or if they are all consistent. The end result was good though.
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