Ruphus -> Homegrown Like Tropical Wood (Mar. 5 2018 13:43:34)
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Been off the internet for some months. Good thing about it that I went into realizing a sketch for a new book. Really thrilling plot playing in times about 10 years from now. -Hollywood, craving for passable skripts since years, could be liking it, if only me be better in terms of PR this time. Anyway, what I actually want to tell is that on the German TV channel DW there was a feature weeks ago about whether common European wood could be made equaling tone wood of known tropic sorts. I think they engaged folks from Fraunhofer, but don´t quote me on that. First discovery: We guys who think to sense something special with old wood / aged instruments, have not been esoteric lunatics. It actually contributes to a fuller tone. Reasons being quite what specialists used to assume. Obvious changes over time of fibre and resin was mentioned. Secondly, they found that treating common sorts at specific kiln drying procedures at up to 300° C made the wood sorts alter and come up to characteristics of fine tropic / subtropical specimen. One guitar then was built and played by a classical player. She liked it very well, and it sounded nice on the TV-set too. Not dull / slow at all. Naturally, the project wasn´t dealing with the most important factor: Guitar building methods and skills, but with respect to material it appears like a great thing to me if standards have been found to improve material, if not make to bring mediocre stuff to top quality. Personally, for experience with guitars of woods like maple, I always thought that good making should be able to produce great stuff with ordinary tree specimens, and in past years in this section of the foro several builders have reported to have made good use of 'ordinary' non-tropical material. If northern Cinderella trees can be ensured to deliver well by specified treatment, just the better for the guitar building in general, I guess.
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