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  • From: "Lynda" <lurine AT softcom.net>
  • To: <homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Homestead] Transitioning
  • Date: Sat, 10 Sep 2005 10:04:32 -0700

Have you ever used swamp ash? The "tone" from swamp ash is soooo different than other woods. We don't have any out here but I would think you would out there (out there being east of the Mississippi <g>). I love the "tone" as it is deeper, smoother, and holds a note differently.

Which of course will mean nothing to folks who don't play stringed instruments.

My great uncle made stringed instruments and made a cello out of a walnut burl. It is now in a museum. Wish I had it. However, I do have the first violin he ever made.

The difference in handmade instruments is, hmmmm, best way to describe it would be to compare grocery store, hot house tomatoes to homegrown!

Lynda
----- Original Message ----- From: <Clansgian AT wmconnect.com>

No, just tung oil. Now that you mention it, there's not even any stain in
the shop anywhere. Black walnut wood really is almost black. This harp was
made from an old, old tree that was dying of old age. The cabinet maker sawed it
up on a bandsaw mill and to his dismay, it was full of sap pockets! Almost
unheard of in a walnut tree. This meant it was largely spoiled as cabinet
wood, but since the pieces I need in the luthier gig are relatively small and
irregular, I could make use of most of it by positioning my templates around the
offending pockets. By the bye, the wood was kiln dried but I've had it in
storage for 12 years now. I'm gathering wood now to air dry to use five or six
years from now.

The soundboard is birch.





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