Wood ID please

[lenf12]

I am trying to be certain about the rosewood used for the sides and back of this LoPrinzi guitar. Is it BRW or EIR? This is to help out the widow of a friend who passed a year or so ago. BTW, it's a lefty and I'm not, too bad 'cuz she is a beauty. Thanks in advance!!

Len B.
Clearwater, FL

[grassrootphilosopher]

I am trying to be certain about the rosewood used for the sides and back of this LoPrinzi guitar. It's to help out the widow of a friend. BTW, it's a lefty and I'm not, too bad 'cuz she is a beauty. Thanks in advance!!

Len B.
Clearwater, FL

I´d go on a limb and say East Indian Rosewood. I thought the backs on early 40ies Gibson Southerner Jumbos were Brasilian Rosewood. I was told (comon knowledge now) that I was wrong. It is East Indian Rosewood. The Rosewood looked the same. That´s why I´d say it´s EIR.

[lenf12]

Thank you Olaf. That would be erring on the safe side and to be honest, she told me in advance it was BRW but when I first examined it a few days ago, my skeptical side kicked in. That's why I could use some help. It seems to fit in so well with the variations between both types of rosewood that I can't really give an opinion.

Len B.
Clearwater, FL

[sunburst]

I can't tell from the picture, and frankly, anyone who says it is one or the other simply from looking at the pic is guessing.

[MikeEdgerton]

Is there a model number on that instrument? Is it the Loprinzi that's still building?

[peter.coombe]

I am with John. Can't tell from that picture, could be either. Sniff test (Brazilian has a very characteristic smell, quite different from Indian) is the most reliable. However, if it is Brazilian it is a pretty good piece.

[Jeff Hildreth]

I'll echo this is a must see in person call, however I am leaning towards other than East Indian.

If it is East Indian, it's a knock-out set ! One in a million.

[David Newton]

Someone is showing several of these old LoPrinzi's on a facebook forum. They are EIR.

[lenf12]

Is there a model number on that instrument? Is it the Loprinzi that's still building?

Here's a shot of the label and there's a gold plaque just below it to the right. This was built by Augustino, the dad. The LoPrinzi still building is his daughter whose name I can't recall.



Len B.
Clearwater, FL

[MikeEdgerton]

I'd still contact her and ask her if she knows. You have the serial number and she probably has the records.

http://www.augustinoloprinzi.com/

[Spruce]

I can't tell from the picture, and frankly, anyone who says it is one or the other simply from looking at the pic is guessing.

Yep.
And with that in mind, I'll be the one contrarian and go with Brazilian...
Something about "those" blackish lines...

[David Newton]

Sorry, I didn't read the OP message very well. There is a guy who got a batch of unfinished LoPrinzi's, he is assembling them and trying to sell them.
Here's a pic from the guy assembling the batch.

[Wes Brandt]

I am trying to be certain about the rosewood used for the sides and back of this LoPrinzi guitar. Is it BRW or EIR? This is to help out the widow of a friend who passed a year or so ago. BTW, it's a lefty and I'm not, too bad 'cuz she is a beauty. Thanks in advance!!

Len B.
Clearwater, FL

Can you do a closeup? Like a 6x6" section?

[lenf12]

Do you have any more info on the guy David? And Wes, the guitar remains with the widow. When she gets back here, I can take better close-up pix. I checked out the LoPrinzi website and there's no mention of EIR for a back/sides option but there's $2000 upcharge for BRW. The info is much more current than the guitar in question which is a 1994 vintage.

http://www.augustinoloprinzi.com/elite-series.html

I visited LoPrinzi's shop on Drew St. here in Clearwater several (9 or 10) years ago. Great guy and I spent 2 or 3 hours with a guitar building legend. They had a "Guitars" sign posted out front which came down maybe 4 or 5 years ago. I thought Augie may have shut down the business for some reason, but he was getting on in years. Perhaps they are still open? And/or the guy who acquired the guitar sets is also building at the Drew St. location without the sign (or not)? I'll take a run by there to see. Maybe they still have records from '94. I'll let you know what happens.

Len B.
Clearwater, FL

[David Newton]

Yes. His name is T. Paige Dalporto, and his email is tpaigeme@aol.com

[pfox14]

I think it looks like cocobolo.

[Dale Ludewig]

So do I, from that first picture.

[Dick Hutchings]

It looks to me like beautiful wood. It's sad we can't have it on the top also.

[Michael Lewis]

If you sand or scrape the inside of the wood it shouldn't show much but you should be able to smell it. If you really want to identify this wood I think this is the way to go.

[lenf12]

Hi Michael,

I'm sure you have sawn quite a bit of rosewood in your life and you know what rosewood smells like when you cut it. I haven't cut much, if any, so I don't know what it smells like. Is there a characteristic smell? Can it be described? Thanks in advance!!

Len B.
Clearwater, FL

[Bill Snyder]

BRW gets the name rosewood because of the aroma when cut, at least that is what I have read. I have never had any to cut myself.

[lenf12]

Thanks Bill. That gives me something to go by.

Len B.
Clearwater, FL

[Spruce]

I'm sure you have sawn quite a bit of rosewood in your life and you know what rosewood smells like when you cut it.
Is there a characteristic smell? Can it be described?

It kinda smells like obscene amounts of money...

[Jim Adwell]

http://www.wood-database.com/wood-ar...her-rosewoods/

I'd probably try the florescence test if I could get a few little scrapes of wood from the inside.

[barney 59]

Augie is known for his forever stash of very nice Brazilian that he acquired in the early 60's. Some of his instruments were certainly EI though. Somehow that Brazilian stash seems to have survived the period when AMF purchased LoPrinzi Guitars. His brother Tom stayed with "Lo Prinzi" in New Jersey and Augie booked for Florida with his Brazilian and began "Augustino" guitars. The AMF venture didn't last long and Augie was able to buy/get his name back. I believe his daughters name is Donna and at least up until a couple of years ago the two of them were still at it. She has many years experience herself and could easily keep the operation running if Augie quit.