Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: Lyon & healy woods

  1. #1
    Paul Wheeler
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    Greenfield, NH; formerly Jericho and St. Albans, VT
    Posts
    458

    Default

    Would anyone have an opinion as to what specific woods were used for an L&H Style B, circa 1919? I'm beginning to think about replicating the tone in a newer instrument with a different fretboard shape. Thanks for your thoughts. -- Paul
    He joyously felt himself idling, an unreflective mood in which water was water, sky was sky, breeze was breeze. He knew it couldn't last. -- Thomas McGuane, "Nothing but Blue Skies"

  2. #2
    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Rochester NY 14610
    Posts
    17,378

    Default

    Here's a link to the FRETS.com museum display of an L & H Style B. Looking at the pix, I'd say maple B&S, but I'm no expert.

    Lyon & Healy Style B
    Allen Hopkins
    Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
    Natl Triolian Dobro mando
    Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
    H-O mandolinetto
    Stradolin Vega banjolin
    Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
    Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
    Flatiron 3K OM

  3. #3
    Registered User man dough nollij's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    The Real World
    Posts
    2,801

    Default

    Looks like maple to me, too:




  4. #4
    Paul Wheeler
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    Greenfield, NH; formerly Jericho and St. Albans, VT
    Posts
    458

    Default

    Right, but where I get lost is the kind of maple -- Eastern, big-leaf, and various European types; likewise I have no eye for the different specific kinds of spruce used in tops. Thanks for your help so far, and sorry my question wasn't clearer. -- Paul
    He joyously felt himself idling, an unreflective mood in which water was water, sky was sky, breeze was breeze. He knew it couldn't last. -- Thomas McGuane, "Nothing but Blue Skies"

  5. #5

    Default

    The two point washburn I have has rose wood back and sides with a spruce top, This was made around 1920s.

  6. #6
    wood butcher Spruce's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Orcas Island, Washington
    Posts
    6,172

    Default

    "Right, but where I get lost is the kind of maple -- Eastern, big-leaf, and various European types; likewise I have no eye for the different specific kinds of spruce used in tops. "

    That FRETS.com L & H Style B sports a 2-piece hard Eastern maple back (note the birdseyes) cut on the slab, some eastern curly maple sides, and a non-Sitka spruce top, probably European in origin...

  7. #7
    ISO TEKNO delsbrother's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Caulifonya
    Posts
    3,098

    Default

    I've seen several pictures of L&H mandos with birdseye backs. How common was this? Were any Gibsons of the period made with birdseye, and if not any speculation why?

  8. #8
    wood butcher Spruce's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Orcas Island, Washington
    Posts
    6,172

    Default

    "I've seen several pictures of L&H mandos with birdseye backs. How common was this?"

    You see it in various instruments throughout the years. #
    Not quality fiddles so much, as it tends to be really heavy....

    "Were any Gibsons of the period made with birdseye, and if not any speculation why?"

    Good question...

    I've never seen a Loar period instrument or an F4 with birdseye maple, even though they were using Sugar (Hard) maple for a lot of those instruments....

    I think that there are examples of Gibbys with birdseye during the 30's-50's, but I can't think of anything right off-hand....

Similar Threads

  1. Lyon and Healy A
    By chinatogalway in forum Videos, Pictures & Sound Files
    Replies: 28
    Last: Jul-18-2020, 7:11pm
  2. Lyon and healy
    By MandoBen in forum Looking for Information About Mandolins
    Replies: 21
    Last: Dec-06-2007, 11:00pm
  3. Lyon & healy a's
    By billhay4 in forum Builders and Repair
    Replies: 2
    Last: Oct-09-2006, 11:20am
  4. Lyon & Healy
    By MML in forum Builders and Repair
    Replies: 11
    Last: Jul-17-2006, 3:58pm
  5. What about Lyon & Healy A ...?
    By wmferg in forum General Mandolin Discussions
    Replies: 6
    Last: Sep-05-2005, 5:48pm

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •