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
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"
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
Looks like maple to me, too:
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"
The two point washburn I have has rose wood back and sides with a spruce top, This was made around 1920s.
"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...
Orcas Island Tonewoods
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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?
"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....
Orcas Island Tonewoods
Free downloads of my mandolin CDs:
"Mandolin Graffiti"
"Mangler Of Bluegrass"
"Overhead At Darrington"
"Electric Mandolin Graffiti"
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