Gilchrists and the "one exceptional American maple tree"

**blauserk** · May-31-2011, 8:36am

The Australian TV feature on Steve Gilchrist's new house (see http://www.abc.net.au/landline/conte...0/s3229947.htm, discussed in this thread, http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/sh...st-s-new-house) includes this one line: "From one exceptional American maple tree grown on a steep hillside Steve Gilchrist has made about 180 instruments."

Anyone know if that is what he's making all his mandos these days from? And does that include everything he makes, from the most posh F-5 to the Model 1?

Thanks.

**blauserk** · Jun-03-2011, 1:29pm

Hey! I may have answered my own question. I found this in this (http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/sh...lchrists/page2) thread. So I guess the last of the maple from the tree in question has been used:

Originally Posted by ninevah

The D-Log

If I recall the story correctly, one of Steve's wood suppliers knew of a tree that was rumored to be "special", but was in some hard to get to hollow in Michigan, Minnesota, maybe New York (My memory is a little fuzzy on location). Steve eventually found the time to go look at it and was assisted by a woodsman who had tipped the bottle a bit too much. They got the tree, and perhaps the D stands for the condition of the guy with the chainsaw.

Steve enjoys working with the D-Log, and many players have said it makes spectacular mandolins. I expect Steve could make a plywood mandolin sound great, so I wouldn't get too upset that the D-Log is used up.

This is, I am told, is the last one made from the D-Log #66210

**Perry** · Jun-03-2011, 1:58pm

Originally Posted by blauserk

Hey! I may have answered my own question. I found this in this (http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/sh...lchrists/page2) thread. So I guess the last of the maple from the tree in question has been used:

Does any body know where the D log came from for sure?

**Mark Seale** · Jun-03-2011, 2:05pm

I'm not sure where it came from, but it isn't yet all used up.

**Glassweb** · Jun-03-2011, 3:11pm

It ain't the bricks, it's the architect...

**Perry** · Jun-03-2011, 4:28pm

Originally Posted by Glassweb

It ain't the bricks, it's the architect...

Indeed BUT if it was a NY tree as maybe suggested above it would be nice to know that some of it is back home in NY

**Ole Joe Clark** · Jun-03-2011, 6:26pm

Sounds like an Urban Legend to me.

Joe

**blauserk** · Jun-03-2011, 10:53pm

I am confident Mr. Gilchrist can make superb mandolins out of a variety of maple logs, but I’m just obsessive enough to collect together the threads that discuss the “D” log. Those that specify its origins say Michigan, but without any particular confidence.

http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/sh...uot-d-quot-log

http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/sh...christ-model-5

http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/sh...rist-Mandolins

http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/sh...christ-model-3

http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/sh...-in-Gilchrists

And a few that just mention the subject in passing. Obsessive though I am, even my eyes glazed over after a while.

http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/sh...rist-Mandolins

http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/sh...a-short-report

http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/sh...christ-Experts....

http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/sh...g-Return/page2

And a couple of instruments said to be from the log:

**Brian Ray** · Jun-03-2011, 11:29pm

I believe the D-log came from a property owned by Sigourney Weaver... believe it or not.

**Glassweb** · Jun-03-2011, 11:40pm

Originally Posted by dasspunk

I believe the D-log came from a property owned by Sigourney Weaver... believe it or not.

True. I used to own a Gil H5 style mandola made from
the "D" log and it was an exceptionally great mandola. Had my hands been able to deal well with the 17" scale I'm sure I'd still have it...

**mtucker** · Jun-04-2011, 7:52am

My #666 (D-log) -

Just a spectacular mandolin in every way... beautiful tone...evokes a very soulful and old spirit if you ask it to. Steve intended to keep this one but i coaxed it from him to help fund a few pieces of the timber frame...

There were only a small number of one piece 5's born out of the D-log, mostly two-piece ...and just a few sets remaining, according to Steve.

**Big Joe** · Jun-04-2011, 8:10am

In 94 Charlie and I sent Steve some wood from Maine to build a couple mandolins. The Maine Maple was very nice and Steve did an incredible job. The Gilchrist Michael Cleveland plays (block inlay) is one of those mandolins. Steve knows how to bring out the best in a piece of wood, but just as important as the wood itself are the hands working the wood and the eyes and mind of the worker. One without the other will not get the results Steve has so consistently achieved for several decades now.

**Bernie Daniel** · Jun-04-2011, 8:31am

Just a comment but do any of you recall Dave Harvey looking over and playing an exceptionally sounding and also near mint 1930's F-5? He was very impressed with the maple used for the back & sides. He also made a comment to the effect that the wook on this mando looked like the quality of wood that went in to the Loar instruments.

Well FWIW, it is just my impression but the back wood on these mandolins made from the so called D-log look very similar to that 30's Gibson.

**Chip Booth** · Jun-04-2011, 12:14pm

Another shot of the D log in action, my '06 A3:

**ninevah** · Jun-04-2011, 8:31pm

D-Log one piece back on a model 3

**dcoventry** · Jun-04-2011, 9:09pm

ahhhhhhhhhhhh. One peice backs are my MAS downfall. Especially when so pretty and done so tastefully. I repeat: ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

**Bill Halsey** · Jun-04-2011, 10:39pm

We have a bit of that stuff here in Michigan. Wicked hard...

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**Bill Halsey** · Jun-04-2011, 11:05pm

Originally Posted by dcoventry

ahhhhhhhhhhhh. One peice backs are my MAS downfall. Especially when so pretty and done so tastefully. I repeat: ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Agree. However, all these Gil pix are of two-piece backs. But then, who cares?

**dcoventry** · Jun-05-2011, 12:38am

Bill,

OMG. You are quite right. Those are some very well matched pieces, and I also do dtand by my AHHHHH one piece back comment. this just goes to show that stunning beauty can have many backs....ya' know?

**mtucker** · Jun-05-2011, 8:26am

Very nice indeed, Bill. Love those M3's, guys.

Shot of Loar #75846, currently at Mandolin Brothers.... strikingly similar.

Also, recent D-log sample #1 (left) in shot. Both Sugar Maple.

**Perry** · Jun-05-2011, 8:31am

D Log #573

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**blauserk** · Aug-06-2011, 9:52pm

If it is from Sigourney Weaver's property--and that is one of those facts that is just too good to check, for fear that it won't be true--that would be upstate New York, yes (as in Long Lake)? Any of you lucky D-back owners know where this wood began its life?

**blauserk** · Oct-19-2011, 8:34pm

Originally Posted by mtucker

There were only a small number of one piece 5's born out of the D-log, mostly two-piece ...and just a few sets remaining, according to Steve.

One of the few. Not bad.

**blauserk** · Oct-21-2011, 11:22pm

Sorta kinda the "mirror image" of the last one still captured in a chunk of wood:

**blauserk** · Feb-10-2012, 2:34pm

Originally Posted by blauserk

One of the few. Not bad.

And as finished . . . . (No, this isn't mine, but I kinda wish it were.)

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