Members kwakatak Posted June 16, 2004 Members Share Posted June 16, 2004 I posted another thread about Vagabond travel guitars. Their most striking feature is that they are made with laminated birch back/sides. I'm told that this little has a surprisingly full sound - with very little bass of course. Is this because of the use of birch? That seems unusual to me. What are the tonal properties of birch? I'm guessing it's cheap to use since these trees are common in the NY/NJ/PA area which is near where these guitars are made. Are there any other 'common' woods that have been used in luthery, or are they better-suited to just making cheap furniture? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members redstevo Posted June 16, 2004 Members Share Posted June 16, 2004 Isn't birch used to makes some drum shells? redstevo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members UGB Posted June 16, 2004 Members Share Posted June 16, 2004 off the top of my head I'd say very much like maple. This is a total stab in the dark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Danocoustic Posted June 16, 2004 Members Share Posted June 16, 2004 StewMac's wooden resonator guitar kits feature tops and backs made of laminated birch. Don't know how this is significant, just found it interesting--- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RainsongDR1000 Posted June 16, 2004 Members Share Posted June 16, 2004 The only birch guitar I played was even brighter than maple Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mike Crixell Posted June 16, 2004 Members Share Posted June 16, 2004 The tonal characteristics of Birch are very much like Oak: very reflective (bright & punchy), strong fundamentals, short sustain and virtually no overtones. Maple is warmer, sweeter and more resonant than birch, with longer sustain. Pre-war Stellas and other inexpensive guitars were often made entirely of Birch or Oak due to its low cost and plentiful supply. These small 0-size guitars are very punchy, great for a classic blues attack and response. With their ladder-bracing, these guitars have a "boxy" sound, more often than not. There sure is no mistaking a Birch guitar with a well-made modern Rosewood, Mahogany or Maple guitar, which will ring and sing, to varying degrees, in comparison. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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