Urban Iron Bark? - Page 3

Glennwillow · #31 09-30-2022, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy

It sounded okay in the YouTube demos I've watched so far. My local shop got one of the new 514CEs in and I'm going to check it out in person today.

Regarding Ironbark, some good info here: https://www.woodsolutions.com.au/woo...d/ironbark-red

Hi Jeremy,

I will be very interested in your reaction to the new Taylor 514CE after you've had a chance to play it. To me, this is an interesting development.

- Glenn

John Arnold · #32 09-30-2022, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevWind

I think the confusion was thinking Iron Bark and Ironwood were the same

I have used ironwood for deck construction and it is so heavy it would IMO not be at all good for guitar

That is probably ipe (AKA Brazilian ironwood) which is yet another species with that very common moniker.
AFAIK, 'muscle wood' is a common name for hornbeam, because the fluted trunk and limbs along with the smooth bark resemble the body of a muscular animal. Hophornbeam does not exhibit this growth habit.

Jeremy · #33 09-30-2022, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glennwillow

Hi Jeremy,

I will be very interested in your reaction to the new Taylor 514CE after you've had a chance to play it. To me, this is an interesting development.

- Glenn

Hey Glenn,

I picked up the guitar this afternoon and will be spending some time with it tonight. My initial impression was that it felt pretty tight like a koa guitar but less bright and glassy than a K24. It’s got a nice low end but I had to dig in pretty good to get it out. I can see why Andy Powers chose to put a torrefied top on it. The high end had a bit of a stereo effect to it, like the 816CE Builder’s Edition but without the soundport. Strange and interesting.

I’ll post more thoughts as I spend some more time with it.

Glennwillow · #34 09-30-2022, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy

Hey Glenn,

I picked up the guitar this afternoon and will be spending some time with it tonight. My initial impression was that it felt pretty tight like a koa guitar but less bright and glassy than a K24. It’s got a nice low end but I had to dig in pretty good to get it out. I can see why Andy Powers chose to put a torrefied top on it. The high end had a bit of a stereo effect to it, like the 816CE Builder’s Edition but without the soundport. Strange and interesting.

I’ll post more thoughts as I spend some more time with it.

Thanks Jeremy!

Fascinating; I'll wait to read more!

- Glenn

Groberts · #35 09-30-2022, 11:49 PM

I listened to the Youtube demo by Acoustic Letter. I was not impressed with the voice or tone. I was especially non-plussed by the smaller 512CE. In all fairness, I need to play the new 500 series in person to offer a more fair personal assessment. But I don't find it all that compelling.

The Bard Rocks · #36 10-01-2022, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Arnold

That is probably ipe (AKA Brazilian ironwood) which is yet another species with that very common moniker.
AFAIK, 'muscle wood' is a common name for hornbeam, because the fluted trunk and limbs along with the smooth bark resemble the body of a muscular animal. Hophornbeam does not exhibit this growth habit.

Thank you. Another common name for Ipe is Lapacho. You will find it extremely dense and hard (think heavy, but also think hard-to-dent). It can make a great guitar.

turtlejimmy · #37 10-01-2022, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy

Hey Glenn,

I picked up the guitar this afternoon and will be spending some time with it tonight. My initial impression was that it felt pretty tight like a koa guitar but less bright and glassy than a K24. It’s got a nice low end but I had to dig in pretty good to get it out. I can see why Andy Powers chose to put a torrefied top on it. The high end had a bit of a stereo effect to it, like the 816CE Builder’s Edition but without the soundport. Strange and interesting.

I’ll post more thoughts as I spend some more time with it.

Does your local shop just let you take a guitar home over night to try it out??? If so, that's awesome. It'll be interesting to hear how you like it.

Turtle

CASD57 · #38 10-01-2022, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Groberts

I listened to the Youtube demo by Acoustic Letter. I was not impressed with the voice or tone. I was especially non-plussed by the smaller 512CE. In all fairness, I need to play the new 500 series in person to offer a more fair personal assessment. But I don't find it all that compelling.

I thought the 512 sounded good until I heard the 514, it sounded great but not sure it would let my voice come through, I have the same problem with my Alvarez MD60eBG it blurs my vocals, because of the bigger bottom end.
But being of a wood that's similar to Rosewood maybe not??
I don't have that problem with my AD17e

Jeremy · #39 10-01-2022, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turtlejimmy

Does your local shop just let you take a guitar home over night to try it out??? If so, that's awesome. It'll be interesting to hear how you like it.

Turtle

No, I had to buy it. I have a good relationship with the owner but not that good.

turtlejimmy · #40 10-01-2022, 12:45 PM

Yeah, I was going to say, hey why doesn't my guy do that for me??? I guess that would be quite a stretch to let a high end number out of the store for a test drive.

Turtle

RichardN · #41 10-01-2022, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sinistral

Old railroad ties, telephone poles, picnic tables and park benches.

I think this is it, who's cutting down big trees in urban areas? No one is.

Don Lampson · #42 10-02-2022, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardN

I think this is it, who's cutting down big trees in urban areas? No one is.

They cut down big trees in urban areas all the time, especially after storms... Mature trees that get into water / sewer lines, and foundations, have to be taken down frequently.... They mostly end up as firewood, or barn sized piles of mulch in city yards.....

Don

cyclistbrian · #43 10-02-2022, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Lampson

They cut down big trees in urban areas all the time, especially after storms... Mature trees that get into water / sewer lines, and foundations, have to be taken down frequently.... They mostly end up as firewood, or barn sized piles of mulch in city yards.....

Don

This. Even a smallish city like Albany NY takes down enough trees to offer residents mulch for pickup. Does anyone really think Taylor is making these things out of rotted picnic tables or discarded utility poles?

steelvibe · #44 10-02-2022, 09:07 AM

Other luthiers are moving into sustainable woods/ composites territory. It will be the way to do business moving into the future whether we like it or we don't.

I guess one would eventually have to succumb, shell out the premium for vintage instruments..... or watch the rest of us play from the sidelines.

guitar12 · #45 10-02-2022, 01:31 PM

I like to dabble in woodworking and earlier this week, even before I saw this thread, I went to this wood supplier here in Southern Cal for the first time to look at some slabs. It turns out that they supplied the urban ash to Taylor for a previous run of guitars. They actually had a Taylor guitar on display in the showroom and if you page down on the website you can see them detail their partnership with Taylor. I'm thinking that it might be possible that the Urban Iron Bark might be from this outfit and I hope that a quick perusal of this company's website shows that big trees are taken down all the time and I for one am glad that they are repurposed for anything and especially happy that they turn into great guitars.

www.streettreerevival.com

Rob