Why no fully torrefied guitars ?

[fingerstyle_me]

I mean why only the top is torrefied ? Why the builders don’t torrefy the woods used for back and sides, bracing, etc. ?

[LAPlayer]

They do torrify full guitars. At least Bourgeois has sold them. I think what Dana said was that Rosewood was difficult to deal with once torrefied. Martin certainly does the VTS process on braces.

[Guitars44me]

I seem to remember there was a bourgeois line that was all torrefied for a moment a few years back.

Anyone else recall this?

must be taking great care with the woods!

Paul

[boneuphtoner]

I can’t speak about why there are not more fully torrified guitars, however I saw a recent video on YouTube that had a Boucher with torrefied Adirondack top, and torrified maple back/sides. Very unique for sure, and like all Bouchers, it sounded great.

[printer2]

Baked spruce top and back, hard to bend the sides after being baked, I used a set not baked for this one. The bracing is also not baked.



First guitar (nylon) using a baked top and back.



Resonator type of guitar, sides are baked maple, curly maple trim.



Baked maple back, sides and neck.



Baked cherry back and sides.



Baked top.



Baked birch B&S's and baked cedar. I am a little nervous about the baked cedar, I may replace the top yet. The guitar will be mostly found wood, the birch from a pallet, fretboard an oak pallet, most likely oak bridge and binding also. Mahogany table leg as the neck, found at the side of the road.



Baked jatoba fretboards.



I have used baked braces but can not remember which guitar. Have done every part of a guitar but not all in one guitar.

[SRL]

Originally Posted by fingerstyle_me

I mean why only the top is torrefied ? Why the builders don’t torrefy the woods used for back and sides, bracing, etc. ?

I've seen fully torrefied models from Bourgeois (wide variety of "Aged Tone" models), Gibson (some J-45 Legend limited editions), and Bob Thompson

I think there's not much demand for torrefied back/sides/neck/fingerboard because they aren't the primary determinants of the sound like the top and bracing are.

[tomcstokes59]

Florinett in Switzerland does offer thermocured/treated hardwoods for backs and sides - Maple, Cherry, Pear and Alder plus a couple of others
https://www.tonewood.ch/products/aco...ts-back-sides/

I also thought Boucher had built some models completely torrefied or at least with torrefied Maple.

[NickTuneUp]

Originally Posted by fingerstyle_me

I mean why only the top is torrefied ? Why the builders don’t torrefy the woods used for back and sides, bracing, etc. ?

Boucher did a torrefied maple with a torrefied top! It had the cleanest tone I've ever heard. Here is a video I did on it.

[oldrocker]

Originally Posted by NickTuneUp

Boucher did a torrefied maple with a torrefied top! It had the cleanest tone I've ever heard. Here is a video I did on it.

Beautifully done! Beautiful sounding! I'm drooling! I want one!

[gmel555]

Originally Posted by fingerstyle_me

Why the builders don’t torrefy the woods used for back and sides, bracing, etc. ?

At least one does - as others have noted as well. I have a fully torrefied (top, B&S, braces) Bourgeois. It's an LDBO Adi Spruce over Cherry. Wonderful, I don't expect to ever sell it. As others mentioned I'm not sure torrefied rosewood has been done much, if at all, but I've seen other guitars with torrefied maple as well.

[NickTuneUp]

Originally Posted by gmel555

At least one does - as others have noted as well. I have a fully torrefied (top, B&S, braces) Bourgeois. It's an LDBO Adi Spruce over Cherry. Wonderful, I don't expect to ever sell it. As others mentioned I'm not sure tortrefied rosewood has been done much, if at all, but I've seen other guitars with torrefied maple as well.

If you have ever put Rosewood in an oven you'll know why they don't torrefy it. The natural oils weep out of it. The maple doesn't have those natural oils, same with the Adirondack Boucher is using.

[NickTuneUp]

Originally Posted by oldrocker

Beautifully done! Beautiful sounding! I'm drooling! I want one!

I've got a dreadnought version coming in July. An OM coming in October. I'm really excited to see how those compare.

[Charlie Bernstein]

Most of the sound comes from the top, so that's where torrefying makes the biggest difference. Some companies do other parts, others don't.