Wide necks, funny wood on a Blueridge BR-361

[whoa]

Hi all,

First post here---really enjoying the forum. I'm a perpetual beginner fingerstyle player and erstwhile rocker who has played every day for 34 years but who, acoustically speaking, has remained on the bargain-basement end of things.

My trusty early 90's Samick (told you so) is on its way out, as the string angle over the saddle is approaching zero. So I'm looking for a guitar, and indeed I figure why not get two, given that most of my "repetoire" consists of alternate tuning numbers, and so I'll save the cost of a second guitar in broken strings over time.

I have decided on an Eastman OM spruce/rosewood guitar (AC712) as one of them, and am looking at OO or parlor guitars for the second--again, the primary use is for quiet, fingerstyle pieces. As you'll have guessed, I'm a cheapskate, so custom instruments and high-end makers are unfortunately not in play.

I have tried quite a number of guitars around the Bay Area, and I'm falling in love with a Blueridge BR-361 12-fret parlor. I have a couple of questions for you all.

First, the BR-361 has an unusually wide fretboard for a steel-string guitar, spec'ed at 1 7/8". With my ogre-like hands, playing this was a religious experience. Are there other guitars out there with this size fretboard? Why in the world are such a large proportion of the world's guitars equipped with fretboards within a sixteenth of an inch of each other, when the world's hands are enormously varied in size?

Second, I am puzzled about the wood of the top. Online, I see that this model is supposed to have Sitka spruce tops. But to me that means very light wood with clean, distinct grain (and the pictures of this model online do look that way). However, this intrument's top has an unusual look: somewhat darker, almost dusty or greyish-beige in tone, very tight but not-so-distinct grain, and flecked with tiny dark "needles" oriented with the grain. Doesn't look like the usual kind of cedar, but it does rather look like this image from a wood identification site for an unspecified type of cedar:



Does anyone know if some BR-361's do have non-spruce tops and if so what wood it's likely to be?

Thanks!

Mark

[fitness1]

Originally Posted by whoa

First, the BR-361 has an unusually wide fretboard for a steel-string guitar, spec'ed at 1 7/8". With my ogre-like hands, playing this was a religious experience. Are there other guitars out there with this size fretboard?

Not too many that come that way "stock"...most are special orders.

You'll find Larrivee SD series in 1 7/8, quite a few Huss and Dalton 00 12 fretters, some late 80's and early 90's Taylors (mostly GC's) that were done in 1 7/8 due to an overstock of 12 string necks during that era. Taylor Chris Proctor Signature Models, Recording King ROS series......Probably some that I'm missing, but the rest you'll find are mostly custom built instruments for folks like myself that like the extra room!!

[Bluewyatt]

I've played a few and owned a BR-341. I've never seen one with a cedar top. I can tell you that they play and sound great.

[fitness1]

Originally Posted by whoa

Second, I am puzzled about the wood of the top. Online, I see that this model is supposed to have Sitka spruce tops. But to me that means very light wood with clean, distinct grain (and the pictures of this model online do look that way). However, this intrument's top has an unusual look: somewhat darker, almost dusty or greyish-beige in tone, very tight but not-so-distinct grain, and flecked with tiny dark "needles" oriented with the grain.

Maybe they just overdosed the aging toner on this one?

[pappy27]

The 1 7/8" nut on the BR-361 is standard. It should have a sitka top as do all their guitars.

However, I've never seen one with the color and grain pattern you are showing in the pic.

You might post this over on the
Blueridge Forum

Someone over there may have come across this before.

P.S. Good choice on the Eastman too. You've got two great guitars there.

[66strummer]

Originally Posted by fitness1

Maybe they just overdosed the aging toner on this one?

I think that would make it look Neon Pumpkin colored if they did...... .

This might be a good question for the luthiers here. They could tell you if there's a reason for Sitka to look so dark on a guitar. It does sound rather strange.


Come to think of it Whoa, the Sitka on my Blueridge BR-70 is fairly dark (not that unlike what's in your picture actually). I love it. Looks awesome with all of the Abalone inlay.

(Pardon the fact that it needed polishing when I took the picture)

[fitness1]

here's another 12 fret 1 7/8 for you...

http://cgi.ebay.com/2004-Northwood-F...3286.m20.l1116

[jaskofall]

Hey Guys,
I Cant really comment on the Top wood of the above guitar (looks like Mahogany),
But, I can say that the Blueridge BR-361 is a great guitar, I picked one up last saturday and I cant stop playing it. I cant get enough of the wide neck.
For the price, I'm not sure you can go past this one

Jasko

[whoa]

Thanks for the replies, all!

Ryan, that picture does indeed look like the top of the 361.

Jaskofall--I am physically craving this guitar, so I think I'm going to grab it.