View Full Version : Morris A5 w/osage back
Kevin Briggs
Nov-12-2014, 9:31am
Hi, Everyone:
I just thought I would share this picture of my Morris A5 w/osage back. It's unique and beautiful, and I love it:
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Mike Arakelian
Nov-12-2014, 3:21pm
I don't know anything about the tonal characteristics of Osage, but it sure is pretty! Hope you enjoy it.
jim simpson
Nov-12-2014, 3:23pm
A very hard wood, a good alternative to maple, I would think. A friend gave me some scraps, I used one to shape a one-piece bridge.
Kevin Briggs
Nov-12-2014, 4:23pm
Thanks, Everyone (good to connect with you again, Jim):
Yes, it's really pretty. I think a friend of mine told me osage is the second hardest wood in the world. I'll get some sound clips up soon.
Does anyone know how to post audio clips (not video) to a Café thread?
billhay4
Nov-12-2014, 6:22pm
I think a friend of mine told me osage is the second hardest wood in the world.
Not even in the top ten according to this (http://www.bellforestproducts.com/info/janka-hardness/). But plenty hard enough. That's a beautiful piece and a lovely photo.
I'd like to hear this instrument.
Bill
dusty miller
Nov-12-2014, 10:09pm
Very nice looking mandolin.
Kevin Briggs
Nov-13-2014, 1:33pm
Thanks everyone, and thanks for the link, billhay4. Even though Osage is ranked outside of the top 10, it is in some cases twice as "hard" as the different maples on the list. I don't know if that is better or not, but it is interesting. I'm sure there is more to a back wood than its hardness.
Kevin Briggs
Nov-13-2014, 2:00pm
Here you go. I couldn't get the video to be HD quality, so the visual and audio aspects are reduced, but I think someone who plays the mandolin can hear the tone in there. It's very nice. I had also just put a new set of J74s on, so it is especially bright in this video.
Apologies for the performance. I was just fooling around and wanted to pull some tone out.
http://youtu.be/7KkBeJbG3e4
billhay4
Nov-13-2014, 2:15pm
Nice sounding instrument.
Bill
darylcrisp
Nov-17-2014, 3:11am
very nice sounding/looking mandolin Kevin
I have a friend who had an acoustic guitar made by Tim McKnight (http://mcknightguitars.com/), with Osage back and sides and it was an outstanding guitar. Tim uses Osage Orange often. He built a guitar designed by Marty Stuart a couple years ago called the Deacon.
Nice playing as well.
thanks for the review/update
d