Results 1 to 3 of 3

Thread: Conversation on Torrefied Wood Tops (NMC)

  1. #1
    Registered User Al Trujillo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Southern Colorado
    Posts
    694

    Default Conversation on Torrefied Wood Tops (NMC)

    I held a Collings A with a Torrefied top today and tonight was poking around the net hoping to find more examples. I found this video from Nigel Forster, a guitar builder and though the video isn't specifically about mandolins I think the conversation is pertinent to those thinking of torrefied woods on their mandolins. Hope you enjoy it!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGUebpRaVBM

  2. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Al Trujillo For This Useful Post:


  3. #2
    Registered User Jill McAuley's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Co. Mayo, Ireland
    Posts
    3,570

    Default Re: Conversation on Torrefied Wood Tops (NMC)

    Thanks for posting that Al, hadn't seen that clip before! I have a guitar on order (Pre*War Guitar Co.) that is going to have a torrified top, so it was interesting to hear Nigel's take on the process - what a beauty of a guitar in that clip as well!
    2018 Girouard Concert oval A
    2015 JP "Whitechapel" tenor banjo
    2018 Frank Tate tenor guitar
    1969 Martin 00-18




    my Youtube channel

  4. #3

    Default Re: Conversation on Torrefied Wood Tops (NMC)

    I have a few Collings A models with torrified tops, and have several guitars using torrified tops. If you are looking for the old wood sound, torrified wood does not produce the same dry tone players covet, at least not to my ears and experience. To be honest, the torrified sitka top MT comes the closest to "old wood" tone of all the instruments that I have played. On guitars, as well as mandolins, to my ears, the torrification process adds a bit of zing (or vibrancy) to Adirondack. However, every builder has their own way of building with this wood. The torrified top on the Ellis Tradition F5 model I played gave it a more modern (or Collings) tone.

    While many believe the torrification process pushes an instrument towards a more vintage tone, having played a lot of vintage guitars over the last 6 months (while shopping for a replacement for an instrument that was stolen several years ago) I'd have to say there is no way to absolutely reproduce vintage tone. Don't get me wrong, I love the torrified top instruments that I have owned, the ones that I still own, and all the ones that I have had the opportunity to play, but they are what they are. If you are looking for vintage tone, there is really only one way to get it. Buy vintage (which in itself is another quandary).
    "your posts ... very VERY opinionated ...basing your opinion/recommendations ... pot calling ...kettle... black...sarcasm...comment ...unwarranted...unnecessary...."

  5. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Mandobar For This Useful Post:


Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •