Guess the tone wood - A contest for a little fun.

[Allen]

At Dave Whites suggestion I thought that it would be a bit of fun to have a little game of matching the tone wood with the sound sample.

I've managed to get some sound samples of my guitars with the very generous help of Alan Hamley (ozziebluesman). Without his help I wouldn't have been able to do this, and it was also a real joy to hear my guitars played so well. Thank you Alan.

I'll let Alan comment on his recording set up, as I'd just probably stuff something up if I tried. I've also renamed all the files, so Alan will have a bit of a challenge trying to pick them as well.

First off the instruments are:

• Mahogany - Sequoia PJ
  Qld. Walnut - Australian Red Cedar PJ
  Qld Walnut - Engelman Spruce PJ

All of the PJ's are built to the same specifications, but the Mahogany - Sequoia has a sound port, and the only difference in the 2 Queensland Walnut guitars other than some minor cosmetic differences is the tops.

Here is the samples from the first guitar.

• Sample1
  Sample2
  Sample3
  Sample4

The samples from the second guitar

• Sample1
  Sample2
  Sample3
  Sample4

The samples from the third guitar

• Sample1
  Sample2
  Sample3
  Sample4

So give me your best guess. I'll try to check the results regularly, but I'll let this run for a few days so everyone that want's to have a crack at it will get a chance.

[Bob Connor]

Git 1 - Redwood
Git 2 - Engelmann
Git 3 - Australian Cedar

[Kim]

1 Cedar

2 Redwood

3 Englemann

[SteveF]

Hi all
They all sound great to me......But 1 Englemann

2 Redwood

3 Cedar

[Dave White]

Alan - great sounding guitars and great playing by Allen. As I thought I hear more similarities than differences - definitely a signature tone so my "bare bum" may be safe and unviewed

I'd say that they are in the order you listed them: Sequoia, Red Cedar, Engelman.

[matthew]

1. Englewood

2. Cedrogany

3. Redelmann

[joel]

1. Englemann

2. Sequioa

3. Aus. Red Cedar

Just guesses really. I have absolutely no experience to go by.

I'd love to know the recording setup as well.

What was that last tune (sample 4)? Very nice tune.

[Kim]

1. Englewood

2. Cedrogany

3. Redelmann

Never one to sit on a fence ah Matthew Very clever.

[Hesh1956]

Gtr 3 = Engleman
gtr 2 = Redwood
Gtr 1 = ARC

[ozziebluesman]

Well, it has been a absolute pleasure to meet Allen this weekend and I can not believe this man has been building acoustic guitars for only twelve months. These guitars are an absolute credit to him!!! They all have there own unique voice and the finish. Woww!!!

The four tunes are just my versions of the intro's to 1. Riders on the storm (Doors) 2. Pride and joy (SRV) 3. Walking with the devil (Robert Jonhson) 4. She talks to angels (Black Crowe's)

The first three are concert pitch and the last is in open D tuning.

Recording chain was a Rode Nt3 condenser mic, DBX Mini-Preamp into a Zoom MRS4 recorder. The room is small, has a tiled floor and 2 walls are cement block, 2 plaster. The guitars soundhole where pointed toward the corner of the room for a little natural room reverb. No other effects where added as we where trying to capture the natural tone of the guitars.

Hope you all have as much fun listening as we did recording the tunes.

Cheers

Alan

[Allen]

Alan - great sounding guitars and great playing by Allen. As I thought I hear more similarities than differences - definitely a signature tone so my "bare bum" may be safe and unviewed

I'd say that they are in the order you listed them: Sequoia, Red Cedar, Engelman.

Thanks Dave, but I think I'd be doing some doing some butt cheek clenches, and giving it a bit of a work out if I were you.

[sebastiaan56]

Well, Im guessing,

1. Cedar
2. Engleman
3. Redwood.

Nice playing and recordings guys, thx

[Lillian]

Mahogany - Sequoia PJ
Qld Walnut - Engelman Spruce PJ
Qld. Walnut - Australian Red Cedar PJ

[matthew]

Mahogany - Sequoia PJ
Qld Walnut - Engelman Spruce PJ
Qld. Walnut - Australian Red Cedar PJ

They all have PJs now?????

[gratay]

my tiny computer speakers are telling me.
1. engelmann
2. sequoia
3. cedar.

[Dominic]

Qld. Walnut - Australian Red Cedar PJ
Qld Walnut - Engelman Spruce PJ
Mahogany - Sequoia PJ

[matthew]

Ahem ... please ... what's the PJ mean??

[Dennis Leahy]

My guess:

1 Qld. Walnut - Australian Red Cedar PJ
2 Qld Walnut - Engelman Spruce PJ
3 Mahogany - Sequoia PJ

Dennis

[Dennis Leahy]

Matthew, "PJ" is Allen's designation for his "Petite Jumbo."

Dennis

[Allen]

Ahem ... please ... what's the PJ mean??

I dubbed this body style a Petite Jumbo or "PJ" as it's smaller than the Small Jumbo "SJ" plans that are available from the OLF.

[Allen]

It looks like Dave's dignity is in serious doubt.

[Dave White]

It looks like Dave's dignity is in serious doubt.

Yes - but there are only six possible combinations and random selection is going to triumph eventually. In fact the first five guesses covered five of the six possible combinations.

So to you all

[Allen]

Is that your best side that your showing us Dave?

It looks like all the regulars have had their guess, so I'll tell you the correct order.

Drum Roll Please......

Mahogany - Sequoia
Qld. Walnut - Engelman
Qld. Walnut - Australia Red Cedar

And Bob got it right off the bat. Then there was Lillian. Alan emailed me with his guess, and as he didn't know how I had mixed them up and wasn't sure either, he got them all right. But to be fair, he did have the advantage there.

I'm not sure if Lillian will want to see your butt bared on the Post Office Steps, but Bob, now he's a bit of a tough nut.

Thanks everyone for playing and trying something just a bit different.

[Kim]

Thanks for the fun Allen and I must say, a big thanks also to Alan for the fine finger work on the fretboard. Great stuff Alan, just wish I could play half as well and I really do look forward to you posting full song clips when you have your own guitars done and dusted, it will give me some stuff to add to the workshop mix.

Oh, and you had best not let Rick know that all of the interest at the market you attended was directed at that great sounding Aussie Cedar topped guitar, after all, it's not traditional.

Cheers

Kim

[Lillian]

Is that your best side that your showing us Dave?

It looks like all the regulars have had their guess, so I'll tell you the correct order.

Drum Roll Please......

Mahogany - Sequoia
Qld. Walnut - Engelman
Qld. Walnut - Australia Red Cedar

And Bob got it right off the bat. Then there was Lillian. Alan emailed me with his guess, and as he didn't know how I had mixed them up and wasn't sure either, he got them all right. But to be fair, he did have the advantage there.

I'm not sure if Lillian will want to see your butt bared on the Post Office Steps, but Bob, now he's a bit of a tough nut.

Thanks everyone for playing and trying something just a bit different.

I have three brothers who didn't believe in threating me like a girl at any stage of our lives. I think I'd survive it. And just to show I'm a good sport about it, I won't bring any duct tape either.