NO PHOTOS WITH THIS POST, Just a discussion of the remarkable phenomenon that occurs with a brand new solid wood acoustic instrument. I am motivated by an email from new Pinecone owner Steve Ruffin in Signal Mountain Tenn. Steve wrote these words. "I wanted to let you know that an amazing transformation is taking place with that uke. I have literally listened to it bloom and open up. It is a completely different instrument from the one I received. I love the low action, the smoothness of the fretboard, and the surprisingly dignified volume that emanates from that instrument. It is capable of producing volume while remaining true to sound. it has a velvet voice for tender moments". Steve's experience is common-place, it happens with every new solid wood instrument when it is first played. Over several months they simply grow in tone and richness as they are played. Perhaps they improve for years.
I am experiencing that maturation with #79, the Redwood/Indian Rosewood tenor that I just strung up three days ago. It is maturing with incredible speed and I am betting that with the master-grade Redwood from the New York City apartment house, it will mature to be even better than #76 which has become my favorite tenor and perhaps the best instrument I have made to date. I promised a friend that I would sell him one or the other, Now tomorrow I must make the choice, Sell #76 that has been played for several hundred hours and is in my opinion, wonderful, or sell the brand new tenor #79. #79 is already darned good and I am tempted to bet it will mature to have even better tone than #76. I will let you know tomorrow night what choice I made.
I am experiencing that maturation with #79, the Redwood/Indian Rosewood tenor that I just strung up three days ago. It is maturing with incredible speed and I am betting that with the master-grade Redwood from the New York City apartment house, it will mature to be even better than #76 which has become my favorite tenor and perhaps the best instrument I have made to date. I promised a friend that I would sell him one or the other, Now tomorrow I must make the choice, Sell #76 that has been played for several hundred hours and is in my opinion, wonderful, or sell the brand new tenor #79. #79 is already darned good and I am tempted to bet it will mature to have even better tone than #76. I will let you know tomorrow night what choice I made.
