Monte Pittman playing his Bourgeois 12-fret acoustic during “Masterpiece” build with Sacha Rosewood back/sides.
Collings Forum:
http://collingsforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/74760485/m/9170025356
Lance Peck, co-owner Terra Tonewoods, in the Peruvian rainforest sourcing new tone woods. July 2012
Collings New D1A using Spanish Cedar from Terra Tonewoods.
Our Red Mountain Spanish Cedar comes from Peru and are exclusively offered in acoustic sets by Terra Tonewoods. It is dense and solid and has all the qualities of traditional Spanish Cedar but, unlike it’s cousin, this cedar specie does not ooozz sap from it’s pores. We found this high elevation species a dream to work with.
Spectacular color, quality and stability. Collings Guitars, they understand great wood!
Terra Tonewoods, we are out sourcing for you!
D1A for sale: GRYPHON
Check it out!
Lance Peck marking out back and side sets on Spanish Cedar in Peru.
“Terra Tonewoods (terratonewoods.com) is a company that specializes in sourcing a variety of responsibly harvested woods from Peru. In some cases, these woods come from forests that the Peruvian government has designated to be cleared for mining or agriculture. In other instances, Terra sources its materials from sustainably managed forests. Some of the species the company offers include familiar woods like mahogany and members of the rosewood family, but there are also types such as Peruvian walnut, ishpingo, higuerilla, and moena, that, while not yet well known, are beautiful and exceptional sounding. “I started working with [Terra Tonewoods’] Lance and Belinda Peck as they were local to me and had some amazing wood that was never considered for guitars,” says California luthier Mike Baranik (baranikguitars.com). “I made some guitars out of these woods, and we have now partnered up to help get the woods into the hands of luthiers.” Baranik’s partnership in Terra Tonewoods has helped get individual builders such as Michael Greenfield and Michi Matsuda, as well as larger companies like Bourgeois and Collings, using the woods.”
To read the full article click here.
This article also appears in Acoustic Guitar, August 2012
Here is a blog thread posted July 6th on CollingsGuitars blog about their new D2HA with Sacha Rosewood.
“Had the opportunity to visit Artisan Guitars today and witness another step in the evolution of Collings’ rosewood dreadnaught build process.
The somewhat blonde in color cousin of madagascar rosewood was a delight to play, and if this guitar is a prototype of sorts if you will experiment by Collings, then there will be many of these instruments to come. The standard neck and 1 11/16 nut width of this guitar was very comfortable, even in my 6’6 hands, which again, demonstrates that not all nut widths/neck shape combinations are created equal, and in the end you just have to play the guitars for yourself. That being said, for a guy who prefers the D18GE/Merrill C18/Martin D18 Authentic chunky baseball neck shapes, this guitar fit the bill anyway, and was a fast playing joy all the way up the neck.
Let’s discuss this business of tone with the sacha rosewood. Huge, controlled chunks of punch await the player. CONTROLLED..PRECISE..POWERFUL..BRUISE YOUR STERNUM PUNCH, PEOPLE. Yep, this is one for the ages, and even in what I see as an experiment by Collings (Bill, Ellie, W.T., Adam, correct me if I’m wrong)this one is pushing the punch and precise, articulated, in your face out front tone and volume to the next level. As usual, the balance is all there, and the craftsmanship is flawless, maybe better than in the past, if that’s possible. A piece of coffee table art with strings. Think Robert Bowlin Six String Soliloquy album with just a tad more of everything..punch (did I really use that word again? Yes, I did), power, balanced pop with each note, again, laying the sternum to waste.”
To read the full thread history copy this link to your browser:
http://collingsforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/74760485/m/8140014156?r=8140014156#8140014156
NEW Collings OM2HA in Sacha Rosewood from Terra Tonewoods!
http://www.themusicemporium.com/system/html/om2hasasha_750_7-597dd6f5.jpg
Not content to let the dwindling supply of exotic rosewoods diminsh their capacity to make great guitars, our friends at Collings have introduced a limited number of instruments made with Sacha Rosewood back & sides. This South American tonewood offers plenty of punch in the low end, but with less darkness than Brazilian (think Cocobolo). Lots of chime and sparkle in the high end, and a round, warm midrange make this an exceptional fingerstyle guitar; but it handles a pick just fine and sounds punchy and crisp tackling fiddle tunes.
Brilliant job Michael Greenfield! See his new G4.2 DADGAD
A word from Michael too:
“It shipped last week. Some of my best work to date. A special thanx to Mike Baranik and Terra Tonewoods for the fantastic customer service and the spectacular set of spalted Peruvian Manchinga this guitar is made of.”
Model G4.2 http://www.greenfieldguitars.com/gg2.aspx?class=GG§ion=64&storyid=132#
Sacha Rosewood from Terra Tonewoods.
“Collings D2HA Adirondack Spruce and Sacha Rosewood “.
Artisan Guitars wrote:
“Played in tandem with another D2HA with standard Indian Rosewood back and sides, the contrast is striking. While both are wonderfully defined in the trebles, with a crisp defined bass note, the mid-range on the Sacha dreadnought was crystal clear, and almost dripping in resonance.”
Sacha Rosewood gets HIGH PRAISE!
We gotta hand it to Artisan Guitars for their very well written critique on the new Collings D2HA featuring Sacha Rosewood (Higuerilla) from Terra Tonewoods.
For the full read go to http://artisanguitars.com/collings-d2ha-adirondack-spruce-and-sacha-rosewood/
The new generation of tonewoods is not to be found in the commercial lumberyards.
The forests of Peru are basically unexplored for new musical species. Here Lance Peck, owner of Terra Tonewoods, in Peru looking through a standing stack of fresh cut lumber. This wood was probably cut for local domestic use and without proper permits. This unidentified wood may be a new species of Dalbergia, also known as “Rosewood”, which is a species that is very popular and important in the building of musical stringed instruments such as the acoustic guitar, harp guitar, mandolin, and the ukulele.
Possible new tonewood species discovered in Amazon rainforest.