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Quilted Maple Back


FredZepp

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Posted

I was playing the Eagle Centurion the other day and then was admiring it afterward.

I felt the need to snap a couple of cell phone camera pics of the back.

I just wanted to share some interesting cell pics of some nicely crafted wood.....

 

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Posted

Yes, that is indeed gorgeous. I LOVE figured wood, especially in guitars, but also in any other application as well. Fact is you guys here have some amazingly beautifully figured guitars. My 1986 H170cm is a sweet sweet player, and I love her dearly, but in honesty her top pales in comparison to most of the guitars I have seen pictured on this Forum. I am not jealous, in that I am indeed happy for you guys, but I am desirous of eventually owning a highly figured H150 myself. And I truly appreciate all the beautiful pictures you folks post here at HOC.

Posted

that is a truly beautiful, figured quilted back. It's so neat to have a forum to share one's love for beautifully crafted instruments like Heritage guitars, w/a bunch of great guys - I mean, really, where else in your life can you share your love for such a specific thing with other guys who can also appreciate what your seeing.

Posted

I love the wood grains on guitars, but I also believe the highly figured backs and those with special seam inlays on the back are somewhat of a waste. Sure they look great, but they do nothing for tone and when you're playing the guitar, nobody can notice the back of the guitar.... Don't get me wrong ladies and gents, those pics are great, just the wood is being displayed in a location that doesn't get noticed.... Kind of like putting chrome on the frame of a classic car... No one will know its there unless you tell them...

Posted

Some guys wear a highly jeweled Rolex on their wrist and out of sight to those not realizing the watch under the shirt sleeve. Those that have it can appreciate it discreetly.

Posted

Mahogany Concentric Rings or MCR for short. ..... Very nice, Lance. That is a great way to describe that back.

 

Nice Heritage with MCR.

Posted

I love the wood grains on guitars, but I also believe the highly figured backs and those with special seam inlays on the back are somewhat of a waste. Sure they look great, but they do nothing for tone and when you're playing the guitar, nobody can notice the back of the guitar.... Don't get me wrong ladies and gents, those pics are great, just the wood is being displayed in a location that doesn't get noticed.... Kind of like putting chrome on the frame of a classic car... No one will know its there unless you tell them...

 

I think you're missing the point, DB. The highly figured wood pleases us, it doesn't matter if others can notice it or not, we know it's there, and like to share the aesthetics with other members in the know, who also appreciate the beautiful guitars Heritage makes. It's irrelevant, what it does/doesn't do for tone. It's not a waste if someone enjoys it for years to come.

Posted

 

I think you're missing the point, DB. The highly figured wood pleases us, it doesn't matter if others can notice it or not, we know it's there, and like to share the aesthetics with other members in the know, who also appreciate the beautiful guitars Heritage makes. It's irrelevant, what it does/doesn't do for tone. It's not a waste if someone enjoys it for years to come.

 

Touche.... :icon_blackeye:

Posted

Not to gang up on DB :) but at anything other than the smallest gigs it's really hard to see anything other than the basic color of the guitar. Flame maple, in particular, seems to disappear at the ten or twenty foot mark. I can think of a half-dozen times I thought somebody was playing a plaintop, only to walk up to the stage during a break and see that it was a heavily flamed Lester or 335.

 

Example:

 

http://www.gibson.com/Files/aaFeaturesImages/JimmyPageO2.jpg

 

This is shot with a telephoto lens in bright light, and we all know that Pagey's two original Pauls have a lot of flame to them, but it's almost impossible to see. You have to know it's there to see the lines.

 

Example #2:

 

http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/members/midnight-blues-albums-my-pictures-picture38098-gibson-peter-green-les-paul.jpg

 

Taken from ten feet away, Greeny almost looks like a plaintop.

 

 

Posted

I love the wood grains on guitars, but I also believe the highly figured backs and those with special seam inlays on the back are somewhat of a waste. Sure they look great, but they do nothing for tone and when you're playing the guitar, nobody can notice the back of the guitar.... Don't get me wrong ladies and gents, those pics are great, just the wood is being displayed in a location that doesn't get noticed.... Kind of like putting chrome on the frame of a classic car... No one will know its there unless you tell them...

Interesting observation, and I do understand it. It's really all about creating a great musical tone in an instrument.

 

When I think of figured maple ( or whatever species ) on the back of an instrument, I remember some of the beautiful backs on mandolins... and those "fiddleback" maple backs on violins.

 

There is a very long tradition to go beyond the tone aspects of wood and consider the aesthetic of the instrument. Many of the finest craftsmen don't even know how to play the instrument, but know the details of crafting fine tone in an instrument that speaks also of their level of expertise and selection of fine materials.

 

But I know what you mean as far as seeing it as unnecessary to the tone.. I certainly have instruments that have less bling than the Centurion that I love also.

Posted

now don't you guys go start a flaming war on HOC now!

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Posted

In my view, Fred's Centurion is one of the finest and most artistic instruments to ever come out of Parsons Street. It is certainly not intended to be gigged at the local beer tavern or otherwise victimized by belt-buckled rock players. It is an art piece that happens to make beautiful music as well. And sure, it is not for everyone. I would not feel worthy of owning such a piece. Such a guitar needs to be shown off, and not just kept in its case. Where better to show it off but here on the HOC?

 

If I read the original post, Fred was basically showing how beautiful the quilted maple back is. Yep, it sure is beautiful, Mr. Zepp. And thanks for giving us another opportunity to oggle at that amazing guitar.

Posted

In my view, Fred's Centurion is one of the finest and most artistic instruments to ever come out of Parsons Street. It is certainly not intended to be gigged at the local beer tavern or otherwise victimized by belt-buckled rock players. It is an art piece that happens to make beautiful music as well. And sure, it is not for everyone. I would not feel worthy of owning such a piece. Such a guitar needs to be shown off, and not just kept in its case. Where better to show it off but here on the HOC?

 

If I read the original post, Fred was basically showing how beautiful the quilted maple back is. Yep, it sure is beautiful, Mr. Zepp. And thanks for giving us another opportunity to oggle at that amazing guitar.

 

It's even better in person! I bet it might even make an appearance at psp!

Posted

IIRC even the sides of Fred's guitar are quilted to the point that Guitfiddler indicated. It's a beautiful piece of art that doubles as a fine instrument. Necessary or not, I LIKE it :icon_thumright:

Posted

In my view, Fred's Centurion is one of the finest and most artistic instruments to ever come out of Parsons Street. It is certainly not intended to be gigged at the local beer tavern or otherwise victimized by belt-buckled rock players. It is an art piece that happens to make beautiful music as well. And sure, it is not for everyone. I would not feel worthy of owning such a piece. Such a guitar needs to be shown off, and not just kept in its case. Where better to show it off but here on the HOC?

 

If I read the original post, Fred was basically showing how beautiful the quilted maple back is. Yep, it sure is beautiful, Mr. Zepp. And thanks for giving us another opportunity to oggle at that amazing guitar.

Thanks for the compliment. Even now , after the honeymoon, it continues to mesmerize me.

Posted

Ahhhh... the Johnny Cash edition of the Eagle.... I like that one. Something about black guitars, they can really put out some great tone.

Posted

I still remeber seeing that in person last year. The nicest guitar I've ever seen in person.

Pictures just don't do it justice. You have to see this one in person.

 

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Posted

Even thought I pointed out many will never notice the appreciation of the back wood grain, there are many fine examples on here. Thanks for sharing!

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