Kuz Posted November 4, 2011 Posted November 4, 2011 I will make one last clarifying statement. When I asked Terry McInturff about 1 vs 2 piece bodies he said that as long as the two pieces were from the same tree (preferrable from the same plank) and if not from the same plank then located reasonabley close to the same area of the tree, and that the two pieces vibrated together to same frequency, there would be neglible differences in tone or sustain. The only guitar I have with a two-piece body is Yoder. Yoder I bought used and the seller thought it was a one-piece body. Yoder's two pieces are matched so well it is near impossible to see the seam, still if I would have ordered Yoder it's would have had a one-piece body. Just my .02
tbonesullivan Posted November 4, 2011 Posted November 4, 2011 I honestly have never really cared how many pieces my bodies were made out of. If it's translucent, as long as it's a nice matched set with a center seam, it's ok. I think both my H150CM and Kahuna have 1 piece bodies. the Millennium and 535, well they are a different story and use a lot more pieces of wood. As for sonic sound, I don't buy into the "if it's multipiece it's not good". Hamer in the 90s, and maybe even now, used 3 piece 'hog necks, as they felt it was more stable. I have a bunch of hamers that have beautiful one piece slab mahogany bodies, and 3 piece necks.
Guest HRB853370 Posted November 4, 2011 Posted November 4, 2011 Well, if you want to get right down to it, the H150 has many pieces affecting tone. And if you want to get metaphysical, the H150 is almost nothing but void and a tiny volume of charged and gravity-susceptible particles. And these particles are also most void and vibrating strings. http://superstringtheory.com/ So you see, it's all about strings not the wood. This guy is waaayyy out there!
Guest HRB853370 Posted November 4, 2011 Posted November 4, 2011 Ahhhhh..... well..... I prefer, and will go on record to say, if I order guitar it will have a one piece body. Terry McInturff says the difference may be only marginal if the two pieces of wood vibrate at the same frequencies. One piece bodies also have better resale value. Again, based on the fact that it is more expensive to build them. If I am paying $2K or over for a guitar, it has to have a one piece body, IMHO. Lets hear what Tom Anderson has to say about it. Why would it be more expensive to build it? I think the opposite is true, you do not have to cut the plank in half, and you do not have to glue the two pieces together. Less labor. Less cost.
Guest HRB853370 Posted November 4, 2011 Posted November 4, 2011 I will make one last clarifying statement. When I asked Terry McInturff about 1 vs 2 piece bodies he said that as long as the two pieces were from the same tree (preferrable from the same plank) and if not from the same plank then located reasonabley close to the same area of the tree, and that the two pieces vibrated together to same frequency, there would be neglible differences in tone or sustain. The only guitar I have with a two-piece body is Yoder. Yoder I bought used and the seller thought it was a one-piece body. Yoder's two pieces are matched so well it is near impossible to see the seam, still if I would have ordered Yoder it's would have had a one-piece body. Just my .02 Ok, you seem to put alot of creedence into this McInturff guy. Not dissing him but what makes him the expert on woods? And what the heck is Yoder? Lets see a pic of Yoder.
Kuz Posted November 5, 2011 Posted November 5, 2011 Ok, you seem to put alot of creedence into this McInturff guy. Not dissing him but what makes him the expert on woods? And what the heck is Yoder? Lets see a pic of Yoder. I am not going to make fun of you if you don't know who Terry McInturff is, but let's just say he is one of the most respect luthiers out there. I suggest you do a Google search on and he has made guitars for everyone from Jimmy Page to Clapton. Here is a good place to start to learn about Terry.... http://willcuttguitars.com/builders/mcinturff As far as "What is a "Yoder".... Well, Yoder is a common Amish last name. Amish make "quilts". We have the largest population of Amish in the world in North-Central Ohio. I thought "Yoder" would be a good name for my "Quilt 150 ... or "Yoder" Here is "Yoder" (or you could look & click on my "signature" pics)
Kuz Posted November 5, 2011 Posted November 5, 2011 Here is a pic of my Terry McInturff Carolina Custom (one-piece Spanish Cedar back)..... Here is what Terry says about the differences of Spanish Cedar (which is not Cedar at all) vs Honduras Mohogany...... "These two woods...Spanish Cedar (not related to true Cedar at all) and Hondouras Mahogany can sound virtually identical..or have differences...depending upon the given piece of wood. While it is the norm to refer to "the mahogany sound", etc, mahogany can sound quite different from piece-to-piece. Some of it is hard and dense (bright) while some of it is medium density (slightly more compressed with rounded highs) and still other pieces are really lightweight with stringy grain (can often sound a bit "bonky") The same will hold true for Spanish Cedar, even tho this wood is generally of lighter weight than H. MAH. I like the medium density S.C. the best. If it is a good piece that has the correct tonal relationship with the rest of the chassis, it sounds like really great old-growth H. MAH, IMO. But it has to have the right characteristics. If only tone woods would conform to easily described tonal characteristics 100% of the time...life would be easier!! " Trust me, the man knows guitars, woods, tone, and how to make instruments!
hinesarchtop Posted November 5, 2011 Posted November 5, 2011 There's a classical maker I know with a 10 year waiting list that sells his guitars for 10k, He makes some guitars with 4 piece Madagascar Rosewood backs.
MartyGrass Posted November 5, 2011 Posted November 5, 2011 I must compliment Kuz's collection. Yoder is a fine looking H150. All of them are outstanding.
the jayce Posted November 5, 2011 Posted November 5, 2011 I am not going to make fun of you if you don't know who Terry McInturff is, but let's just say he is one of the most respect luthiers out there. I suggest you do a Google search on and he has made guitars for everyone from Jimmy Page to Clapton. Here is a good place to start to learn about Terry.... http://willcuttguita...lders/mcinturff As far as "What is a "Yoder".... Well, Yoder is a common Amish last name. Amish make "quilts". We have the largest population of Amish in the world in North-Central Ohio. I thought "Yoder" would be a good name for my "Quilt 150 ... or "Yoder" Here is "Yoder" (or you could look & click on my "signature" pics) Have to say I havn't ever heard of yoder either, and ive been obsessed with guitars for 0ver 25 years. He must be somthin special in the luthier world i suppose.
the jayce Posted November 5, 2011 Posted November 5, 2011 Have to say I havn't ever heard of yoder either, and ive been obsessed with guitars for 0ver 25 years. He must be somthin special in the luthier world i suppose. Never mind my last post, I thought yoder was the luthier guys nick name or somthing. That being said your quilt top or should i say (yoder)! is awsome!
Guest HRB853370 Posted November 5, 2011 Posted November 5, 2011 I am not going to make fun of you if you don't know who Terry McInturff is, but let's just say he is one of the most respect luthiers out there. I suggest you do a Google search on and he has made guitars for everyone from Jimmy Page to Clapton. Here is a good place to start to learn about Terry.... http://willcuttguita...lders/mcinturff As far as "What is a "Yoder".... Well, Yoder is a common Amish last name. Amish make "quilts". We have the largest population of Amish in the world in North-Central Ohio. I thought "Yoder" would be a good name for my "Quilt 150 ... or "Yoder" Here is "Yoder" (or you could look & click on my "signature" pics) Well, I am glad you didn't poke fun at me Kuz, thank you for that! Since I have never had a custom guitar built, and never researched custom guitar builders, and I am certainly not friends with Jimmy P or Eric C, and never knew anyone who did order a TCM guitar (except for you), thank you for not taking it for granted that I "should" know who he is! If he has made guitars for those folks, I am sure he is well respected. However, there are many other well respected guitar builders in the world too (Heritage being one of them). Have you actually visited his shop in Sanford NC? I used to live not too far from there (Camp LeJeune, Jacksonville NC).
Kuz Posted November 5, 2011 Posted November 5, 2011 Well, I am glad you didn't poke fun at me Kuz, thank you for that! Since I have never had a custom guitar built, and never researched custom guitar builders, and I am certainly not friends with Jimmy P or Eric C, and never knew anyone who did order a TCM guitar (except for you), thank you for not taking it for granted that I "should" know who he is! If he has made guitars for those folks, I am sure he is well respected. However, there are many other well respected guitar builders in the world too (Heritage being one of them). Have you actually visited his shop in Sanford NC? I used to live not too far from there (Camp LeJeune, Jacksonville NC). Nope, certainly NOT my intention to make fun of you at all. Until about 5 years ago I didn't know who Terry was either. But he is the guy people call to restore their estate collection of vintage guitars. Last year, a collect fly him to Spain (maybe Italy) and paid him for a month to stay there and restore/evaluate his collection. Terry has said the greatest stringed instrument made was the turn of century, Gibson F style mandolin.
Guest HRB853370 Posted November 5, 2011 Posted November 5, 2011 Nope, certainly NOT my intention to make fun of you at all. Until about 5 years ago I didn't know who Terry was either. But he is the guy people call to restore their estate collection of vintage guitars. Last year, a collect fly him to Spain (maybe Italy) and paid him for a month to stay there and restore/evaluate his collection. Terry has said the greatest stringed instrument made was the turn of century, Gibson F style mandolin. Sounds like a really cool guy, and successful to boot!
vbf Posted November 5, 2011 Posted November 5, 2011 Both of my 150's have solid bodies as do most of my G LP's. One of the selling features of the 150 I most recently purchased was the one piece back.
JeffB Posted November 5, 2011 Posted November 5, 2011 A good guitar is a good guitar. Dont think 1,2 or three piece bodies are going to change much of that. Too many good guitar floating around made up of multiple pieces.
Kuz Posted November 5, 2011 Posted November 5, 2011 To some of us it is a selling point. It might not be tonally indifferent, but some have to have leather seats or a V6 engine vs a V4 engine. That is another thing that is wonderful about our hobby, we all like different features in a guitar. I will leave this topic with this final point: When was the last time you read a sales add PROMOTING a "beautiful two piece body" (or 3 piece) ??? If people don't care about it, why do you often read about a "beautiful one piece body"? My opinion is that with declining Mahogany, one piece bodies will be more desirable and hold their value more. Again, just my .02
kbp810 Posted November 6, 2011 Posted November 6, 2011 So I guess there's not much left to say here... so let's show off some 1 piece back sides!
barrymclark Posted November 6, 2011 Posted November 6, 2011 A two piece body will not resonate the same as if it had been made a one piece. A maple cap sorta takes away the point of having a single piece mahogany back, though. Any glued joint absorbs vibration. A few years ago, a luthier buddy of mine made two mahogany bodied guitars from the same slab of wood (same slab of maple for the necks) but one had a two piece due to that part of the wood not being as pleasing. NOTABLE difference in unplugged resonance. You could really feel that guitar vibrate compared to the other that was as close to the same you could possibly get. I love going to his house after he gets a shipment of mahogany. These HUGE timbers are in there. Just sort of awesome to see that rough wood knowing what they will look like all said and done.
Guest HRB853370 Posted November 6, 2011 Posted November 6, 2011 To some of us it is a selling point. It might not be tonally indifferent, but some have to have leather seats or a V6 engine vs a V4 engine. That is another thing that is wonderful about our hobby, we all like different features in a guitar. I will leave this topic with this final point: When was the last time you read a sales add PROMOTING a "beautiful two piece body" (or 3 piece) ??? If people don't care about it, why do you often read about a "beautiful one piece body"? My opinion is that with declining Mahogany, one piece bodies will be more desirable and hold their value more. Again, just my .02 Perception is reality Kuz!
Guest HRB853370 Posted November 6, 2011 Posted November 6, 2011 A two piece body will not resonate the same as if it had been made a one piece. A maple cap sorta takes away the point of having a single piece mahogany back, though. Any glued joint absorbs vibration. A few years ago, a luthier buddy of mine made two mahogany bodied guitars from the same slab of wood (same slab of maple for the necks) but one had a two piece due to that part of the wood not being as pleasing. NOTABLE difference in unplugged resonance. You could really feel that guitar vibrate compared to the other that was as close to the same you could possibly get. I love going to his house after he gets a shipment of mahogany. These HUGE timbers are in there. Just sort of awesome to see that rough wood knowing what they will look like all said and done. I have a 2 piece body 150 special. It is a bit thinner than a regular 150, (1 5/8 vs 1/7/8). Unplugged, it plays louder than any 150 I own. The Bird testified the same about his 2 pc 150 special. I think none of this has been scientifically proved, that a 1 piece is more resonant than a 2 piece.
Halowords Posted November 6, 2011 Posted November 6, 2011 To some of us it is a selling point. It might not be tonally indifferent, but some have to have leather seats or a V6 engine vs a V4 engine. That is another thing that is wonderful about our hobby, we all like different features in a guitar. I will leave this topic with this final point: When was the last time you read a sales add PROMOTING a "beautiful two piece body" (or 3 piece) ??? If people don't care about it, why do you often read about a "beautiful one piece body"? My opinion is that with declining Mahogany, one piece bodies will be more desirable and hold their value more. Again, just my .02 Well, for the sake of discussion, when's the last time you read a sales add promoting a wonderful short tenon? That's not supposed to make a difference. Sure, one-pieces are more desirable if for no other reason than you could argue the seam MIGHT make some difference, and that it might actually be ever-so-noticeable. Which is true. Not to mention rarity or the fact you can say it's a one-piece. Yet, in reality in a blind taste test I would wager virtually nobody (maybe literally nobody) could reliably tell a difference a/o prefer guitars that were one-piece bodies. Otherwise, wouldn't you hear a difference due to the glue holding the neck, fretboard, frets, body, Maple cap, and headstock veneer? Sure, if I'm ordering one I'm probably asking for a one-piece. Basically as the one-in-a-million "what if" (even though logically, I know I will never, ever notice a difference, period, to me it's like throwing salt over my shoulder or some superstition), and resale should I ever need to sell it (even though I believe it really makes no real difference, most of the time and maybe all of the time, I can still throw it out as a sales pitch, and some do care to some extent).
JeffB Posted November 6, 2011 Posted November 6, 2011 To some of us it is a selling point. It might not be tonally indifferent, but some have to have leather seats or a V6 engine vs a V4 engine. That is another thing that is wonderful about our hobby, we all like different features in a guitar. I will leave this topic with this final point: When was the last time you read a sales add PROMOTING a "beautiful two piece body" (or 3 piece) ??? If people don't care about it, why do you often read about a "beautiful one piece body"? My opinion is that with declining Mahogany, one piece bodies will be more desirable and hold their value more. Again, just my .02 I completely understand and agree. It is train spotting but thats part of the cool thing about guitars.
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