Last night, I had a dream about a solid Brazilian Rosewood bodied Strat (it could be East Indian I supposed) and wondered what it would sound like? Any thoughts? Come to like of it, I don't think I have ever seen any solid body rosewood guitar, hmmm....... Wonder why? Weight?

_________________
"I'm not going to make a living at this, but it sure is fun."

Guitars:
1997 American Deluxe Series LoneStar Strat
1999 American Standard Tele
1990 Gibson J-200 (European Maple/Sycamore body)

Amps:
Traynor YCV40WR

Don't know how it would sound but it would certainly be expensive. One of the key innovations made by Leo Fender was to get away from using expensive tone woods and use cheaper wood for bodies: ash, alder, basswood. And for finishes he started using automobile lacquers from Dupont. If you wanted to make this dream come true at an affordable price I suppose you could go to Warmoth and buy a veneered body.

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James Burton Upgrade Telecaster
Hot Rodded Am Fat Strat Texas Special (now featuring Kinman Traditional II pickups)
Fender Blues Jr.
SWR California Blonde
Pedals Pedals Pedals

Oh yeah, I know it would be expensive. I really don't have any desire to build it. Just thinking out loud and said to myself, "rosewood electric guitar, hmmmm" I have never seen it at any price range.

I have seen Brazilian rosewood necks on high end PRS guitars but never bodies.

_________________
"I'm not going to make a living at this, but it sure is fun."

Guitars:
1997 American Deluxe Series LoneStar Strat
1999 American Standard Tele
1990 Gibson J-200 (European Maple/Sycamore body)

Amps:
Traynor YCV40WR

This page shows that Warmoth will make a solid rosewood body, though the cost merely quoted as "market price" suggests it ain't gonna be cheap!

http://www.warmoth.com/guitar/bodies/st ... t_standard

I recall a Forum member had Warmoth make him a solid rosewood neck. 'Fraid I can't remember who it was or find the thread, but he did show us pictures.

So go to it, rsigworth! Tell us how it sounds...

Cheers - C

Ceri,

Me again!
During my investigations, I noticed that Warmoth have a number of already made up solid RW necks. Price-wise they vary, depending on whether you want Malagasy, Indian or Brazilian. They look great and for the right project...
You can see a few of them on this page

http://www.warmoth.com/showcase/sc_guit ... enuItem2=0


Not for me as I'm still a bit of a traditionalist but I would love to try one! Think inner-thigh and stockings I reckon!

Cheers,
Eddie

_________________
'I'd rather have a full bottle in front of me, than a full frontal lobotomy'

2007 Custom Shop Clapton, Mercedes Blue
2006 USA 62 re-issue, 3-tone Sunburst - CS 54s
1988 USA Deluxe
2007 Yamaha SA2200
2005 Pro Reverb
Tube Screamer, Vox Wah

Yes, well that's what I dream about, for sure!

Thanks, man - C

i dont know about strats but fender does make a george harrison rosewood tele...its a thing of beauty...all rosewood...all day...check it out...its around $4000

_________________
07 American Vintage '62 Re-Issue Strat
(olympic white)
07 Gibson Les Paul Vintage Mahogany
(cherry red)
07 Gibson Melody Maker
(vinatge sunburst)
01 Gibson L-00 Acoustic
(vintage sunburst)
Mid-90's MIM P-Bass
(sunburst)
Little Martin Acoustic

Rosewood Tele bodies were made popular in the 70s by George Harrison of the Beatles......and bet the weight is well over 6lbs(*ouch!) plus finishes will be kinda tough rite?Rosewood are kinda oily in nature i read somewhere.....

I would think a rosewood body would be a little too muddy and not clear enough. Used on necks, or in acoustic bodies, there isn't a lot of it used. For a solid body electric, there would be a HUGE amount of the wood used.

I think you'd lose some clearness on the high end, some sustain, and some note definition if you had a solid rosewood body.

Might be better to have an alder body with a rosewood top. You'll want some hard, tight wood for the main chunk of the body to give it sustain and note clarity.

Here's George with his rosewood Tele.

He played it on the Let It Be album, especially "Get Back"--so that might give you an idea of its sound.

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I really like all them "Aster" guitars. You know, like the Stratoc, Telec and Jazzm.

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It's a mix between Jazz and Funk, it's called "Junk"

Isn't Brazilian Rosewood extinct?

My Taylor has Brazilian Rosewood back and sides

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Custom Shop '59 Strat with John Cruz Master Design Pickups
Vibro King
Fulltone Clyde>Deja-Vibe>TS-808>TS-9>Boss Tuner

I think it is endangered, yes, but not extinct. Could be wrong.
I believe it is no longer exported to protect it as a species, but there are still guitar-making companies and luthiers that have stocks of it - possibly bought up in knowledge of the ban coming into effect. I'm thinking that it is illegal to export it, as Warmoth state that their Brazilian RW necks are not for customers outside the US. Its a shame because I would have had one, but then if it means the species is protected then I can live with something else.

E

_________________
'I'd rather have a full bottle in front of me, than a full frontal lobotomy'

2007 Custom Shop Clapton, Mercedes Blue
2006 USA 62 re-issue, 3-tone Sunburst - CS 54s
1988 USA Deluxe
2007 Yamaha SA2200
2005 Pro Reverb
Tube Screamer, Vox Wah

Hello Rsigworth,

Back in Feb. another Forum member BentFender
Assembled a rosewood strat with a brazilian
rosewood fingerboard, it turned out real nice
here is a photo.

Cheers.