Now you interest me very much there, cvilleira. I wonder if linden is another of those tree names that means a different species on either side of the Atlantic - like sycamore?

My part of the world linden is an older name for the lime tree. Which is nothing to do with lime fruits: it's a European deciduous tree with smallish leaves that look a bit like beech leaves.

(Banal side note: linden was the wood of choice for the ancient Anglo-Saxons and also Vikings to make shields from. So much so that one of the Anglo-Saxon (Old English) words for shield is - linden. Just call me JRR Tolkien...)

So if linden is also basswood in America - what does that tree look like? Have you any idea what species it is?

Cheers - C

PS cvilleira, I am so fascinated to see some of your guitar making work...

I believe they are of the same species of tree. I have been told they call them Lime Trees in England. The leaves are very big and a round heart shape almost the size of your hand. They tend to drop lots of limbs that will dye off and just drop off. The seeds are the size of peas and hang under a shell kind of leaf shaped like a curved flat pinky finger. (hard to describe) when they fall to the ground the seeds are like walking on small marbles and get into everything. A lot of people call them Carolina Basswood or just Basswoods and other call them Lindens or American Lindens. I do think there is some difference between American Linden and European Linden but of the same species of Tilia

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

Tilia - goddit!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tilia

Drops sticky stuff on your car if you park underneath, right?

I have one in my garden. Amazing; never knew it was basswood. Woohoo - another guitar timber on hand! Not that I'm planning to cut it down - but it had better behave itself from now on!

Thanks, man - C

Gets those seeds all down in the car vents and everywhere else. there are still a large number of them in My Community. The house two doors up from me has one thats got to be 55' to 65' and the other way 3 doors down just cut his down because it's roots got into the plumbing waste line. I live in a little 22' by 38' foot slate roof brick two story rowhome (3 if you count a finished Basment) so we tend to share trees and leaves. Three streets over from me is a 160 year old Girls school that at one time was the largest brick structure in the United States (a very high dollar Girls school) with lots on Lindens on the property.

_________________
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

Wow, you have schools for 160 year old girls?

...Sorry, I couldn't stop myself. Hanging my head in shame...

But now I know lindens-are-limes-are-basswoods, what you've got to do is everytime someone fells one of those trees - see if you can get a nice wide chunk of straight trunk from the bottom. You're growing guitars in your street!

Too cool!

Cheers - C

Not bad when the Gym class goes jocking down the street past the house.

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

Hehehe! You had probably better not post pictures of that!

- C

"jocking" ??? Is that the same as "jogging" ???

Ceri, I hear that the MIJ/CIJ Stratocasters are quite nice.

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

Ops! Hit them there keys wrong did I not? Jogging in groups by the Catholic High Girls. Theres about 600 in that old Historic School building. My teenage son sure did not mind living near it.

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

I thought perhaps I was just ignorant of some new teenager or student activity.

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

Jocking Catholic girls? Actually, I'm married to one of those...



One day, one day...

- C

Sorry about that little "jab."

I will cease with the emotional attacks.

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

I've learnt two important lessons. One is that CIJ Strats are now pretty hard to get hold of (though I'm gonna make it happen!).

The other is: don't mention your shopping aspirations till you've got the thing home and running!

- C

The one exception to this rule should be in case you are looking to verify a vintage axe!

I feel bad that most of the time when I chime in to a "what is this Strat" thread I have to state that it's not what it claims.

Niki's 1957 Strat Adventure has been very amusing, though!

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

As of Monday (Jan. 26, 2009) I will own 2, yes that's right, count them 2 (Two) 1986 MIJ Fender Strats!!!!!
The first which I have owned for a couple of years now is a '72 RI, Olympic White, Rosewood Fretboard. Unfortunately it is not all stock anymore.
The one that arrives here on Monday is '68 RI, 3 Color Sunburst, Maple Fretboard, All original.

AND, They are both Left Handed!!!!

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Chet Feathers

Authorized TonePros Dealer
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I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.