Myrtle, Buckeye, what are these?

[ChuckTrucks]

I thought I knew about most tone woods but what the heck is myrtle and buckeye?

Myrtle looks like maple.

Buckeye looks like???

I try to get info on both of them and I end up with Myrtle Beach and Ohio State related material.

[Musiclogic]

Buckeye is a Western US Burl, and has no tonal properties, only decorative.

Myrtle is usually found in Oregon and is a member of the Laurel Family. You Ocassionally see it used on Acoustics where it may have a tonal property.

[miziomix]

And they are both gorgeous

[No Neck Shrek]

O-H !



Buckeye Reference

[Musiclogic]

Originally Posted by miziomix

And they are both gorgeous

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder Maurizio...LMFAO

[cthomas5200]

Originally Posted by No Neck Shrek

O-H !

Buckeye Reference

I O!

[miziomix]

Originally Posted by Musiclogic

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder Maurizio...LMFAO

LOL... true. I am shamelessly biased

[No Neck Shrek]

Alembic

[ChuckTrucks]

What does no tonal properties mean? Does it sound neutral?

For example the buckeye top on that Alembic or a Myrtle top on a Roscoe or something. Does the body/neck wood dominate the sound and the top is just there for cosmetics without the idea of adding something to the tone like with a maple or bubinga top?

[jmac]

Originally Posted by ChuckTrucks

What does no tonal properties mean? Does it sound neutral?

For example the buckeye top on that Alembic or a Myrtle top on a Roscoe or something. Does the body/neck wood dominate the sound and the top is just there for cosmetics without the idea of adding something to the tone like with a maple or bubinga top?

I'm guessing that it's just used as a top, you know for decoration.

[Musiclogic]

Originally Posted by ChuckTrucks

What does no tonal properties mean? Does it sound neutral?

For example the buckeye top on that Alembic or a Myrtle top on a Roscoe or something. Does the body/neck wood dominate the sound and the top is just there for cosmetics without the idea of adding something to the tone like with a maple or bubinga top?

Just aesthetics. Buckeye is about as dense as Cork....LOL. so if you imagine putting a Cork top on your instrument you can develop an idea of what properties it adds besides look.

I really do not feel like beginning the whole "solidbody tonewood" exercise in conjecture again. It's been done here too many times.

[Beej]

Musiclogic speaketh the truth. Esp in regards to the tonewoods debacle...

[bThumper38]

Originally Posted by Musiclogic

Just aesthetics. Buckeye is about as dense as Cork....LOL. so if you imagine putting a Cork top on your instrument you can develop an idea of what properties it adds besides look.

I really do not feel like beginning the whole "solidbody tonewood" exercise in conjecture again. It's been done here too many times.

Just curious, Is Burl Maple similar, or is that a pretty solid piece of wood? thanks

[gilmour]

My ACG has a Myrtle top (figured, not a burl), looks great - as for tonal properties, no idea. It's a little darker and maybe greener than maple. Alan has said in the past that he really likes working with it.



More pics here.

[Musiclogic]

Originally Posted by bThumper38

Just curious, Is Burl Maple similar, or is that a pretty solid piece of wood? thanks

Maple Burls like the bass in my Avatar is much more solid than Buckeye. Buckeye always seems like rotted burl to me. It's very soft and exceptionally soft.

[ChuckTrucks]

Originally Posted by Musiclogic

Just aesthetics. Buckeye is about as dense as Cork....LOL. so if you imagine putting a Cork top on your instrument you can develop an idea of what properties it adds besides look.

I really do not feel like beginning the whole "solidbody tonewood" exercise in conjecture again. It's been done here too many times.

Well I didnt mean to upset anyone or start anything, I just had a couple of questions.

I used to keep up with things like this when I was into custom guitars but the craziest I ever went was walnut or burl maple (which I was always lead to believe was not much different from flamed or quilted maple). Who knows.

[HaMMerHeD]

I have to say, I really strongly dislike the look of buckeye. It looks like vomit to me, or alternatively, it looks like what I sacrifice to the porcelain god after eating some really good Mexican food.

[Musiclogic]

Originally Posted by ChuckTrucks

Well I didnt mean to upset anyone or start anything, I just had a couple of questions.

I used to keep up with things like this when I was into custom guitars but the craziest I ever went was walnut or burl maple (which I was always lead to believe was not much different from flamed or quilted maple). Who knows.

LMFAO. Upset anyone....probably not...LOL

Burl Maple is nowhere near as solid or hard as a curly or quilted. Burls are very low structure and porous. Some of us here ave done some work with really out there stuff.

IT's just when it starts into tonal properties of solidbodied guitars, there are some vastly differing opinions so we try to quash the slightest mention of such things before the wars start back up...LMAO

[Musiclogic]

Originally Posted by HaMMerHeD

I have to say, I really strongly dislike the look of buckeye. It looks like vomit to me, or alternatively, it looks like what I sacrifice to the porcelain god after eating some really good Mexican food.

LMAO Mark, a bit graphic, but we are of similar opinion. Not a fan of Buckeye for the most part either, but I have seen a few cool pieces.

[Rip Topaz]

Myrtle is a great wood to work with.