NMD (Kinda)

[richardp69]

I owned this 000 Martin Custom Shop guitar but sold it to a friend. Due to his health issues I bought it back. It's a really nice 000 Custom Shop Morado (Bolivian Rosewood) B&S guitar (nicely graioned) in pretty minty condition. There were 7 of these made.

-Sitka Spruce top
-Madagascar RW top binding
-Madagascar RW heel cap and head pate
-Grover nickel tuning machines
-Morado Back and Sides
-African Blackwood fingerboard and bridge
-Modified low oval Mahogany neck
-Satin finish
-OHSC

Here's a couple pics

 

[HeyMikey]

Nice Richard. That RW is interesting. I imagine there are some nice overtones on this one. Should be great for fingerstyle.

 

[Cougar]

I've heard of Brazilian, but not Bolivian rosewood. Apparently it has other names: Morado, Pau-ferro, Jacarandá-violeta, Caviuna.... I've heard of Pau-ferro, and I'm also wondering what association this rosewood has with a Jacaranda tree, which is pretty popular in SoCal for its deep purple bloom....

 

[Stuball48]

One of the most beautiful back and sides I have ever seen. Thanks for shay

 

[wileypickett]

Seductive! What are you asking for it, pray tell?!

 

[walrus]

Wow! Nice!

walrus

 

[richardp69]

Seductive! What are you asking for it, pray tell?!

Howdy Glenn. I haven't really thought about selling it yet but you know me. I likely will when I find something else I get the urge to chase.

 

[dreadnut]

She shore is purty!

 

[GGJaguar]

It's beautiful, but I don't get the satin finish.

 

[richardp69]

It's beautiful, but I don't get the satin finish.

Just the way they made the 7 of these they built I guess. Personally, I like the look of a gloss finish but I will say I like the feel of a satin finish. That's likely not true for everybody.

 

[SFIV1967]

I'm also wondering what association this rosewood has with a Jacaranda tree, which is pretty popular in SoCal for its deep purple bloom....

The Jacaranda trees in SoCal are "Jacaranda mimosifolia".
"Dalbergia nigra" (=Brazilian RW, Jacaranda)
"Machaerium scleroxylon" (=Morado, Pau-ferro, Bolivian RW).

Both Dalbergia Nigra and Machaerium scleroxylon belong to the Leguminosae family (pea or bean family).
Jacaranda mimosifolia belongs to the Bignoniaceae family.

Ralf

 

[walrus]

Random comment about the finish. My '11 F-30RCE has a gloss finish on the body, but a satin neck including the headstock back. I would not have bought it if the body was satin. I changed the neck to gloss in about 3 days of playing!

walrus

 

[richardp69]

Random comment about the finish. My '11 F-30RCE has a gloss finish on the body, but a satin neck including the headstock back. I would not have bought it if the body was satin. I changed the neck to gloss in about 3 days of playing!

walrus

Yup. many likely feel the same way. But, for me anyway, give me a Satin neck every day of the week. I love the feel. It's one of the reasons I really like the Martin brand I guess.

 

[walrus]

Yup. many likely feel the same way. But, for me anyway, give me a Satin neck every day of the week. I love the feel. It's one of the reasons I really like the Martin brand I guess.

How do you "keep" it satin? I simply played it and it turned to gloss pretty quickly.

walrus

 

[richardp69]

Seems to stay Satin for me. Maybe I don't play them enough??? In fact, I know I don't play them enough.

I've been thinking about this for a while now. I used to play 2+ hours everyday with few exceptions. It seems now I'm more into the buying/selling/trading routine. I need to start playing again I think. I just don't play very much anymore.

 

[bobouz]

Morado is a well-regraded hardwood. In the early 2000s, Gibson used morado for fingerboards & bridges on their Workingman series. I owned a couple of WM-45s, and was rather fond of the honey-like color. Now I know what it looks like on the back & sides - beautiful!