What would be your pic out of these two Rimu backs? A or B

[christian]

Hi,

I'm interested to hear your thoughts as luthiers, which one of these Rimu guitar back options you guys would go for?
I realise some of you good folk have had the option already when I put up some sets for sale, an A won by a country mile.
But why?
Would you choose on looks alone? or tap tone, grain orientation maybe a combo of all?

Anyway have some fun throw a vote in A or B.

Cheers,

Christian.

[steve roberts]

Hi Christian
Going on looks alone my personal taste is a vote for B
But both will be stunning guitars
Regards Steve

[Nick]

To answer your last question first I try to get a combination of both Christian, good looks from a 'known' tonewood, when ordering from Bob C at RC I go to pages of the timbers I like and then choose the most interesting pieces (if they haven't gone already ). I think the looks help with the marketing side of things, people will more likely gravitate toward a visually stunning guitar before the plain Mahogany type even though the Mahogany may sound better. A flamed timber over it's unfigured brother would win out if they were hanging in the shop side by side. Some top guitarists would pick all of them up, play them and pick on tone/sound, the aesthetics would be a secondary reason but the biggest customer base would be on looks & sound in equal measures I'd say, and there's no reason, as luthiers, that we couldn't build one that hit both targets.
Now to choose between the two, hmmmmmmm......... A by a nose, Rimu looks good however you present it but I'd only choose A over B because again of the striking dark grain lines, B's whilst still stunning doesn't stand out from a distance as opposed to A. That would be the only reason though, I'd be happy to build with either.

[DarwinStrings]

For me it is A, reminds me of the comfort Pyjamas bring.

Jim

[Steve.Toscano]

for me. B.

[ozwood]

I'll take two of the A type Thanks.

I do like that the a set better in that Particular wood.

Cheers,

[Nick Payne]

A does it for me...it's a stronger pattern than B.

[christian]

Thanks for the feedback guys Love the PJ's comment Jim.
If I'm building for someone and I have these options, I'll show them and also disclose the other characteristics.

A is certainly stiffer and close to quartersawn so probably more stable too.
B honestly looks like fire when I wipe a bit of thinners on it.

I'm currently building with both types so will be interesting to see the finished result.
I kinda lean towards B myself.

Paul, you can twist my arm if you must have two more sets.

Cheers,

Christian.

[Kim]

I went with "A" when I placed my order because I do like the spidering like contrast, but also because even in hardwood I prefer well quartered for the slightly reduced movement it offers in responce to swings in RH and the grain pattern of type "A" indicated to me that it was pretty close.

Cheers

Kim

[56nortondomy]

Hi Christian, i like the look of B that's what i'd choose. Wayne

[Crafty Fox]

A B or not A B? B for me!

[Allen]

I quite like B myself. It's got a mottled almost dyed silk look to it that I like. Perhaps as comfortable as a pair of silk pyjamas hey Jim?

[luke_lee]

I like A, B looks a bit like a Rorschach test to me.
Luke

[liam_fnq]

A

[auscab]

B for Me .

[ozziebluesman]

A for me.

Cheers

Alan

[nnickusa]

Well, you know I like the A overall, but if you'd shown me pic of that particular B, I'd have been hard pressed to turn it down...

[christian]

I think we are pretty evenly split so far at 8 votes for A and 9 votes for B.

Like Kim, the luthier in me says quartersawn, better stiffness, safer option in humidity swings, go with A.
But B is so intriguing!! I going to be rumaging through the stack today I wonder if I may come accross an option C. haha

Cheers,

Christian.

[martintaylor]

A

no wait, B

no, A


Can I have both?

[DarwinStrings]

Perhaps as comfortable as a pair of silk pyjamas hey Jim?

Woo Hoo! Silk Pyjamas, obviously selling quite a few instrument nowadays Allen

Jim

[foxfair]

My son says B, for me is A.

[Herr Dalbergia]

If they were for sale I would pay double the price for A as I would for B.

[Tom West]

A

[Lillian]

1+ on what Kim said.

[Nick]

Option C ?