Torrefied tonewoods in GJ guitars?

mcgroup53

If you look at the flattop guitar world, it's being taken by storm by tonewoods enhanced through a process called torrefaction. Invented by Finnish woodworkers, it basically bakes the wood in an oxygen-free environment to boil off the volatile chemicals, saps, water and sugars trapped inside the cellular structure to replicate the process of aging. Martin, Bourgeois and Taylor are all using it, and I'm curious if anyone knows if an GY builders are starting to use it?

mcgroup53

If you look at the flattop guitar world, it's being taken by storm by tonewoods enhanced through a process called torrefaction. Invented by Finnish woodworkers, it basically bakes the wood in an oxygen-free environment to boil off the volatile chemicals, saps, water and sugars trapped inside the cellular structure to replicate the process of aging. Martin, Bourgeois and Taylor are all using it, and I'm curious if anyone knows if an GY builders are starting to use it?

Craig Bumgarner

This may be what AJL is doing on his XO model with "heat treated top". That he is Finnish may be a clue as well. :-)

Al Watsky

Yup AJL treats his top in this way.
I like the results judging by the AJL I own and others like it.
Heat treating tops has been around for a long time, at least since the time of Vuillume a 19th century French collector and builder of violins.
His was a controversial method.
This new method is more highly evolved and includes control of atmospheric pressure and the addition of other chemicals as well as the elimination of others.
Its a sophisticated process that has to be done at a high tech facility . Its an industrial process.
First developed for treating lumber intended for exterior use.
In the case of guitars it seems to stabilize the top and my impression is that the instrument I possess moves very little season to season , It shows every indication that it has enhanced stability.
As far as sound goes ? I don't have a not treated AJL to reference .
I think the process speeds the break in period for spruce which is a good thing. So you get a new guitar that is a bit more open sounding than a non treated guitar .
If builders were building with 15 or more year old seasoned timber none of this would be necessary or important .
All of the large mass production builders in the US need to look to their timber supply problems because a large majority of their instruments do not hold up when compared to instruments of the past .
And the cause is seasoning and other storage and supply issues.
This top treatment should be extended to brace woods and necks in my opinion.
But treating tops is a good start.
It has been my observation that many tops drop due to the transverse braces shrinking , so add that to top instability you have "drop top" and in the case of the T brand many instances of neck /fingerboard "troubles".
If you have to water your guitar "like a plant" , something went wrong "at the plant".
Guitars !

dennis

The particular AJL that I owned previously was incredibly stable; in my opinion, the best one he ever made that i've tried of the XO variety (and i've tried quite a few); I hand picked it from a few others that were supposed to be identical. I took it all over the world with me and it went through all sorts of weather change, and it never once suffered for it. It is now in the freezing cold state of Utah.

I don't know if we can attribute the stability to the treatment though; definitely not 100% contributing factor, not even 50%, if you ask me. Maybe it was a combination of the treatment, and successful building.

nicksansone

http://www.ajl-guitars.com/ajlguitars/index.php?id=37#.VTnlnpOEI3I

nicksansone

AJL calls it thermotimber treatment, but I think this is the same idea that you are referring to.

Charles Meadows

The Bourgeois guitars with terrified tops (called aged tone series) certainly sound different than his other guitars. I'm assuming that the heat pliage on the higher end GJ guitars doesn't torrify the wood any?

Al Watsky

Yes, AJ is just building in a truly professional manner.
The success of the instruments isn't due to any one thing, its every little thing. Stability speaks to the correct treatment and storage of all the woods used and the climate control at time of build.
What ever he's doing , he's doing it well !
When I first heard the AJL guitars I was impressed by the presence and tone.
The instruments I heard being played were all spruce tops XO's and had great focus, brilliance and balance, while still possessing a smooth low end.
When I talked to AJ he mentioned the top process I decided that it was a factor in the formula and he told me that the brace wood and neck timbers were un treated . So I understood that the wood he was using was properly prepared and seasoned. My mind was at rest on that score.
I was hearing a spruce instrument that combined the good qualities of Cedar with the clarity of spruce.
When I took delivery on my guitar , that was exactly what I got.
AJ has passed through a training process that has resulted in his being certified as a "master builder". From what I have seen and heard thats the case.
AJL's are master built guitars.
Thats the end of my little rant/rave for the day !

EmmettRay

My AJL XO-503 has this treatment and sounds awesome. I like the look of it too, has a old vintage vibe to it. I'll be taking it with me this summer to DIJ and Samois, since it is the loudest of my gypsy guitars.