Use of padauk for Guild necks

[chazmo]

Hi guys,

I recall reading here (and in Hans' book) about some time in the '70s when Guild used padauk wood (rather than mahogany) for many of their guitar necks.

Do you guys know how to identify this? Is there something telltale with padauk to know? I've noticed that my '78 G312NT is significantly heavier than my '71 F50RNT and my '06 F512, and it could be the neck... It looks like mahogany to me, but I don't know. The weight of the G312 surprises me; it could just be thicker woods -- I don't know.

The G312 has a three piece neck, just like the others, and when I look at my F50R and F512 (which are both mahogany with maple strip) the colors are vastly different.

 

[hansmoust]

The G312 has a three piece neck, just like the others, and when I look at my F50R and F512 (which are both mahogany with maple strip) the colors are vastly different.

Hello Chazmo,

Show me a photo of the back of the peghead of your G-312, preferably taken in natural daylight.
I might be able to tell you if it's padouk or not.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[chazmo]

I'll do that, Hans. It also occurred to me that I should take off the TRC and see what lies beneath.

 

[sitka_spruce]

Another alternative could be your G312 is from the over-built Westerly era. I know my D212 weighs a tonne compared to any sixstring and most 12-strings, even double truss-rod Guilds of newer type.

Then of course I couldn't tell with 100% certainty the species used for the neck of that guitar either, heavily stained as it is, but it looks much like mahogany to me - and cracked like mahogany is expected to, still obvious though it's repaired before I got her.

 

[chazmo]

Quite possible, sitka_spruce.

I'm going to try to get some daylight shots of the neck tomorrow.

 

[lonesome picker]

I have a 71 F412 which I think has the infamous paduk neck. It feels real neck heavy. The grain is a bit coarse and rough looking, but finished nicely - except where the finish has been worn off.

 

[chazmo]

Well, I've taken a few shots. Comparing the G312NT to my F512, I have to bet that it's mahogany, not padauk. The grain and the coloring are very similar. Oddly, my F50RNT has a much lighter colored neck, but I'm pretty sure that's mahogany as well. Anyone disagree? That's at the end of these shots:

The '78 G312NT

Here's the 2006 F512:

And, here's the '71 F50RNT:

And all three, L-to-R, G312NT, F50RNT, F512

 

[hansmoust]

I have a 71 F412 which I think has the infamous paduk neck. It feels real neck heavy. The grain is a bit coarse and rough looking, but finished nicely - except where the finish has been worn off.

Hello lonesome picker,

That doesn't look like a padouk neck to me. Did you ever give me the serial number of your F-412 for my database?

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[hansmoust]

Hello Chazmo,

Looked at the photo of the G-312 and even though the shot is not really in focus ( and I cannot see the pores) I don't think this is padouk.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[Dr Izza Plumber]

Pardon me Hans......here's an internet picture sample of Padouk.

Here's the neck of a Washburn Guitar with wood looking very much like that sample. What do you think Hans, is this Padouk wood?

 

[hansmoust]

What do you think Hans, is this Padouk wood?

Hello Dr Izza,

Sorry, but the photo of the Washburn is not clear enough to identify the wood.
Also, Padouk is not a very common wood in guitar construction so I doubt that it is.
I can't tell you for sure though!

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[dayuhan]

Chazmo, I wouldn't know padauk if I were hit on the head with it, but I gotta say that's 3 lovely backsides, whatever they're made of.

 

[chazmo]

Hans, yes I'll see if I can get one with good grain pattern sometime, and one with the TRC off. My camera is too smart for me and doesn't want to overexpose background. I have to figure out how to do manual exposure.

And, thank you, Dayuhan. Long live Guild!

 

[bohemian]

Though I have not seen a padauk neck, it is commonly used for Spanish Flamenco guitars for a sound ( color) between rosewood (negra) and cypress ( blanca).

The Spanish call this wood "coral" probably because of the color.

I have quite a bit of padauk. I have many different types of mahogany planks.. some mahogany is heavier than padauk.