| Webster's dictionary lists the definition
of the word "exotic" as "strikingly, excitingly, or mysteriously different
or unusual". I really don't think that I have ever had the
sheer joy of playing an instrument that fits that definition so perfectly
as this new masterwork by journeyman luthier Sergei de Jonge and his son
Sagen de Jonge!
Snakewood is a truly exotic species, and
probably one of the most difficult trees in the world to find. It grows
erratically in South America and is known by many different names depending
on the region ... Cacique carey (Panama), Palo de Oro (Venezuela), Burokoro,
Tibicusi (Guyana), Letterhout (Surinam), Bois d'Amourette (French Guiana),
Gateado and Muirapenima (Brazil). It is described as being "found
a rare to occasional tree" in these areas and can grow up to 80 ft in height
with trunk diameters of 12" to 20". Typically, it is a very small
tree, and only shows it's wonderful figure in a small quantity of the wood,
and then rarely evenly spread across the entire face of the board. The
jagged black blotches resemble the skin of a snake, thus getting its name.
It is almost unheard of to procure Snakewood in dimensions large enough
to craft a back/sides set for guitar construction!
The density, non-damping and reflective
properties of Snakewood ... along with this extraordinary Bearclaw Engelmann
spruce top are the engines that drive this uniquely sensitive and responsive
musical vehicle. Bearclaw or "hazelficte" figure in spruce
is a random rippling of the longitudinal grain fibers. It almost
always occurs only in older trees with a stiff grain structure and enhanced
sound velocity. It is very very unusual to find a display of Bearclaw
of this magnitude in Engelmann spruce!
I am convinced that the superb immediacy
of response, broad overtone component and expansive dynamic range
of this exquisite instrument are the result of one of the most intuitive
& knowledgeable luthiers of our time, utilizing these truly Master-Grade
exotic tonewoods. The tone bar has officially been raised!!! |
