Ron Kirn Barnbuster Guitar #0519 - Used  From Other

In the 1800's buildings were commonly built using Heart Pine, Loblolly Pine, Louisiana Long Leaf pine, and a few other species known for their qualities. That lumber was dramatically different from the genetically modified lumber harvested today. Many of those buildings are “coming down” today, and the lumber, old and seasoned, is being reclaimed.

Jump forward to the mid 20 th century and an electronics repairman begins making Steel guitars. Within a few years, that expands into a unique concept for a Spanish Guitar, an electric one with a solid pine body, The Broadcaster®, created by Leo, was born.

However, almost as soon as they became notable, Fender® changed from Pine to Ash. Many reasons are cited, but the change was made. Pine fell into an almost 60 year slumber as a “tone wood”.

Pine has been awakened. More and more manufacturers are jumping on the “band wagon” carrying Pine bodied guitars. It makes a superb sounding instrument.

Today, it is generally recognized that older guitars produce the most amazing sounds. Why… Possibly it has to do with what happens as time passes. When lumber is purchased for a quality project, it has been dried, usually to below 12% moisture, but that only addresses water. The Resins, what we call sap here in the South, remains a gelatinous mass of goo locked within the cells, for years, for decades. Most of those resins take about 50 years to solidify. That in my opinion is why the older woods transmit a broader, fuller sound when played. There is no longer any goo, absorbing the sonic energy.

Since I began offering the BarnBuster, a few years back, several guitar pickers have contacted me, who own reclaimed lumber facilities. Thus the supply has not dried up.

I recently took delivery of two lots of lumber, some old ‘n gnarly, another equally old, but beautifully clear…. Is yours in one of these stacks?