Claro Walnut - Juglans hindsii - Tommy's Tonewoods

[@petercondaxis7879]

I own a 2009 Martin OMCE with Claro walnut back & sides - one of only 150 produced. It's my "Desert Island" guitar.

[@TomSandsGuitars]

What do you like about it?

[@thisoldnewguitar9882]

Wow, great info and timing because I'm building a Claro OM right now. Love the show and look forward to watching them all!

[@TomSandsGuitars]

Have fun!

Claro Walnut is from the Orchards of Central California where I grew up. The Central San Joaquin Valley. Between Sacramento-Fresnio-Bakersfield! Greetings from Hollywood California! I just subscribed. Great channel!

[@TomSandsGuitars]

Thank you for subscribing!!

[@TheHypnotstCollector]

I just cut my first black walnut slabs, Juglans Hindsii Jeps. We live in an old black walnut orchard in the Gold Country. I also had 6 walnut stumps pulled. WOW! Those guys make huge roots. Took about 2 hours per stump and removed about 8 cubic yards of dirt (clay and slate, really). The figure in the wood is like pretty naked girls.....you never tire of looking at it... in fact I prefer the wlanut! Now I have to do something with it...

[@TomSandsGuitars]

Whatever floats your boat my friend! 🤩

[@kevingreene6893]

Enjoyed that Tom... lovely piece of tonewood - some nice drama in the configuration too :) Nicely described! Interesting idea to use the walnut on the top too - I’ve never come across that before. Cheers... :)

[@TomSandsGuitars]

I've maybe seen a walnut top once or twice but until yesterday I hadn't seen an all walnut guitar, I think this will be really pretty. I expect I'll been use walnut binding with perhaps a striking coloured purfling line. If you're following me on Instagram you might have seen a similar idea on there. Cheers!

[@edflower109]

How about doing a video on black walnut ,or comparing the different types . love your videos!

[@TomSandsGuitars]

not a bad idea!

[@_x__q]

I just joined a Claro walnut back for my third build. It will be paired with a cedar top. I was surprised by the complexity of the tap tones. So many have described it as a dry, fundamental kinda sound. My set has some higher frequencies that sustained almost as well as my rosewood back that was joined a few weeks ago.

[@TomSandsGuitars]

I mentioned 'dry' in the description, I think you're absolutely right. I noticed some lovely high frequency response in this set too, I think complex is exactly the word I'd use!

[@matthewsmith2362]

Is Claro walnut variety more expensive than like a black walnut.

[@davidtesch475]

I'm in CA, I took a tree class while I lived in Modesto and the professor mentioned that they graft it onto the English walnut for better disease resistance, probably against root rot IIRC

[@sinaTonewood]

is this type of walnut as dense as Persian walnut? what about average density?

[@gregoryreffner2939]

Great videos, Tom. Glad I found your channel! what's your general sense of E.I Rosewood versus Claro Walnut when paired with a Redwood top?

[@sbolfing]

Great video - always learning something! I've seen a few all walnut guitars from Martin's Custom Shop and a Gibson J-45 that was all walnut (that one really sounded nice) - they have their own unique voice. Different than all Mahogany or all Koa - not better/worse, just different. I hope to hear yours!

[@auliarahmat6084]

Are this walnut species good for laminated neck guitar?

[@paulboden7850]

Are you getting clues about how you'll voice the guitar from the initial tap tones? Stuart Ryan had a claro walnut Gerber. Sounded great.

[@TomSandsGuitars]

Yeah definitely. It does depend on what the customer is after and what qualities we want to bring out of the wood. This piece was actually really surprising coming back to it, there was a lot more going on than I'd anticipated and a strong treble response which tells me it'll work for a soundboard.

And Tom my dad planted many Walnut orchards in Central California. He would remind us. Most nuts, such as almonds, walnuts, and cashews, are botanically defined as seeds rather than fruit!

[@TomSandsGuitars]

You're quite right. Thanks for the fact check!!

[@rosskstar]

Does Claro have any sound benefit over Rosewood back/sides other than figure (thinking Martin acoustic)? Btw, i've got an entire Black Walnut tree air-dried for 3 years i'm getting ready to make some tables...my grandfather planted it during WW2. "Search for Jehovah while he may yet be found"~bible

[@MrHeliosoul]

Babinga?