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RE: Woodsong Plinths - eye-fi - 2011-07-08 22:08
(2011-07-08 16:05)ToneDeff Wrote: Plinth Envy! ......... it can destroy a man.
I take two a day
, it helps soothe the pain but I occasionally get the shakes 
Something might go missing at Whittlebury
RE: Woodsong Plinths - Cymbiosis - 2011-07-08 23:51
(2011-07-08 20:57)Amadeus Wrote: I wish Linn had one of real Rosewood.
Emil
Following discussions with HQ a few weeks ago for you, the word is... It is possible. However, realistically we need a rosewood sample that you like the look of, to supply them with, and then they will do their best to match it for you. Costs will be broadly in a range similar to the Harbans. This is a service which I'm told by HQ, any Linn dealer can take advantage of.....
KR
Peter
RE: Woodsong Plinths - paultje - 2011-07-09 00:17
(2011-07-08 21:32)Chris H Wrote: The Graphite finish, is graphite powder in lacquer, over wood. That particular plinth is quartersawn Beech, glued up 3 years ago, recently finished.
To be fair, the new Linn plinths are very nice! I have seen some recent ones, kudos to the outfit making plinths for Linn! Linn has excellent quality control for all aspects of the LP12, from what I have seen. LP12 plinths are made from wood, which will bring some variation to the finished product regardless of who makes it.
I like wood in all of it's varieties, and happen to really like some of the wilder looking species, something different. I spend a lot of effort searching out beautiful boards to make plinths from. Also, in more than 25 years of working as a finisher, I have come to appreciate a polished oil finish, as I feel it brings out the most in wood, and offers the best overall finish for most furniture. I like to see all of the grain, the chatoyance, everything. When wood is only sanded to say, 400-600 grit, (which is beyond what is standard) at a microscopic level, the surface is still torn. The structure of the grain pattern is still slightly obscured. Surface building finishes, like lacquer or Acrylic Poly work well around this fact, and offer a pleasing finish that is easy to apply in a production environment. Not my favorite though... When wood is polished, the grain just pops right out, everything, almost down to the cellular level. I also really like the way that the natural patina of the wood can develop in wood with an oil finish. In almost every case, surface building finishes fall short in this area, though a few woods finish acceptably under a surface building finish.
I'm with you on this Chris.....I have a Carvin electric guitar made from Koa which is finished in lemon oil. It gives me great pleasure oiling it up occasionly (oooh err missus!), the feel and look of the wood is incredible, truly a work of art......
RE: Woodsong Plinths - Amadeus - 2011-07-09 05:35
(2011-07-08 23:51)Cymbiosis Wrote:(2011-07-08 20:57)Amadeus Wrote: I wish Linn had one of real Rosewood.
Emil
Following discussions with HQ a few weeks ago for you, the word is... It is possible. However, realistically we need a rosewood sample that you like the look of, to supply them with, and then they will do their best to match it for you. Costs will be broadly in a range similar to the Harbans. This is a service which I'm told by HQ, any Linn dealer can take advantage of.....
KR
Peter
Yes Peter,
You did your best to find a natural tree sample. The point is I'd like to see a ready plinth from Linn, which has been tested for SQ like any other LP12 part coming from Linn. In my experience only a certain density and quality of the wood will do the trick. I would not choose a plinth based on the look only. I have three plinths and they all sound different. I had hard times choosing between Black Ash and Rosenut, both latest MK with the new crossbar.
BR,
Emil
RE: Woodsong Plinths - Andy - 2011-07-09 05:53
(2011-07-09 05:35)Amadeus Wrote: Yes Peter,
In my experience only a certain density and quality of the wood will do the trick.
BR,
Emil
As I understand it, from reading posts here and on the LeJonkleau Forum over the past 2 years about the sound of Chris's plinths, it seems woods that have:
a) a curly/wavy grain, and
b) a density of between 700-750 kg/cu m (Edited to correct 'cu')
... sound the best.
I suspect the type of finish used on the wood also influences the sound.
Regards,
Andy
RE: Woodsong Plinths - ThomasOK - 2011-07-09 16:40
(2011-07-09 05:53)Andy Wrote:(2011-07-09 05:35)Amadeus Wrote: Yes Peter,
In my experience only a certain density and quality of the wood will do the trick.
BR,
Emil
As I understand it, from reading posts here and on the LeJonkleau Forum over the past 2 years about the sound of Chris's plinths, it seems woods that have:
a) a curly/wavy grain, and
b) a density of between 700-750 kg/sq m
... sound the best.
I suspect the type of finish used on the wood also influences the sound.
Regards,
Andy
While there is some truth to your summary above I wouldn't recommend reading too much into it. Unfortunately I haven't been able to find any single physical characteristic of wood that can predict how good the plinth will sound other than tapping it and hearing the quality of tone it makes. Even using the tap tone it takes experience with a fair number of plinths before you are able to reasonably predict the level of musicality of the plinth.
It is true that plinths with a more wavy grain, at least in one dimension, have tended to be more musical than those with pretty straight grains but not all wavy grain plinths are in the top range. I also stressed "at least in one dimension" as some plinth woods, Cocobolo being a good example in my experience, may have a very linear grain viewed from the front but a wavy grain viewed from the top. Others like some Amazique and some Rosewoods I have sen are linear regardless of the angle of view. These are the plinths that have a long ring to them when tapped and tend to have an excess of midrange energy when the LP12 is installed in them.
On the density comment I'm not really sure if it relates at all. While the least dense plinth I evaluated (Black Limba) was my least favorite as it was weak in the bass range, my favorites (Movingui, Cocobolo and Curly Maple) varied from 35 to 63 according to Woodsong Audio's "About wood..." page. Looking at this list it appears that almost all the woods shown are within that range. One of the notable exceptions is Ebony which is a bit higher at 68. Interestingly, while I have yet to install and listen to an Ebony plinth I was able to examine one recently. From the quality of the tap tone on it I would have to predict it would be a pretty good sounding plinth. Exactly how good I cannot say but I wouldn't be surprised if it was in the top 4 or 5.
So unfortunately, at least at this point, I haven't found a really reliable measure other than listening to them.
RE: Woodsong Plinths - Andy - 2011-07-09 23:14
(2011-07-09 16:40)ThomasOK Wrote: On the density comment I'm not really sure if it relates at all. While the least dense plinth I evaluated (Black Limba) was my least favorite as it was weak in the bass range, my favorites (Movingui, Cocobolo and Curly Maple) varied from 35 to 63 according to Woodsong Audio's "About wood..." page.
Hi Thomas,
Googling wood densities, I got the following:
* Movingui: 725 kg/cu m
* Cocobolo: 1,070 kg/cu m
* Curly (Rock) Maple: 735 kg/cu m.
So Cocobolo seems to be an anomaly ... was that the '63'?
But I appreciate actual listening is probably the only real test.
Regards,
Andy
RE: Woodsong Plinths - John G - 2011-07-09 23:50
This link provides Janka hardness specs for just about all woods imaginable.
RE: Woodsong Plinths - Andy - 2011-07-10 00:02
(2011-07-09 23:50)John G Wrote: This link provides Janka hardness specs for just about all woods imaginable.
"Hardness" is a different measurement to "density".
(Although they are probably related.)Regards,
Andy
RE: Woodsong Plinths - ToneDeff - 2011-07-10 12:35
(2011-07-06 17:42)Chris H Wrote:
![[Image: 5909333362_30636972c8_b.jpg]](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5319/5909333362_30636972c8_b.jpg)
So Chris H,
Is the identity of the pale, stripey wood starting four piles in from the left a secret then?