Rosettes 101

[michaelw]

Wow - just getting on the forum now since I posted my question last night and am enjoying reading everyone's responses. Thank you all for the great information! I looked up the Blue Paua and found that it also is a species of Abalone shell, so this answers one of my questions - it looks like all of the non-wood rosettes (the standard white, the green heart as well as the Blue Paua) are made of Abalone, just different species. Also learned that the blue rosette could be either blue paua (most likely) or, possibly green heart as there can be color variation within the green heart that will also allow for blue sometimes. Also good to know that this can be spec'd on a BTO. I can certainly say that I will plan for this on mine someday! Thank you all again for your helpful responses. I learned a lot.

Kris - I looked in my file to see if I had additional photos of that guitar towards helping with your question about whether it had full top purfling (looks like Michael knew the answer though), but I just saved the one photo showing the rosette because I liked the blue version so much. I don't remember specificly where I saved those pix from, otherwise, I would try to go back for more pix for you.

I've attached one more photo - this one of a beautiful shell I bought in a gift shop while on vacation in Hawaii several years ago. I have always loved it's blue and green iridescent features. It occurred to me just now that it's likely a Blue Paua shell! It would sure make a nice rosette 

hi John,
nice pic ... more paua is always a good thing

i picked up a paua ab shell also when i was visiting Hawaii about 5 years ago too,
along with a koa 'keepsake' box & a sushi set (chopsticks & holder) -
i'll have to dig 'em out of storage & put 'em back on the mantle some time

in terms of the rosette design, the last time i looked & i may be wrong about this,
i think that the premium ab may be available only in the single ring design,
which would be the same design that is on your 07 612ce, Edward's BTO & the L2 -
the pic of the R Taylor is a 3 ring design (purfling ring, wood, rosette, wood, purfling ring)

here are a couple more examples of the 3 ring design
07-current 500/700/acoustic series GS style                                   pre-01 500/600/700, pre-04 800 style (also seen on Spring 11 400LTDs)

[John429]

hi John,
nice pic ... more paua is always a good thing

i picked up a paua ab shell also when i was visiting Hawaii about 5 years ago too,
along with a koa 'keepsake' box & a sushi set (chopsticks & holder) -
i'll have to dig 'em out of storage & put 'em back on the mantle some time

in terms of the rosette design, the last time i looked & i may be wrong about this,
i think that the premium ab may be available only in the single ring design,
which would be the same design that is on your 07 612ce, Edward's BTO & the L2 -
the pic of the R Taylor is a 3 ring design (purfling ring, wood, rosette, wood, purfling ring)

here are a couple more examples of the 3 ring design
07-current 500/700/acoustic series GS style                                   pre-01 500/600/700, pre-04 800 style (also seen on Spring 11 400LTDs)

Cool that you picked up a Paua shell too! All I knew was I really liked the looks of it and never knew what kind it was until tonight.

Regarding the ring designs, I'm embarrassed to say I had never noticed that there were both three ring and single ring versions until you just pointed that out with good photos illustrating it. I'll be paying attention to this feature now. This has been a great learning thread 

[michaelw]

Cool that you picked up a Paua shell too! All I knew was I really liked the looks of it and never knew what kind it was until tonight.

Regarding the ring designs, I'm embarrassed to say I had never noticed that there were both three ring and single ring versions until you just pointed that out with good photos illustrating it. I'll be paying attention to this feature now. This has been a great learning thread 

i saw the shell & thought 'hmmm ... i know i've got something at home that has some of this on it already

that kind of made sense, to me, but in the past i've bought a set of tires & rims first & then bought the car to put them on after

the purfling lines of the outer ring are are so close to the soundhole binding on the R Taylor pic that it is very difficult to spot it at a glance
(i didn't catch it at first) & with the 700 series pic (on the left), the unbound soundhole makes the outer ring a little easier to see

i think that there are others learning here too ... good thread

[fdesalvo]

What rosette??  I can't take my eyes off that binding!  <3

[mescobar]

It's a beautiful combo. I ordered my BTO with the paua rosette and rosewood binding.

[michaelw]

It's a beautiful combo. I ordered my BTO with the paua rosette and rosewood binding.

very nice
i'll bet your PS16ce has a very nice rosette & binding as well
any chance of possibly sharing a pic with us ... please

[Edward]

It's a beautiful combo. I ordered my BTO with the paua rosette and rosewood binding.

very nice
i'll bet your PS16ce has a very nice rosette & binding as well
any chance of possibly sharing a pic with us ... please

Definite +1 on that!

Edward

[michaelw]

green heart ab (ruby red 03 ps14LTD)                                     paua (03 614ceL2) ... pic is too small

fretboard extension detail (still looks like a lot of blue & pink to me)

i thought that green heart ab was used on the PS models - specs show abalone
http://www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/models/limiteds/2003/ps14ltd.html

hmm ... i got nuthin  (0:53)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6fELzIdGTs

[Edward]

OT Alert:
Those two are stunning, Michael!  You are a fortunate man to have these beauties!  Care to share other pics, especially of the back/sides ...you can even throw in some abalone shots to keep in "on topic"
(...so did you get a non-blue guitar in a moment of weaknes?  )

Edward

[michaelw]

hi Edward,
thanks
the back sides of 'R & B' are hanging out over yonder
http://www.unofficialtaylorguitarforum.com/index.php?topic=672.msg4091#msg4091
the 'non' blue one on the left has gone on to 'greener pastures' -
based on the same model (not that particular guitar), it allowed
me to spec the 614L2 with similar woods (engelmann top, ultra quilt)

i was able to pick up 'Red' a while later & i enjoyed both models,
as they each had discernable tonal variations (very complementary) -
eventually, when push came to shove & i had to make a decision,
the 6 was the one that stayed, but the meticulous craftsmanship
on the PS, not to mention the 6, amazes me even still ... just

as for the other 'non-blue' lapses of reason
please monitor the other thread for further developments

[Strumming Fool]

For further reference, here's some green heart abalone from my '99 Larrivee OM10K:

[Edward]

Hey SF,

Very nice larry you have there ...lovely figuring and, of course, beautiful ab binding/rosette inlays!  btw, is that flamed ovangkol?

Edward

[Strumming Fool]

Hey SF,

Very nice larry you have there ...lovely figuring and, of course, beautiful ab binding/rosette inlays!  btw, is that flamed ovangkol?

Edward

That's actually koa from Jean Larrivee's reserve stock (1999). As you know, Larrivee tends to shy away from staining woods, and likes to leave them in a more natural state. As a result, the koa is a very light amber. Here's the back:

[michaelw]

For further reference, here's some green heart abalone from my '99 Larrivee OM10K:

thanks for posting this pic, Strumming
at last, some genuine green heart ab

very nice koa, too
she's a beauty

[Strumming Fool]

For further reference, here's some green heart abalone from my '99 Larrivee OM10K:

thanks for posting this pic, Strumming
at last, some genuine green heart ab

very nice koa, too

Thanks Michael-

This Larrivee is the only non-Taylor that I've stuck with, and that's a compliment to this guitar, because I really do prefer Taylors!
she's a beauty