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 timein 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 design07-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
It's a beautiful combo. I ordered my BTO with the paua rosette and rosewood binding.
Quote from: mescobar on December 29, 2011, 03:31:16 PMIt'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
Hey SF,Very nice larry you have there ...lovely figuring and, of course, beautiful ab binding/rosette inlays! btw, is that flamed ovangkol?Edward
For further reference, here's some green heart abalone from my '99 Larrivee OM10K:
Quote from: Strumming Fool on December 31, 2011, 09:26:44 AMFor further reference, here's some green heart abalone from my '99 Larrivee OM10K:thanks for posting this pic, Strummingat last, some genuine green heart ab very nice koa, tooThanks 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