Mr Wu archtops and Hotman Guitars?

[Marty Grass]

My 18” Wu that was requested without electronics. I had a Biltoft installed after it arrived. Would I trade that guitar for an Eastman? Not on your life!

Attachment 80908

There's a little piece of heaven, sir!

[Marty Grass]

That video shows what the 1100 can do!! It's a relatively weak pickup and soars best with heavy strings that provide more vibrating steel mass. Wow!!

[Ukena]

It's good to know about Mr. Wu, now that Eastman is apparently cutting back on making archtops for a couple of years, to concentrate on solid-body guitars...

[RJVB]

That video shows what the 1100 can do!! It's a relatively weak pickup and soars best with heavy strings that provide more vibrating steel mass. Wow!!

Always funny to see how tastes differ. I only listened over laptop speakers but preferred the round-wound 11s with the medium pick (which is funny in itself because acoustically I normally prefer the sound of an extra heavy pick, wood or corn). I can't help but think of "just an electric guitar" with the heavier strings which I also cannot help to find almost a shame for such a beautiful guitar who's "real" voice is the acoustic one IMHO.

BTW, it looks as if the control pot (almost) touches the top, maybe even takes the place of the usual support brace fixed to side-wall?

[Spook410]

That video shows what the 1100 can do!! It's a relatively weak pickup and soars best with heavy strings that provide more vibrating steel mass. Wow!!

The Benedetto design, heavy strings, and the 1100 seem to go together pretty well to my ears as well. Clear, 'woody', and complex. Good stuff.

[Jazz123]

Can anyone post a video of the Wu? Can’t find too many on YouTube..

[2bornot2bop]

Can anyone post a video of the Wu? Can’t find too many on YouTube..

This was my 18" Wu.

Edit - It may be the only one on youtube, to my knowledge.

[Jazz123]

Is this also a Wu? I really dig the tone of that guitar!

[2bornot2bop]

Is this also a Wu? I really dig the tone of that guitar!

The back's wood is too nice for a Wu. That's L5CES style wood. Wu doesn't have plates large enough for a fiddleback maple tiger flamed back.

[Jazz123]

So what guitar is it? Such nice woody tone!

[RJVB]

Wu doesn't have plates large enough for a fiddleback maple tiger flamed back.

How do you know for sure?

Good sounding guitar indeed (and fingerstyle, yay ).

[2bornot2bop]

How do you know for sure?

Good sounding guitar indeed (and fingerstyle, yay ).

When I selected the woods for my guitar I paid extra for the best woods he could get. He advised he didn’t have access to fiddleback Maple nor would he have plates large enough for my guitar, and the outer edges would have to be completed with sections of Maple. That didn’t matter because I chose to do a burst and those sections are unnoticeable.

[Jazz123]

So that “orchid archtop” is also a Wu with extra cost in the wood?

[2bornot2bop]

So that “orchid archtop” is also a Wu with extra cost in the wood?

No. Wu doesn’t have access to the type of wood on the back. That’s what I tried to order for my guitar, and was advised that’s only available in America or Europe. I have no idea who made the Orchid.

Another dead giveaway is the binding on the f holes and the edges of the guitar. See how heavy it is? Wu didn’t do that.

[RJVB]

that’s only available in America or Europe.

Or to brands based in the US or Europe? Eastman and The Loar both build in China, and both make guitars than can have pretty astonishing woods.

Doesn't China have its own sources of good tonewoods?

And FWIW, the carpenter who did some work for us told us that there are almost no sawmills left in France or even Europe; that all our nice trees are shipped of for sawing in ... China (possibly excluding those destined for the American market).

[2bornot2bop]

Or to brands based in the US or Europe? Eastman and The Loar both build in China, and both make guitars than can have pretty astonishing woods.

Doesn't China have its own sources of good tonewoods?

And FWIW, the carpenter who did some work for us told us that there are almost no sawmills left in France or even Europe; that all our nice trees are shipped of for sawing in ... China (possibly excluding those destined for the American market).

Perhaps, but I’ve never ever seen tiger maple like on the orchid guitar that’s so even on any Chinese made guitar. That’s like what you see on an L5.

[jazzkritter]

Furniture and paneling. The end point of most nice maple. I’ve sat in board rooms staring at the most incredibly beautiful table tops. Table tops! Oh well.

[RJVB]

Well, at least it isn't lost for lutherie in there - if it's actual solid maple and not a very realistic artificial veneer

After all, some very good builders are making gorgeous guitars out of Tunnel 13 and 14 redwood and I'm pretty certain I've already seen guitars with B&S made from old oak tables.

[jazzkritter]

Circle of life lol

[Jazz123]

For sure China has nice European tonewood, a friend of mine is in the violin business , told me all the major European tonewood supplier are shipping the majority of their wood to China, since now most string instruments are made there. The higher end wood usually acquired by more skilled makers/workshops…while the mediocre makers still use Chinese wood.

Based on the video, the orchid has a much deeper, warmer, and acoustic tone than the Wu. I think besides the back, the age of the top is probably much older on the orchid..

[RJVB]

Does make you wonder where the major EU lutherie schools (Mittenwald, Cremona, Mirecourt) get their wood from.

I've been interested in buying a Dowina guitar some time ago, and still follow them on Instagram (yep...) because they're worth it. I think they get at least part of their wood from source(s) in Spain. The question is of course how long those sources have been storing the wood. I suppose even the lowliest builders in China don't use wood that was cut too recently (no idea how many years we're talking).

[joman50]

I placed my order back in June . . . my story continues to unfold.
It hasn't been exactly peachy! Stay tuned.

[2bornot2bop]

I placed my order back in June . . . my story continues to unfold.
It hasn't been exactly peachy! Stay tuned.

I believe the era for Wu guitars ended after or before covid.

[[email protected]]

[QUOTE=vcd33238;1115260]Guys thanks so much for the wealth of info.
There are some beautiful guitars on this site built here by Mr Wu. I think I want to let him build what he may do best, that is an Eastman / Benedetto style type carved 17” archtop with NO electronics. No special fancy cuts is colors. No offense to his master craftsmanship but I believe this is the style in where his roots are from since he started with Eastman and may have derived his skills from the bob benedetto styles of carving a top, No? Get it across the the pond as someone once said here and have the floater installed here? Sound correct ? He sure looks like he carves a beautiful guitar. I wish I could order 2. One floater and one solid mounted humbucker.
The only slight problem I have is I don’t really know any good luthiers here in south Jersey, Philadelphia area to modify my guitar. Do any of you guys know any?
Vintage instruments in Pa?
From what most of you guys have indicated here this guitar may need adjustments and or Fret dressing?
Thanks for support guys .
Bill[/QUOTE

Brothers in Wind Gap Pa. About an hour away. Dave and rich are both long time Martin employees (Wind Gap is down the street from Nazareth. Stop in for the Martin tour). They have worked on my guitars acoustic and arch top and are very good!

[2bornot2bop]

[[email protected];1441245]

Guys thanks so much for the wealth of info.
There are some beautiful guitars on this site built here by Mr Wu.

a member here stated this was Wu’s finest ever build. It was a deep bodied 18” that I later had electronics and pickup installed.After I had the frets finished and the guitar was Pleked it was a near perfect guitar. I must have spent $1k finishing the guitar on my end.