What is "Santa Maria"?

[kid klash]

The Gibson Melody Maker spec says the body is made of "Santa Maria or equivalent", and the neck is "Spanish Cedar or equivalent"... what is this $500 Gibson actually made of?

 

[scrubs]

The Gibson Melody Maker spec says the body is made of "Santa Maria or equivalent"

That means it is made of wood from Christopher Columbus's actual boat, the Santa Maria. Or, it could be made of wood from the boat of an equivalent explorer, like Magellan, Lewis & Clark, etc.

 

[bongolation]

It's a South American wood. Used for furniture and musical instruments.

Here's a sample.

Must be cheap this year.

 

[kid klash]

It's a South American wood. Used for furniture and musical instruments.

Here's a sample.

Must be cheap this year.

GREAT link! Thanks!

 

[post.aux.fader]

I've got myself a Melody Maker, and I love it to death, but is this good wood?

 

[Tadpui]

I dunno about Santa Maria, but spanish cedar is what they use in cigar humidors because it releases moisture at a certain rate that keeps its surroundings at a perfect 70% relative humidity. Any time you buy a cigar that's wrapped in cedar, that's spanish cedar. And now you know, and knowing is half the battle.

 

[Bianchi Joe]

Santa who?

I was under the impression that Santa Maria was in the mahogany family. Anyway, that li'l ol' Melody Maker sounds BALLER -- who cares about the wood! Even unplugged, the thing is alive. Great tone from that P-90. Methinks that skinny little body really sets up the resonance. I just sold one on eBay for $335, and bought one a few weeks ago for $305. I wouldn't give MF or Gibson the satisfaction of paying retail for it, but it's a nice little rock guitar.