Australian Blackwood is a tonewood Cole Clark has used to great effect over the years and this FL 2EC dreadnought beautifully displays its clear tonal response and gorgeous wood grain! Founded in 2001, Cole Clark combines classical construction with innovative design and manufacturing techniques to produce a lighter, stronger, unique guitar with a natural amplified sound.
Unique Construction
Cole Clark steel string acoustic guitars are the only main stream acoustic to use a Spanish heel or integral neck construction. This means the neck is glued to the face along with the sides and the back so the neck is one piece all the way to the sound hole. On other guitars, the body is made then the neck attached, mostly with a bolt or dove tail join. Due to our method, the sound is unique. Cole Clark also has a carved top and back and uses a ridge system to join the sides to the top and back instead of kerfing.
Natural Pickup
The Cole Clark patented pickup system is the most acoustic sounding pickup available. Aimed at finding a more natural tone when amplified and eliminating piezo ‘quack’, our pickups comprise different elements that only hear certain frequencies which they’re best equipped to handle. This is done using a combination of 6 loaded piezos under the saddle for bottom end, a face sensor that can be blended in to hear frequencies in the mid to high range (350 Hz maximum crossover) and a condenser microphone shelved to hear only extreme highs.
Timbers
Cole Clark guitars are all solid timber using mostly native Australian tone woods that are largely sustainable.
Australian Blackwood Top
This is the stiffest timber we make tops out of. It has a character all of its own, quite like Koa as it is a very close cousin. It is normally dark brown and grainy but can vary. It is native to Australia and sourced from Tasmania or Victoria.
- Air Dry Density 640
- Modulus of Elasticity 13
- Janka Hardness 5.9
- An acoustic sound in the tradition of an American all Koa guitar
- For a medium to hard player amplified
- Best top for a percussive player
- Handles climate extremes better than the softer timbers. This is a sustainable timber.
Australian Blackwood Back & Sides
This is an Australian native timber sourced from Tasmania or Victoria and is sustainable. It is a beautiful timber to look at with a very similar tonal characteristic to Koa as it is a very close cousin.
- Air Dry Density 640
- Modulus of Elasticity 13
- Janka Hardness 5.9
- Good low mid’s
- Good mid-range punch
- Good high frequency definition
- Good for amplifying
- Signature Cole Clark acoustic sound, sustainable.