Members SITTINGUPHIGH1 Posted December 9, 2008 Members Report Posted December 9, 2008 Hey people lets hear your opinion on Timerline and Quality Mfg saddle trees. Give the good and bad points of these saddle trees. I have seen some of you use these saddle trees before. Quote
Moderator bruce johnson Posted December 9, 2008 Moderator Report Posted December 9, 2008 They are better than the last ones you asked about. They are a step up in consistancy from the Bowden and H&Fs I started out on. Quote Bruce Johnson Malachi 4:2 "the windshield's bigger than the mirror, somewhere west of Laramie" - Dave Stamey Vintage Refurbished And Selected New Leather Tools For Sale - www.brucejohnsonleather.com
Members jonwatsabaugh Posted December 9, 2008 Members Report Posted December 9, 2008 In the past, I have built saddles on trees from both of these manufacturers. Randy at Timberline, and Sonny at Quality have been around a long time. Both have vast experience in manufacturing duplicator built trees. However if you put them side by side, Sonny's trees stand out as a superior machine built structure. Sonny's rawhiding is the standard by which all others are measured. I have seen many inconsistancies in the bar patterns from both though. That being said, I still prefer a hand made tree. Jon Quote
Members SITTINGUPHIGH1 Posted December 10, 2008 Author Members Report Posted December 10, 2008 Does this sound about right. Low end Sounds like you have the factory production saddle trees. Low end. Fast. Not a even construction from side by side. Hide and stitching can be rough. Not good for laying leather on. Looks not so good. Very inexpensive. May fit your horse or not. A gamble at best. Weeks to make it. Cost about 70 to 150. Hadly and fox Steele Saddle Tree Baite's custome saddle tree Bowden Brand Mid end Custom factory production. Can get a good looking saddle tree. Petty close to what you want. Good hide cover. Mostly even can be a little rough sometimes. Looks like a month or two to make. Cost 250 to 350. Timberline Saddle tree Quality Mfg. Inc High end You get it your way. All even. Great hide cover all smooth. Hand fitted to your horse if you want. Great looking saddle tree. Time factor is from 6 months to a year. If you can get on there list. Cost is about 550 Dollars. Bill Bean Rick Reed Rod and Denise Please add people or comments to the list or let me know if I'm off. Quote
Members TrooperChuck Posted December 23, 2008 Members Report Posted December 23, 2008 (edited) Being fairly new to saddlemaking, I've been using Bowden trees. But, last September I was in Pagosa Springs, Colorado and visted Old West Saddlery. The owner, Bob Beecher, spent about 4 hours with me, showing me his work, talking about measuring horses for saddle fit, and discussing techniques and materials. He showed me a Timberline tree, the first I'd seen from someone other than Bowden. What a difference! It was obvious the Timberline tree is the superior product. I'm still using Bowden trees, because they're in my current price range, but I'm looking forward to "upgrading" soon. By the way, (at the risk of sounding like a commercial advertiser...) if you're ever in southern Colorado go to Old West Saddlery. It is one of the best saddle shops I've ever been in! Edited December 23, 2008 by TrooperChuck Quote "Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway." (John Wayne)
Timbo Posted December 23, 2008 Report Posted December 23, 2008 Slight correction for you Chuck, it's Out West Saddlery. Gonna have to go down there and check them out!!! Tim Quote
Members TrooperChuck Posted December 24, 2008 Members Report Posted December 24, 2008 Thanks, Timbo... for some reason, Old West sticks in my mind. Dang it. Quote "Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway." (John Wayne)
Members HanginH Posted March 24, 2009 Members Report Posted March 24, 2009 Built my first saddle on a Quality tree and just finished my second one on a bowden tree and there is a large difference in the quality of lacing and overall construction. Which is saying something considering I haven't look at a lot of trees in my very short and inexperienced career. I would buy one from Sonny again if the wife ever lets me build her one. Quote
Members oldtimer Posted March 24, 2009 Members Report Posted March 24, 2009 Being fairly new to saddlemaking, I've been using Bowden trees. But, last September I was in Pagosa Springs, Colorado and visted Old West Saddlery. The owner, Bob Beecher, spent about 4 hours with me, showing me his work, talking about measuring horses for saddle fit, and discussing techniques and materials.He showed me a Timberline tree, the first I'd seen from someone other than Bowden. What a difference! It was obvious the Timberline tree is the superior product. I'm still using Bowden trees, because they're in my current price range, but I'm looking forward to "upgrading" soon. By the way, (at the risk of sounding like a commercial advertiser...) if you're ever in southern Colorado go to Old West Saddlery. It is one of the best saddle shops I've ever been in! I have used both Bowden and Timberline trees, and IMO Timberline is far superior over Bowden, so no more Bowden trees for me. / Knut Quote "The gun fight at the O.K. corral was actually started by two saddlemakers sitting around a bottle of whiskey talking about saddle fitting"...
Members AZThunderPony Posted April 1, 2009 Members Report Posted April 1, 2009 I'll be moving very close to Old West Saddlery at the latter end of June. I plan to be spending some time there picking brain. ;)S Quote THE PONY EXPRESSION http://www.theponyexpression.com
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