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favorite affordable b&s??
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Author:  phil [ Tue Nov 29, 2011 5:41 pm ]
Post subject:  favorite affordable b&s??
Like all my OLF siblings, I share a passion (dare I say "lust") for all the beautiful back and side woods that are out there.

We all know, though, that there is not a direct correlation between a wood's beauty and it's potential sound. And we know that some of the most beautiful wood can be some of the most difficult/frustrating to work with.

With those things considered, I'm wondering what you feel to be the "Best Bang for the Buck" tonewood.
Author:  CharlieT [ Tue Nov 29, 2011 6:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: favorite affordable b&s??
I would definitely put sapele on the list. Very inexpensive, relatively speaking, but can make a fine sounding (and looking) guitar.
Author:  theguitarwhisperer [ Tue Nov 29, 2011 6:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: favorite affordable b&s??
Indian Rosewood, while we can still get it.
Author:  woody b [ Tue Nov 29, 2011 6:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: favorite affordable b&s??
If you're talking really affordable I have to agree with Sapele. If you're talking kinda affordable I'd say Black Walnut, Osage Orange, and Wenge. (all can be had for less than a good set of Indian Rosewood)
Author:  Kent Chasson [ Tue Nov 29, 2011 6:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: favorite affordable b&s??
Sapele and Wenge are my less expensive favorites. I recently bought a couple of sets of Tzalam (sp?) from Hibdon. Haven't built with it yet but it seems promising.
Author:  Lavrov Guitars [ Tue Nov 29, 2011 7:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: favorite affordable b&s??
Cocobolo. Love that stuff, although that's really the only wood i've build with besides koa, but it can get a little priceyer for the figured stuff. Said to compare to BRW pretty well
Author:  John Arnold [ Tue Nov 29, 2011 7:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: favorite affordable b&s??
Macacauba, AKA maca wood, coyote, or curatinga rosewood.
I also see it being marketed as "Amazon rosewood", particularly by the flooring industry.
Though not commonly available in guitar sets in the US, it has been used extensively in South America.
It is a close cousin to hormigo, a wood that Collings has been experimenting with.
Very reasonably priced for an imported wood.
The tap tone is as good as any rosewood. I would liken it to a cross between Honduran and Guatemalan RW, (or between Honduran and Brazilian).

http://hobbithouseinc.com/personal/woodpics/macacauba.htm

Image
Author:  Ken Jones [ Tue Nov 29, 2011 8:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: favorite affordable b&s??
Kent Chasson wrote:
I recently bought a couple of sets of Tzalam (sp?) from Hibdon. Haven't built with it yet but it seems promising.


Here's a shot of a set of Tsalam I got from Hibdon at the GAL show. Looks quite a bit like koa if you ask me. I think I'll be using this next. Will give a full report.
Author:  Tom West [ Tue Nov 29, 2011 9:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: favorite affordable b&s??
Padauk.
Author:  Tom West [ Tue Nov 29, 2011 9:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: favorite affordable b&s??
Padauk.
Author:  weslewis [ Tue Nov 29, 2011 9:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: favorite affordable b&s??
bliss bliss bliss
Filippo Morelli wrote:
This is another one of those questions which has no sensible answer.

Like - what's the best ice cream flavor? Answering it pretty much propagates the misconception that there is an answer.

Filippo

Thats easy!!!! Moo llennium Crunch!!!!!!!!!!!!
Author:  Trevor Gore [ Tue Nov 29, 2011 10:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: favorite affordable b&s??
Light red meranti (in this case salvaged from the shelving of an old kitchen cabinet), four piece. Nuthin' wrong with this guitar...it's the design that counts.
Attachment:
DSCF2315s.jpg

phil wrote:
With those things considered, I'm wondering what you feel to be the "Best Bang for the Buck" tonewood.

Bang, heaps; bucks, zero.

Bang/Buck = Infinite. (with acknowledgements to Filippo)
Author:  micahmed [ Tue Nov 29, 2011 11:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: favorite affordable b&s??
I haven't finished the guitar yet but zebrawood is really cool looking and from what I hear its suppose to sound like EIR
Author:  mqbernardo [ Wed Nov 30, 2011 6:30 am ]
Post subject:  Re: favorite affordable b&s??
Filippo Morelli wrote:
This is another one of those questions which has no sensible answer.

Like - what's the best ice cream flavor? Answering it pretty much propagates the misconception that there is an answer.
and we wouldn´t want any of those shady endeavours on teh internetz, would we? :D

anyway, adding to the stirring tonewood plat-du-jour for the impoverished amateur builder : jatoba (Hymenaea courbaril), Yellow/Nootka cedar (Callitropsis nootkatensis - kind of an alternative for cypress) and palo escrito (Dalbergia palescrito) are some sensible offers that could be checked out. As said, Padauk and sapele are really nice woods.

cheers,
miguel.
Author:  Neil Gardiner [ Wed Nov 30, 2011 9:17 am ]
Post subject:  Re: favorite affordable b&s??
Cherry. Looks great. Sounds great. And I like the way it goes with mahogany necks - colour wise.

Neil
Author:  ernie [ Wed Nov 30, 2011 9:33 am ]
Post subject:  Re: favorite affordable b&s??
plus 1 for trev Looks like the meranti I salvaged from motorcycle crates in vancouver in 79 to make a tool box for shop class. Now it will be recycled into gtr necks . My fave is sycamore, wild colours , cheap 1/4 sawn ,readily avaiable, many widths and sizes, makes a nice sounding gtr for the frugal luthier
Author:  jfmckenna [ Wed Nov 30, 2011 9:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: favorite affordable b&s??
+1 on the walnut and cherry.
Author:  Corky Long [ Wed Nov 30, 2011 10:12 am ]
Post subject:  Re: favorite affordable b&s??
Todd Stock wrote:
I really like Freewood...comes in a range of colors and grain patterns...

+1! laughing6-hehe [clap]

There's nothing I like better than stumbling on some salvaged tonewood.
Author:  Chris Ensor [ Wed Nov 30, 2011 10:45 am ]
Post subject:  Re: favorite affordable b&s??
WALNUT!! Great for B/S and Top!!

Attachment:
claro.jpg


Attachment:
all walnut.jpg
Author:  Herr Dalbergia [ Wed Nov 30, 2011 11:14 am ]
Post subject:  Re: favorite affordable b&s??
Wenge, Walnut, Padouk, Zebrano, but all of them are getting more and more expensive, and the nice and perfect grades are more and more difficult to get; and never forget maple...
Author:  Alexandru Marian [ Wed Nov 30, 2011 11:24 am ]
Post subject:  Re: favorite affordable b&s??
I haven't actually used them yet, but the sapele and padauk sets I have seem very promising.

Speaking about freewood, or rather, poachwood :twisted: , I can't believe I am running past this tree almost daily for years now and I didn't notice what it really is. Can you guess what is it?
Author:  alan stassforth [ Wed Nov 30, 2011 11:25 am ]
Post subject:  Re: favorite affordable b&s??
Finally, somebody mentioned maple.
African mahog, walnut, and perhaps lyptus?
I have a piece I might use.
Plain and boring,
just like me.
I also have some qs Anigre that I'm going to try out.
All of these woods can be picked up as planks at your local hardwood vendors for about $5- $6 a b.f.
Author:  John Arnold [ Wed Nov 30, 2011 1:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: favorite affordable b&s??
Quote:
Can you guess what is it?

Osage?
I used salvaged wood for several years when I started building. Pallet boards, shelving boards, old furniture, old pianos, boats, etc.
Salvaged woods I have used include:
Curly Hickory (pallet board)
White spruce (piano soundboard)
Engelmann spruce (shelving board)
Elm (piano)
Ash (pallet)
Cherry (pallet)
Pecan (pallet)
Ambrosia maple (pallet)
Walnut (pallet)
Ponderosa pine (shelving board)
White Fir (shelving board)
Mahogany (piano and boat)
Persimmon (pallet)
Author:  Alexandru Marian [ Wed Nov 30, 2011 2:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: favorite affordable b&s??
John Arnold wrote:
Osage?


And we have a lucky winner. If I ever steal that tree you will get 5 bridge plates and 3 of those freaky green-brain-apples :)
Author:  Ian Cunningham [ Wed Nov 30, 2011 2:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: favorite affordable b&s??
Peruvian Walnut or Sapele for me.
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