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Recently I've seen and heard some beautiful all walnut instruments. I also was told that a large band (DMB) uses one on many songs, amplified of course. Obviously it is not considered a traditional wood, or a traditional build, but I'm courious what all of ya'll think about these all walnut, or koa, or mahogany string instruments. I'm far off from any attempt at making one, but it is easy to come by walnut here in the west.

I have built an all walnut and all mahogany guitar. I love them, but it is a sound that takes much longer to mature to full strength and is not for everyone. My all walnut took at least a year of full time playing to open up and the mahogany went out the door before it had opened up all the way.

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What about using butternut for the top? IME walnut tends to be a bit denser than mahogany.

All walnut is my favorite combo for dulcimers.

I can't answer your question at all (beginner here) but I'm in the Denver area as well. Do you have a good local source for walnut in guitar sizes?

I built an all walnut ukulele a couple years ago, concert size. Its my daily uke and the one I kept for myself.
It has a tone similar to mahogany ukes but a little more mellow or bassy. (bass on a uke??) I'd say its medium on volume...not impressively loud but no slouch either. I would definitely make more like it!!
One thing I'd say about alternative top woods is you should explore other strings than your usual. I tried Aquilla strings on this uke for a while that sounded ok but it really came alive when I switched to flouro-carbon strings.

I love Black Walnut! I would highly recommend it as a top wood. I've built both guitars and ukes with it as a top and have never been anything less than thrilled.

Claro concert in the works. I'll let you know what I think in a couple of weeks or so:

Built a black walnut with a butternut top a while back. Great sounding guitar and always gets good feedback from players. But it doesn't like to be driven super hard.

Ken

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Great looking body so far saltytri!

Thanks for th tipe Quine.

Scooberjake, good to find another Denver area instrument maker. LOL, as you probably know when you tell someone around here you make guitars they look at you like your crazy. As far as walnut goes I got a piece from a friend, believe they got it from New Mexico, it is a 8" x 24" log. Not big enough for a top but maybe some sides. I'd recommend craigslist for wood. You'd be suprised what people give away for fire wood, I've found hard maple and cherry so far.

Does anyone have experience with Peruvian walnut? I'm pretty set on using it for a neck (the piece I got rings like a gong) and have enough to do a 3 piece top. Normally I wouldn't consider a three piece, but like I said this board has an amazing tone. I have black walnut for the sides and back as well. I think I'll even do black walnut kerfing and braces. I know everyone is concerned with weight, for good reason, but since I'm going walnut I stick with it throughout. After all I'm 6'4" and 300lbs so weight is no issue for me

I've wanted to try this for a very long time. I'm sure most buyers would think it's pretty far out of the mainstream, but for my own purposes I'm really encouraged by reading these responses.
Patrick

I have had a custom Taylor walnut guitar for many years now. I think it is similar to what Dave Matthews may use in DMB. It is a jumbo 12-string. It took a good long time to start opening up. The guitar is extraordinarily loud with the jumbo body and provides a very warm tone say compared to a maple 6 string I have. Not nearly as dark however in sound as an EIR or similar.