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Eastern Red Cedar
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Author:  KenH [ Tue Apr 03, 2007 1:42 pm ]
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I own a couple of portable sawmills and people are always giving me logs. Some of this wood is becoming backs and necks for guitars. One log that I havent cut up yet is an eastern red cedar that is 19" in diameter on the small end and is over 21 feet long. Usually, this wood is riddled with knots and limbs, but this is an unusual one that doesnt have the first limb or knot showing anywhere in it.


I know that eastern red cedar has some tonal qualities, but I cant find any information on anyone using this for building a guitar.


Anybody here know anything about using this wood?
Author:  Telfer [ Tue Apr 03, 2007 4:12 pm ]
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Common names for trees can be confusing...is it a Juniperus Virginiana?

If it is I dont know anything about its use as a tonewood, but it sounds like a prize board for such a small tree.

Now if it was Eastern Red Spruce....!
Author:  robertD [ Tue Apr 03, 2007 10:47 pm ]
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Ken,

I’m not one to give advise, as I have not even completed my first guitar. So, take my comments
with a grain of salt.

I have been doing a little reading about woods used in instrument building, and there seems to be
a lot of opinions about wood used. I personally, have not had the pleasure of “tap toning” any wood
that would be considered suitable for guitar building, other than the wood on the guitar I’m building.

I have heard, and read that flat sawn lumber may very well be just fine for guitar building.
Since you are an experienced guitar builder, perhaps you have heard the same.

I’ve read posts here at the OLF that stated you can find suitable wood at the local lumber yard, if
you’re very careful in choosing the right board. Of course, you would be limited, more often
then not, to the standard species of wood found in local lumber yards. This may be true.
Being an active Custom Home Builder for 30+ years, I’ve come across wood, that to the eye,
looks very promising for the use in guitar building. One example, is some spruce 1"X4" we ripped
to size for a trim job. What was left, were a lot of pieces that measured 3/4” X 1". They were very
tight straight grained, and, quarter sawn. So, I saved them, thinking that it could be used for braces.
Haven’t tried them yet, but, I intend to.

As for eastern red cedar, I’ve used quite a bit of it in homes I’ve built. I noticed on several occasions,
boards with tight and straight grain, that in my opinion (for what its worth) may have been fine
for the use in guitar building. I wasn’t building guitars back them, but I remember thinking what
shame it was to just use them as a piece of trim. I’ve also made mantles out of 4"X12" timbers,
that, I believe could have been re-sawn into nice pieces for tops.

Well, anyway, maybe I’ve gone on a little to much here. Sorry about that.

If it were me, and if I owned a portable saw mill, (which I’d love to) and had access to a log of
that size, I would probably give it a try, even if no one else hasn’t. Of course, it does depend on,
wether you have the time to experiment.

Just my thoughts.

Sincerely, Robert
Author:  robertD [ Tue Apr 03, 2007 10:52 pm ]
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OOPS! I meant to say;

"log of that size, and quality"

Oh well, wish I had an edit button
Author:  John K [ Tue Apr 03, 2007 11:05 pm ]
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I have seen a guy named Thompson who makes guitars and displays them at the Georgia Fiddlers convention in Haiwasii Ga every year. He not only makes great instruments but is a competative player.

Anyway, to get to the point, he makes guitars out of ERS including back and sides, but not the top (strangely) They sound great!. If you have ever delt with ERS logs you know that they are very musical when tapped, dropped or otherwise struck. They probably have an excellent bell like taptone. I suspect that they are brittle and could be trouble to bend, but are probably pretty stable when dry. You should have no trouble with moths setting up shop inside the box.

John
Author:  John K [ Tue Apr 03, 2007 11:08 pm ]
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I forgot to mention (what happened to the edit button?) that under finish I though the guitar was made of pink ivory. It had that reddish brown color mixed with light cream streaks. Very attractive. I found some planks that are well quartered and knot free and plan to give this a go.

John
Author:  KenH [ Wed Apr 04, 2007 11:31 am ]
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Thanks for the responses!


I have been wondering what to do with this log, and as of right now I have nothing to loose to give it a shot and try it. If it pans out, I'll try to let you know

Author:  Steve Kinnaird [ Wed Apr 04, 2007 2:16 pm ]
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[QUOTE=Hodges_Guitars]



Thanks for the responses!


I have been wondering what to do with this log, and as of right now I have nothing to loose to give it a shot and try it. If it pans out, I'll try to let you know

[/QUOTE]

Please do.
I would welcome the chance to get my hands on a set off that log. Others here might as well!

Steve
Author:  Steve Kinnaird [ Wed Apr 04, 2007 2:17 pm ]
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I should add, ahem , IF you are willing to part with some of it!

Steve
Author:  KenH [ Wed Apr 04, 2007 2:47 pm ]
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I'll see if that can become a reality
Author:  robertD [ Wed Apr 04, 2007 10:11 pm ]
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I'm with Steve on that one, I'd be interested too!

Robert
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