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I found some perfectly quartersawn curly red oak this morning at a local sawmill and was wondering if any of you had any experience using oak for acoustics. I apologize in advance if information on this topic is in the archives...my server is not allowing me access. I once played a Martin with oak (I think white oak) back and sides and it was certainly one of the best sounding steel string instruments I'd had the pleasure to play. This piece is just so spectacular that I think I might be "willing" it to be a good tonewood. Just thought I'd consult you all before I throw cash on the barrel.

Thanks!

Greg

red oak will make a fine guitar. It may look like furniture but will sound pretty good if you take your time

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
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You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

Oak has about the same stiffness/weight ratio as a rosewood, but higher damping. The back tap tones will end up at about the right pitch, but won't ring as long. High damping tends to 'eat' trebles, so, IMO, oak is probably better suited for smaller guitars, such as 000/OMs and so on, rather than Dreads or Jumbos. I've made a number of guitars of white oak, both classicals ansd steel string, including one with a curly back, and they all sounded good.

From my point of view, the biggest problem with oak is that it's hard to sell. Most of the woods that have been used in making guitars were popular furniture woods first, including Brazilian rosewood. Still, for some reason nobody looks at a BRW guitar and thinks of an Empire table, but they associate oak with Craftsman style furniture. I had someone stand and look at one of my oak guitars for nearly an hour, and simply refuse to play it. I practically had to give away the last oak guitar I made, even though several players had commented on what a nice tone it had. Maybe if we keep making them, folks will catch on.

One last thing, for others contemplating using oak: make sure it's well quartered. Flat cut oak doesn't have nearly the cross grain stiffness or stability of quartered wood. Sadly, there are people who don't like the strong ray pattern. *sigh*

John and Alan,

Thanks for the good information on red oak. The guitar would be for a friend of mine who I think would appreciate a native wood for back and sides. This particular piece of wood is 12 inches wide and 90 degrees quartersawn along the whole width. That's what caught my attention mighty fast. I'll have to think how to "spruce" it up to make it less like furniture stock.

Thanks again!

Greg

If it's curly, quartersawn, red oak.......you better think twice. Matter of fact, send it my way and I'll try to think of a way to use it! <smile>

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Formerly known as Adaboy.......

What Alan said. And another thumbs up for quarter sawn red or white oak! You'll be happy with it if you take your time pore filling, I would suggest z-poxy.

Chuck

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Greg,

Check out this postfrom Jim Hall. He used some red oak scrounged from a building project to make a guitar. I couldn't tell you how it sounds, but it makes a really nice looking guitar.

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53% of all statistics are made up on the spot
http://driftwoodguitars.blogspot.com/

Are Jim & John related? I was just about to post the same link... that should answer the question. I plan to build an oakie one day.

Mike

Alan, do you have a pic of an oakie made of quartered oak? I agree with you on the flat sawn issue, too many kitchen cabinets and tables.

Mike

Mike O'Melia asked:
"Alan, do you have a pic of an oakie made of quartered oak?"

Nothing that really shows the grain well. Iirc, the pic of the 12-fret 000 on my web site is of the most recent (which was not all that recent) oak guitar.