Official Luthiers Forum!

Hey guys and gals,
I am still working on my #1 build and am currently working on building my binding jig and should be binding it shortly.

Knowing this one is getting close to finishing up I am starting to think about #2 which is going to be the same parlor plans as #1
I have been looking at back and side sets and trying to figure out what flavor to do this next one. I would like to have the wood in my shop for a while to get acclimated to the humidity in the shop so I think it is time to get the wood ordered.

I posted this link in another thread which is an all Maple parlor and I have fallen in love with the looks and sound of this thing.

http://www.dreamguitars.com/detail/3540-ivanov_snow_parlor_3/

Click on the Video tab to hear this little beauty.

So my question is about the specific wood I should be looking for. I know there are different species of Maple but I don't know what is the best to use for my skill level. I will be building this one from scratch and will be bending the sides on a pipe since I will be putting a big chunk of money into a new band saw the bending jig with heating blankets is down the list.

So what I am curious about is what I should be looking for in the type of wood. If you look at the shots of that Snow Parlor it is very light color and I would like to try to get close to that look. I have seen a couple of sets but they appear to be darker than the wood on the one in the pictures.

Any help and advice would be welcome.

Thanks
Bob

I'm pretty sure the guitar you posted is made out of European maple (sycamore) which is pretty pricey here in the states. It works very nicely though and you don't have to pore fill!

One of the sweetest sounding guitars I've ever played was a Circa 00-C in Eastern Maple and... can't remember what variety of spruce (European maybe). Owned by the guy in the video...

Now Al owns a Circa OM, also in maple, and it sounds fantastic too. That said, it wouldn't be my first choice for a parlor. For that small of an air cavity, I want something more responsive, such as Amazon Rosewood, Wenge, or Katalox. I have a set of Macacauba that rings like a church bell that I think would make a great parlor.

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Mountain Song Guitars www.mountainsongguitars.com

I am actually not looking for a full spectrum sound, I am looking to build something that sounds more akin to a delta blues sound. I love the closed plunky sound of some of the old time blues players like Robert Johnson.

When I heard that Snow Parlor I knew that is the sound I wanted to try for. I had originally thought of building it out of Mahogany to match my Gibson LG-0 but since I already have a Hog guitar that I really like I figured I would try something like that Snow Parlor. Plus I love the looks of it with the Maple body, neck and fretboard.

The Parlor I am working on now is a 14 fret Rosewood back and sides with Spruce top and Mahogany neck. It actually has a surprising tap tone to it for a small box. I still have a bit of tuning to do on the braces because the soundboard has the same tap tone as the back and I know that can be problematic.

So, when working with Maple do you have to thin it more than something like Rosewood? I know it is going to be more difficult to bend but it is also more dense.

I am also thinking of a Sitka Spruce soundboard but am open to any suggestions.

I would like to order the wood in the next couple of weeks so it has a month or so to acclimate.

Cheers,
Bob

I've bent quartersawn maple in a Fox style bender & it bent very easily with practically zero spring back. I've heard that flatsawn figured maple is a nightmare, FWIW.

Kevin Looker

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I'm not a luthier.
I'm just a guy who builds guitars in his basement.
It's better than playing golf.

While you are ordering I suggest you get some super soft 2 coming. It will make bending figured maple much much much easier. I've tried without and had a very difficult time. Got some ss2 and it was easy as pie.

For what it's worth, I've bent ambrosia maple without any problems, but couldn't tell you if it was soft or hard maple. My sides are generally in the 0.09 inch range. I realize the look of ambrosia is not what you're wanting, but I've seem some very nice maple guitars shown on this site. I like what you're going for; it should be nice.

Maple is a great instrument wood.
As stated before highly figured pieces
could be difficult to bend.
Especially Quilted.
I like euro & rock/sugar maple .
Western Big leaf is great also!
I use a shellac coat as my first coat to bring out
the grain & figure.
Then finish with whatever your comfy with

Go to the OLF sponsors first.
Get some & enjoy.

Mike

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Mike Collins

Maple bends fairly easily. Figured maple "kinks" even more easily. When bending use a blanket and bending slats to support the wood. I like to bend maple a bit thicker than the rosewoods to have some wood available to sand the sides smooth after bending.
Most of the curly maple is "soft" maple (red maple, silver maple, etc.). Not necessarily soft like "swamp" maple (light weight soft maples grown in wet environments), it is a little easier to work with than "hard" maples (sugar maples).
As Filippo mentioned the maple (and also the spruce) will darken over time, so watch out where the huskies go....