Looking for old, wide board of true mahogany

[Ol'Gibson1959]

Looking to find an old, wide (at least 13 inches wide by 2inches deep) board of true swietenia mahogany. So far google, timber yards, ebay and facebook marketplace have let me down!

For my degree project I am making a correct-material replica of a 1950's gibson electric guitar, hence the need for such a deep, wide plank. Annoyingly, they only used 1 piece bodies rather than a jointed 2 piece however the stuff was common as water back then

If anyone can help I would be much appreciated!

 

[Doug B]

All species of Swietenia are now on the CITES list so I can’t see you getting it from a timber yard & anyone selling you a plank will need to give you written provenance of the plank to prove it was obtained before it’s listing.

 

[MF1000]

And the cost will be eye watering I think

 

[Ol'Gibson1959]

All species of Swietenia are now on the CITES list so I can’t see you getting it from a timber yard & anyone selling you a plank will need to give you written provenance of the plank to prove it was obtained before it’s listing.

Yes I am well aware, I have obtained a couple of pieces for guitar necks etc however this instrument will not be a traveller

 

[Stuart Moffat]

Have you tried https://luthierssupplies.co.uk/catalogue/ inhoram in Sussex? I bought a superb single piece of mahogany from them for a les Paul copy some years ago pre cites. Their current online catalogue suggests they have some full size mahogany pre cites, but doesn’t mention swietenia. Maybe worth a call.
stuart

 

[HappyHacker]

Would it be possible to laminate two or three thiner planks? If so old tables in junk shops may be a solution. I have sourced some nice pieces in the past.

 

[Phill05]

Looking to find an old, wide (at least 13 inches wide by 2inches deep) board of true swietenia mahogany. So far google, timber yards, ebay and facebook marketplace have let me down!

For my degree project I am making a correct-material replica of a 1950's gibson electric guitar, hence the need for such a deep, wide plank. Annoyingly, they only used 1 piece bodies rather than a jointed 2 piece however the stuff was common as water back then

If anyone can help I would be much appreciated!

What colour are you looking for? I have some 12 1/2" x 2" some are deep red some are lighter I don't know the species I bought it in the early 1980's, when I retired I saved what I had and used some for small work and some of it I used to make a coal store. (yes I know but it is still in about 3 feet long pieces and could be taken out and replaced)

Deep red piece.

Lighter and some even lighter than this I could take some images later if any good.

 

[GuitardoctorW7]

Looking to find an old, wide (at least 13 inches wide by 2inches deep) board of true swietenia mahogany. So far google, timber yards, ebay and facebook marketplace have let me down!

For my degree project I am making a correct-material replica of a 1950's gibson electric guitar, hence the need for such a deep, wide plank. Annoyingly, they only used 1 piece bodies rather than a jointed 2 piece however the stuff was common as water back then

If anyone can help I would be much appreciated!

Do you have Brazilian Rosewood for the fingerboard? I presume you're making a Junior or a Special? Be nice to see the finished item and some construction videos. Good luck

 

[the great waldo]

Looking to find an old, wide (at least 13 inches wide by 2inches deep) board of true swietenia mahogany. So far google, timber yards, ebay and facebook marketplace have let me down!

For my degree project I am making a correct-material replica of a 1950's gibson electric guitar, hence the need for such a deep, wide plank. Annoyingly, they only used 1 piece bodies rather than a jointed 2 piece however the stuff was common as water back then

If anyone can help I would be much appreciated!

1.75" should do you if your doing a burst. If your doing a 1954 all mahogany then you'l want another 15-16 on top of that. Did you ask on the Mylespaul forum?
Cheers
Andrew

 

[Ollie78]

You might be better off trying to find some old victorian furniture. Though you may struggle to find the thickness. I have an old press made from solid 30mm boards of mahogany for example.

Ollie

 

[the great waldo]

https://www.forestguitarsupplies.com/236-1-piece

There you go. Should be something for you there. It`s all finished to 45 mm thick (which is what you want if your'e doing a 59 burst with a maple top. Unfortunately because of brexit it's going to be more expensive.
Cheers
Andrew

 

[stuart little]

1.75" should do you if your doing a burst. If your doing a 1954 all mahogany then you'l want another 15-16 on top of that. Did you ask on the Mylespaul forum?
Cheers
Andrew

Old church pews?

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I've never seen a mahogany pew.

 

[Setch]

I've never seen a mahogany pew.

The pews in my local Methodist church were mahogany, and I've got a couple of loooong boards stashed away in my parents garage, and lots of smaller bits in my garage wood store. The Church dates back to the sixties, and the bits I've played with look and behave much like genuine, rather than khaya or sapele which I've used for building guitars.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Ah, I've not seen pews newer than about 1880.

 

[AJB Temple]

I have two 161/4" wide by 12' long by 2 1/4" thick boards of that species in my Warwickshire stock originally bought for making solid body guitars, and they were purchased by my father in 1978 and I have the receipts. Waxed ends. Premium quality. We have ebony and rosewood of same period. PM me if interested, but I should warn you that they will not be cheap and not remotely near the prices on the receipts!

 

[Phil Pascoe]

My mother paid £1 a foot for 12" x 1" at round about that time for Swietinia m. I still have a little of it.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Looking to find an old, wide (at least 13 inches wide by 2inches deep) board of true swietenia mahogany. So far google, timber yards, ebay and facebook marketplace have let me down!

For my degree project I am making a correct-material replica of a 1950's gibson electric guitar, hence the need for such a deep, wide plank. Annoyingly, they only used 1 piece bodies rather than a jointed 2 piece however the stuff was common as water back then

If anyone can help I would be much appreciated!

Look round the Southampton Salvage yards for old School Science benches.

 

[AJB Temple]

Look round the Southampton Salvage yards for old School Science benches.

These will not be made of boards wide enough to do a Gibson Les Paul body in one piece, and probably not thick enough either. If the OP is doing an authentic replica, it needs to be a single piece. Very scarce now.

 

[MF1000]

My mother paid £1 a foot for 12" x 1" at round about that time for Swietinia m. I still have a little of it.

Guinness at that time was around 25p a pint …so at £5 now that would put your £1 a foot at £20 a foot now …and then we have the scarcity factor