What's your favourite wood?????

[Pond]

yew for me

And me for you! :lol:

 

[whiskywill]

Cocobolo.

 

[Kalimna]

Hi John,
Ummm, well, I *started* making an archtop. Got the top and back carved inside and out (and braced the top, but I think I will re do that bit), got the sides dimensioned but not bent (am thinking it might not go well as there is a little bit of woodworm that has been filled with dust/cyano - and I dont know how well it will respond to heat and bending).
But since my first son was born nearly 2 1/2 years ago, Ive not managed much luthiery

Cheers,
Adam

p.s. I cant take full credit for the gutiar posted above as it was built on a course, and someone else did the spraying..... But I still like the mac ebony!

 

[Timberfreak]

I'll have to add my name to the Oak lovers list . . .

 

[Benchwayze]

Hi John,
Ummm, well, I *started* making an archtop. Got the top and back carved inside and out (and braced the top, but I think I will re do that bit), got the sides dimensioned but not bent (am thinking it might not go well as there is a little bit of woodworm that has been filled with dust/cyano - and I dont know how well it will respond to heat and bending).
But since my first son was born nearly 2 1/2 years ago, Ive not managed much luthiery

Cheers,
Adam

p.s. I cant take full credit for the gutiar posted above as it was built on a course, and someone else did the spraying..... But I still like the mac ebony!

Thanks Adam. I was just curious... That guitar does look nice, although it's not my style for playing. But I bet it sounds like a "Loud 'un" :mrgreen:

I could do with a new arch-top. My old 'President' is a bit battered, and the neck is like a telegraph pole! It's not easy on the old Arthur Ritus!

 

[Kalimna]

The guitar in question is indeed a loud-un Very crisp sounding, with a remarkably low action. The sound is actually quite like a high-end Taylor I once had a shot at. Unfortunately, the original back developed splits and needed replacing...
Alongside the archtop *project*, Ive started on my first proper home-build, but am still at the very early stage.... If I can sort out in my head the mechanics of making the jig to make the neck-body join then I'd be much further along than two invisible glue lines and a thicknessed top and back!

Cheers,
Adam

 

[Benjamin]

Oak - I love the smell.

 

[Jamesc]

Definitely Oak, closely followed by Yew and Apple

 

[Benchwayze]

Balsa-wood; it makes great tooth-picks! :lol:

I like working in Oak, Ash and Walnut.

Cherry and Honduras Mahogany of the imported hardwoods.

Douglas Fir and Parana Pine for softwoods.

 

[kirkpoore1]

I like red oak (Quercus rubra). But I've been using some white ash (Fraxinus americana), and have one or two large projects lined up for that.

Kirk

 

[bodge]

Not worked with that many different timbers yet, but so far it has to be Walnut. I could cut that stuff just so I can drink in that lovely smell. Doug B's choice is a VERY close second though!

 

[gregmcateer]

Any that is free :-" :-s

+1

 

[MIGNAL]

Cypress. Divine smell when worked.
Cherry of a more local wood, especially if it has a little figure:

 

[Grahamshed]

I have never used it but just from looking at examples on here it has to be Yew. Outstanding grain patterns.

 

[Greedo]

Rippled maple/sycamore and yew - both seemingly hard to find around here in Alloa!

Greedo - if you need inspiration for what to do with you mac ebony, how about milling it into a back and side set for an acoustic guitar? Here's a pic of the one I made using mac ebony :

Cheers,
Adam

Nice job but making things like that are not my thing. Plus doing anything to this bit of wood other than respecting it as a beautiful piece of nature and keeping it whole would be vandalisim in my eyes.

Cutting it up would be a travesty hence I've had it so long.

 

[Kalimna]

You know, the way I look at it is to say "this lump of wood has already been cut out of a tree" and the most appropriate thing to do would be to wait until a project comes along that uses that particular piece of wood in the most effecient, respectful way. And I cant think of many things that are more respectiful than a musical instrument, a guitar in my interests. You have the lump of wood, and you respect it for what it is. You make something beautiful out of that piece of wood (even if it involves cutting it up) and you respect it for what it was, and what it has become. The vandalism has already occured, in the felling of the tree. To some eyes, to then not do anything with this felled timber is the travesty. It is only a travesty to cut it up if said cutting is done wantonly, and without care.
Gotta say though - do you have any photo's?

Cheers,
Adam

 

[WoodMangler]

Wood that has been shredded, pulped, turned into paper, had a thin metal strip inserted, and bears the words "I promise to pay the bearer on demand the sum of ..."

 

[Racers]

But bank notes are made from cloth!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotton_paper

Pete

 

[woodwoodjohn]

poplar or [tulipwood its easy to work and great mixture of colour

 

[condeesteso]

I doubt there is a single answer - but beech is (to me) the engineer's wood. Ebonies can glow beautifully with no finish at all. Box is a definitive tool handle. Oak is what I prefer to make furniture from. English, quartered. They are all good aren't they? , and I include balsa - it must be about application?