matthew wrote:This big guitar is made entirely from Mitre 10 Tassie oak (back and sides) and WRCedar (top and bracing)
Now that's what I'm talkin' 'bout!! Noice! The Tassie Oak goes well with the WRC face.
matthew wrote:
Oh and another thing, reject furniture on the sides of the road often has nice timber in the sides and backs of drawers - often oak, qld maple or silky oak. Good enough for sides!
D'oh! Just had the hard rubbish collection recently - a quick stroll down the road would have had me nicely sorted for materials.
Ah well, c'est la vie.
Decided to go check out Bunnings this arvo, but figured I'd do a quick google check on the remote chance that there's a sawmill somewhere local.... lo 'n behold there's one tucked away down an alley just a block up the road from the Bunnings!
After I'd picked my jaw up off the floor I scarpered down there to have a quick sniff about before they shut up for the Easter Break.
Construction-oriented stuff, but enough species appropriate to my cause (e.g. Oregon, Cedar and Tassie Oak) to get me going, plus a few others that made me stop and think. Better yet, the guy that runs the place apparently loves his woods and knows 'em backwards; will definitely have to sit down and have a good long chat with him upon my return.
Incidentally, as I drove off towards Bunnings, I noticed in the rear-view mirror that there were flecks of white foam at the corners of my mouth....
Is this normal?
Dear lord, is the WAS setting in already?
Had a quick squiz about Bunnings; Tassie Oak up the wazoo. Looked decent with little runout (but hey what would I know, I'm just a noobie). Radiata pine everywhere. Knots, cracks and resin pockets in most of it, but there were some nice pieces of (non-radiata?) pine in there (I.e. that sweet 5%) amongst all the dreck. Merbau decking which looked decent.
Didn't spot any of the Meranti, Durian, Hoop Pine, Pac. Maple etc mentioned by Jim (of DarwinStrings), but on the other hand I hadn't the time to ask about for it. Sounds like an excuse for a return visit eh!!!...... 'blimmin WAS.
By the way (forgot to ask about this in the original post); what should I use for the linings; the same stuff as for the bracings?
As regards tools/lack of them; I will actually be able to process from scratch (am quite blessed in having access (for a fee) to a bandsaw and thickness sander, etc) rather than having to buy a ready-made set.
As for a moniker; well, (as Simon and Garfunkel made a mint by singing) "You can call me Al!...."
"..... call me Al".
As I wandered about these places, considering what I should put my hard-earned towards, a train of thoughts suddenly occurred to me....
... Over the past year or so, a number of largish trees of different species had come down at my Mum's place during the various storms over that period of time, and I'd helped her out by slicing 'n dicing 'em up into (what I now recognise as soundboard-sized) lengths, and then stacked them up neatly about the place so that they'd dry nicely.
But it wasn't until recently that I'd got interested in luthiery....
... Heaven's above, had I been subconsciously "stickering"? Does this thing run in the blood? Do a certain set of genes genetically preprogram a person to try and make a stick of wood they've found lying about sound like a Stradivarious, and what's more collect the necessary materials to do so long before they even know what it is that they are doing?
Who cares! I've got a small mountain of potential tonewood sitting waiting for me!... and it's mine! ALL MINE!!!!
Oh yes, the WAS has most
certainly set in.
'Time for me to go check out what species they are.... fingers, eyes, everything etc crossed!!!
Will post the results of my investigations after the Easter break.
Thanks to everyone for their tips and advice thus far.
Happy Easter all & will catch you all on the other side of the holidays.
'Later!,
Al.