Curly/flame Maple Source?

[Stolysmaster]

Does anyone have a good source for curly/flame maple that does not cost a fortune, or where I don't have to buy a piece that is almost 2" thick? I am looking for a bookmatched set where each piece is only about 5/16" thick, or a single piece about 3/4" thick that I can split myself. I've looked at the Gilmer site, and most of what they have is way too thick for what I need. The guitar I want to build does not have that deep of a carve on the top, and I don't want to use any more maple than I have to. The back and neck will be Black Limba, and I want as much of the tone to come from that as possible.

[Mattia]

Check eBay. Thin bookmatched tops (3/8" thick or so) go quite often, and at not too insano prices. I think the last one I ordered was around 25-30 bucks, and it's a darn nice top. Google 'curly maple bookmatch' or similar. Ed Dicks at Acousticwoods.ca also has some stuff worth taking a look at (but yes, is in Canada)

Also, 5/16"-3/8" isn't going to give you enough room to carve much of ANYTHING. Even a shallow carve would require a 1/2" or so, methinks.

[marksound]

There's a guy on ebay called burl.quilt. He has some decent stuff at reasonable prices. Nothing 5A that I've seen, but decent.

[WezV]

Speak to Larry Davis at galleryhardwoods.com The website isnt updated often. I recently got some burl+flame maple, quilted maple, macasser ebony fretboards and black limba body and neck blanks from him and was very impressed with the quality and price

[whoofnagle]

Speak to Larry Davis at galleryhardwoods.com  The website isnt updated often.  I recently got some burl+flame maple, quilted maple, macasser ebony fretboards and black limba body and neck blanks from him and was very impressed with the quality and price

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+1 - Larry is the man!

Bill

[Stolysmaster]

Thanks for the input, guys. I'll check ebay, but since Larry Davis at Gallery Hardwoods has been recomended to me by three different people now, I think I will probably go with something he has.

As for needing at least a 1/2" thick piece, I remeasured both of my 1982 Ibanez Artists, since that is what I'll be making. Their tops are carved with a difference of 1/4" from the center of the top to the bottom edge of the guitar. Since I want to leave 1/8" of top thickness at the bottom edge of the guitar, have 1/16" of carve relief more than the factory ones, and have enough for planing & leveling, I think Mattia is right! I'll start with a 1/2" top! I just don't want any more maple than is necessary for asthetic purposes.

[Cerb]

Larry is definately the guy to talk to.

[rreynolds]

Does anyone have a good source for curly/flame maple that does not cost a fortune, or where I don't have to buy a piece that is almost 2" thick?  I am looking for a bookmatched set where each piece is only about 5/16" thick, or a single piece about 3/4" thick that I can split myself.  I've looked at the Gilmer site, and most of what they have is way too thick for what I need.  The guitar I want to build does not have that deep of a carve on the top, and I don't want to use any more maple than I have to.  The back and neck will be Black Limba, and I want as much of the tone to come from that as possible. 

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