stiggz Posted January 21, 2006 Report Share Posted January 21, 2006 (edited) g'day I am looking into building an archtop guitarone of these days, and just doing some looking around, i am finding the maple back and side sets rather expensive (well the sides arent to bad bout $35), i have the top coverd (i have a HUGE beam of western red cedar in a cradle in the garage). but what other woods could i use for the back and sides? thanks in advance luke Edited January 21, 2006 by where's the beef??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattia Posted January 21, 2006 Report Share Posted January 21, 2006 Clear, unfigured maple should be pretty cheap, I'd think. Not much out there that's suitable for backs/sides that's much cheaper than maple. African mahogany, perhaps? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oruss Posted January 21, 2006 Report Share Posted January 21, 2006 Try checking on Ebay. I've found some decent prices for guitar wood there. oruss Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M_A_T_T Posted January 21, 2006 Report Share Posted January 21, 2006 In cello building I've heard of Poplar being used in place of maple. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fryovanni Posted January 22, 2006 Report Share Posted January 22, 2006 There are a lot of choices when it comes to back and sides. If your first choice is Maple I would use it. There is really not much wood to a set of sides, and the width makes the wood pretty easy to get (wide thick back sets of course will cost more). I would think $15-20 would be about as much as you should have to pay (and that is mainly because of the thickness sanding and prep.). Remember it will take less than a bd. ft. (ruff) to produce that set. Peace,Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stiggz Posted January 22, 2006 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2006 plain maple for the back then, but do you guys recon it'd look goofy with a set of flamed sides? luke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fryovanni Posted January 23, 2006 Report Share Posted January 23, 2006 You could use whatever will look good to you. All regular Maple looks really nice when finished well. Personally I usually go for a matched look most of the time. I was going to have you shoot me a PM and I would hook you up, but then I realised you are in . Shipping is deadly from me to you, probably more than the wood is worth. Peace,Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shimmy Posted January 24, 2006 Report Share Posted January 24, 2006 Hi, I dont know if its what your after but I have some African Swamp ash i think its called? its quite heavy and dense...its been cut for the making of a bass, i think its 45mm thick. Its some nice looking wood. Im on the Gold coast...jst email me @ shim_elf@yahoo.com if your interested Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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