mpeg2 Posted December 25, 2003 Report Share Posted December 25, 2003 I've had some walnut boards lying around in the basement for many years - 3/4" thick (surfaced) - with widths up to 7". Even though it may not be the best way to do things - any clear detriments if I make a tele body out of 4 pieces (2Xedge glued - then glued face/face). Advantages: 1) Wood is available - essentially free (paid for many moons ago). 2) I love walnut (appearance) 3) Wood is stable - had plenty of time to stabilize 4) Pickup "route" and wire channel real simple - pickup by through hole in top piece (3/4" seems to be a normal pickup rout depth) - wire channel - easy route on bottom of top piece Disadvantages 1) 4 pieces of wood instead of 1 - affect tone? 2) Need to offset centerline to avoid weakness? 3) Maybe a tad thin (1.5" instead of 1.75) - could make getting switch into control cavity a bit more interesting. Any comments - thoughts?? Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted December 25, 2003 Report Share Posted December 25, 2003 i think a 2 piece walnut top is a great idea...but i would get a 1" thick piece of alder or basswood for the back...about $20 is all it would cost Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted December 25, 2003 Report Share Posted December 25, 2003 then you could save the rest of the walnut for another guitar later Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guitar_ed Posted December 25, 2003 Report Share Posted December 25, 2003 I think that idea of using the walnut for tops only makes lots of sense. Two guitars instead of one. And avoid the thinness issues. Guitar Ed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpeg2 Posted December 25, 2003 Author Report Share Posted December 25, 2003 Good ideas. Any suggestions on where to look for 1" thick alder or basswood? Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted December 25, 2003 Report Share Posted December 25, 2003 cabinet supply shops are nice.or just a hardwood store Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluespresence Posted December 25, 2003 Report Share Posted December 25, 2003 I agree with the walnut tops suggested. More guitars = more fun! Try the local yellow pages for "lumber". In mine there is a breakdown for "hardwoods", "specialty", etc. That's how I found my local supplier. He's 80 miles away but here in the boonies that's considered "local". Get to work and show us some pic's!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DannoG Posted December 25, 2003 Report Share Posted December 25, 2003 One more vote for a non-walnut back. The thickness issue is one reason and weight another (besides the saving the walnut for another project). And you don't need to offset your joints. It is okay to o align your centerlines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted December 25, 2003 Report Share Posted December 25, 2003 I'm another one that thinks you should get a blank for the back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Rosenberger Posted December 25, 2003 Report Share Posted December 25, 2003 George Harrison's Legendary Rosewood Tele was made from 4 pieces of Rosewood in the manner you described. so It can be done, it's just up to you to decide. I like combining tonewoods by using a softer wood ie Alder,Mahogany,Basswood for the back an a harder wood ie. Maple,lacewood, Walnut etc for the top. IMO it seems to make for a more well balanced sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpeg2 Posted December 25, 2003 Author Report Share Posted December 25, 2003 Thanks for all the encouragement & suggestions - I'm going to try to find another wood for the bottom half (do some hunting around during the holiday break). I dusted off my jointer (hasn't been used in about 8 years) & trued up one side of a board - turns out there was a little side bow (corrected by the jointer). Tomorrow, I'll cut out two clear areas & edge join. It'll take me a while to go through this project (too many other things going on at once) - but I'll drop some progress notes as I go (and pics, if I can figure out how). Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Litchfield Custom Gutars Posted December 26, 2003 Report Share Posted December 26, 2003 You can do it that way, like you planned, and bear in mind the Ibanez S series. Thin as all heck, but I still say use it for tops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted December 26, 2003 Report Share Posted December 26, 2003 the s series is still 1.75"in the center where the trem is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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