Luthiery Material Sources In Finland?

[Prostheta]

Planning ahead, as I am starting from scratch in a year or so's time. Could do with sources of Maple, Mahogany, Rosewood, etc. and woods for laminate reinforcements such as Wenge and Walnut. Are there any specific sources here in Finland, or are we looking at imports?

[VesQ]

Few suppliers here. Basic woods available maple, mahogany, wenge, etc,....Instrument builders sell fretboards. If you want fancy figure i suggest imports....I´m busy right now as we speak so I don´t have much time for blabbering.

http://www.fiskarslaatupuu.fi/fi/

http://www.korpi-instruments.com/tuotteet.html

http://www.soitinrakentajatamf.fi)/

http://www.thermotimber.fi)/

http://www.puukeskus.fi)/

http://www.dlh-finland.fi/

http://www.op-puu.fi/

http://www.guitarshop.fi/

[Prostheta]

Thanks VesQ - very much appreciated. I think that I will be sticking to painted instruments for a while, and I want to practice my paint techniques. It will allow me to use simpler woods, and use laminates purely for strength and tone rather than appearance. I have no workshop or tools other than basic fretting and instrument maintenance stuff, so I have a lot to build back up. I miss my router :-(

[Mender]

...I miss my router :-(

It's almost like not having one of your arms, isn't it? Hope you manage to get kitted out soon mate

[VesQ]

@Prostheta

I know it´s frustrating to sit there watching other peoples projects while you can´t do nothing. Hopefully you get new workshop running soon, so we can watch your projects again.

There´s also www.muusikoiden.net , a general music forum is finland. That´s where most of the local guitarbuilders are. If your wife can help you to sign ,maybe you can ask questions there. I don´t think anyone does mind if you make a question or two in english.

[Prostheta]

Well, I've set aside October through February for language courses and perhaps looking into wooden house design for work. It'll happen when it happens.

[soapbarstrat]

Is it Finland where the people are so shy, the Government has to help Men and Women meet each other ? Pretty sure I saw something on TV about it quite a while back.

In that case, I suppose anyone there with something to sell might be real shy too. Maybe every store has a " please go away " sign on the door. LOL

I'd probably fit right in there.

[verhoevenc]

Did no one warn you? You have to cut your own lumber up there

Chris

[Prostheta]

Yep, indeed. My friend Mikko's Les Paul was made from Birch which he cut, processed and dried himself. Tis a fine instrument, also. It's a real shame that a lot of luthiery woods will be imports though. Inasmuch as I would dearly love just to only utilise locally-sourced woods, not having Mahogany, Maple et al would limit tonal possibilities far too much. That said, I would very much like to explore the characteristics of Birch as a bass neck.

Edited July 28, 2010 by Prostheta

[SwedishLuthier]

A Swedish guy, Robban Sarling, Ares Guitars, have used a lot of local lumber. Birch is, according to him, pretty close to maple in sound, and I have used Maple and Oak laminated for a bass with Beech body. You can find Cherry,Elm (Robban's favorite mahogany substitute) and a lot of other lokal wook up here.

[Juntunen Guitars]

Yep, indeed. My friend Mikko's Les Paul was made from Birch which he cut, processed and dried himself. Tis a fine instrument, also. It's a real shame that a lot of luthiery woods will be imports though. Inasmuch as I would dearly love just to only utilise locally-sourced woods, not having Mahogany, Maple et al would limit tonal possibilities far too much. That said, I would very much like to explore the characteristics of Birch as a bass neck.

contact my cousin Henrym. I am not sure if he is still on the forums or not since I haven't seen him around lately. He lives in Kajaani and could probably tell you where he gets his wood for builds.

Did no one warn you? You have to cut your own lumber up there

Chris

I cut my own lumber up here in Minnesota which is a lot closer than Finland ... I take that back I did get one 10'x2'x2" board of mahogany for free once but other than that I use birch, walnut, redpine, oak, basically whatever I can get my hands on and that my saw will take care of.

[Prostheta]

Mmm. It's an interesting option, now that I'm given it. I'm looking at longer term planning, so cutting/processing/drying lumber rather than buying "ready to play" is more where my mind is at. I've even thrown around the idea of buying pallets of Rosewood, Sapele, etc. and picking the premium for builds and the rest for furniture, etc. Depends on whether or not pallets are picked over beforehand I guess. Over a timeframe of 1-2 years, I'm sure a plan will make itself known. There is a woodworking class here in Luvia which I'm going to look into, as my presence here seems to be "known" already, ie. getting drafted into the local musicianary :-/ Let's see what happens.