Jim Soloway

I have aver 600 board feet of high grade, light weight swamp ash boards. I don't need that much and I don't have nearly enough space for all of it, so I'm planning to sell about 300-400 feet and keep the rest. Here are three board that I just grabbed from the front of the stack. They're pretty typical of the entire load. I can sell them individually, as a batch, or if you're interested in more, feel free to contact me and we can discuss what I have.

The price for these three is $45 plus $30 shipping in the US for each.

BOARD #15:

Dimensions: 73.5"L x 7.3"W x 2"H

Weight: 17lbs 6oz

Weight Per Board Foot: 2.28 lbs

BOARD #18: SOLD

Dimensions: 72"L x 7"W x 2"H

Weight: 15lbs 12oz

Weight Per Board Foot: 2.14 lbs

BOARD #19: SOLD

Dimensions: 72"L x 7"W x 2"H

Weight: 16lbs 6.6oz

Weight Per Board Foot: 2.29 lbs

Compared to prices on the Bay, Flamed or not, I think these are highway robbery. My opinion.

I would normally ignore this sort of post but I think this is silly enough to deserve a response.

First, after doing a quick search, here is a link to a listing for a top on eBay

http://cgi.ebay.com/Luthiers-3A-Redwood-To...1QQcmdZViewItem

It is for a redwood top that is .200" thick. The minimum price is $24.99 and shipping is $10.95. That is a minimum of $36 (and possibly more since it is an auction). My billets are all a minimum of 2" thick and the prices include shipping. At .200", you should be able to get at least three sets out of one of my billets, even with a crappy saw. So when you add in the shipping, my price is actually lower than the eBay listing.

Second, I would suggest that there is no such thing as highway robbery in a voluntary sale. No one is being forced to buy these. If you think the price is too high, it's really very simple: DON'T BUY THEM.

Oh and BTW, RW4 is sold.

WOOD SALE - 4 Flamed Redwood Billets (all 2" thick or more)

After we complete what's currently in the pipeline, we're no longer going to offer redwood tops. I built up a really nice stash of redwood a few years ago, and I'm going to end up with four billets left in the wood stash. I'd rather see it go to someone who will use it than have it just sit on my shelf.

All four of these billets are dry. They are varying widths, but all four are at least 2" thick and a minimum of 23" long.

For info, my e-mail is jim@jimsoloway.com or you can call me at 503-977-2727

ALL PRICES INCLUDE SHIPPING IN THE US. PayPal or credit cards are welcome with no fees.

BILLET RW1 - $90

Length = 24

Width = 6.5

Thickness = 2

Weight = 5lb 14.4oz

BILLET RW2 - $95

Length = 23

Width = 6.75

Thickness = 2

Weight = 4lb 12.8oz

BILLET RW3 - $110

Length = 24.125

Width = 7.5

Thickness = 2.125

Weight = 7lb 4.6oz

BILLET RW4 - $95

Length = 26

Width = 8

Thickness = 2.5

Weight = 7lb 13oz

We've got some figured bubinga that we're working on right now. It's from Gilmer (www.gilmerwood.com), not a cheap source, but at least you can get a lot smaller pieces than that so it's not nearly as big a commitment. Given the density and the way it can splinter, I don't think I'd want to use anything thicker than 1/4". This is a shot of it completely raw and untreated.

Just one left.

These shots are completely raw. If you want to see what they can look like finished, just take a look at the guitars on my site at www.solowayguitars.com

Shipping is $10 for one top. If you wat more than one, we'll work it out.

PayPal preferred.

Top 1: 22.25" wide, 8.25" wide at one end and 6.75" at the other, $40

Top 2: 22.25" wide, 8.25" wide at one end and 7.25" at the other, SOLD

Top 3: 22.25" wide, 8" wide for the entire length, SOLD

Top 4: 22.25" wide, 8" wide for the entire length, SOLD

I just came across a link to this thread while doing some maintenance on my website. I'm glad everyone seem to like what we're doing.

The guitars are actually made by a small team of people. That's why I always refer to the operation as "we". I designed everything and I make all of the critical decisions, but I have also surrounded myself with people with far greater skills than mine. The most important of those is Todd Mylet, one of the finest and most well rounded luthiers I have ever known and a geniune wizard with fine detail work. Beyond the design, the wood selection, the finacing and marketing, probably the single most important part that I play is in cracking the whip on quality control. Nothing goes out until I'm satisfied that it's absolutely the best we can do.

As for the 27 inch scale length, Darren is partly (mostly?) right about my experiences with the 7421XL. I've been playing 7-string for years and was really unhappy with the performance of the low string on a standard scale length. I started looking for anything with a longer scale length and was able to try several, most high end and hand made. The 7421XL at 27 inches was the one that worked the best and while it was not ideal for the music I played, it did a pretty good job. When I designed our guitars I kept both the scale length and the neck shape from the Ibanez but I adapted it to a guitar that has a much stronger acoustic voice which I think translates really well when it's amplified. But it was not until I got the Swan actually functioning that I realized the full impact of the longer scale length.

The extra length is really not nearly as obvious to the hands as it is to the ears. Tuned to standard pitch, the 27-inch scale length is like comparing a full size grand piano to an upright and not just for a 7-string. The effect on a 6-string is really stunning. The clarity and articulation are amazing. The notes just seem to jump off the strings. And it doesn't really matter if you're playing quiet jazz or high gain rock. The effect is the same.

BTW, the tuners are indeed Sperzel Sound Lock open backs. I chose them because they cut down the weight on the peg head dramatically. I hate guitars that are heavy and I especially hate guitars that are head-heavy. Building a guitar with a long scale length that is both light weight and well balanced is a challenge and requires a lot specific design decisions of which the tuners were just one of many. But it's worked out pretty well. Our basic 6-string model only weighs 6lbs and balances really well.

Once again, thanks for posting the link and thanks for taking an interest in our guitars.