Help a Noob, where do you get your wood?!

[nicfargo]

Hey Luthiers,

Just wondering who you go through, supplier wise, for the wood you use to make violins and double basses. I know plenty of suppliers for wood you'd make furniture out of, but very few that dry the wood correctly and select wood that's high enough quality for producing a beautiful tone.

Thanks!
Nic
Luthier Wannabe (gotta start somewhere)

[Bob Branstetter]

Here's a start for you. In the Midwest, try Old Standard Woods in Fulton, MO

[toman]

Gilmer Wood Company in Oregon are good people to do business with; I've bought fine woods from them several times. I don't think they do any softwood stuff though.

[james condino]

Check in with Bruce Harvey at Orcas island tonewoods- half the price and twice the quality grade of anyone else I do business with! I'd also check in with John Tepper of Tepper tonewoods. He had some INCREDIBLE figured maple sets a while ago; I was lucky enough to get one of them and it may be the nicest piece of maple I have ever worked.

j.
www.condino.com

[Bob Branstetter]

Originally Posted by james condino

Check in with Bruce Harvey at Orcas island tonewoods- half the price and twice the quality grade of anyone else I do business with! I'd also check in with John Tepper of Tepper tonewoods. He had some INCREDIBLE figured maple sets a while ago; I was lucky enough to get one of them and it may be the nicest piece of maple I have ever worked.

j.
www.condino.com

I don't know that I could agree about the half the price and twice the quality business, but I've also had some nice wood from Bruce in the past. However, Nic should be aware that shipping bass wood can be expensive because of the large size and weight and it can pay you to shop around for a reputable tonewood dealer closer to your location.

[nicfargo]

Is there anyone closer to my location? I live in Nebraska...not sure if we have anyone because we don't have a huge abundance of trees here...so I wouldn't think a wood supplier would set up shop so far away from supply, but I could be wrong. Anyone know of suppliers closer to Nebraska?

[Rickett Customs]

Originally Posted by nicfargo

Is there anyone closer to my location? I live in Nebraska...not sure if we have anyone because we don't have a huge abundance of trees here...so I wouldn't think a wood supplier would set up shop so far away from supply, but I could be wrong. Anyone know of suppliers closer to Nebraska?

You should have followed the link that Bob made you

R. R. Gower
2019 Harwood Ave.
Lincoln, NE 68502
402/435-1632

[nicfargo]

I did follow the link...however I must have completely skipped over R R Gower...there's so much information on that page, it's a little busy.

Thanks for the pointer Alem!