nice top cheap

[PJ all day]

where is the best place to buy a nice top for not to much money

[T2W]

I dont know where youre at.... but these guys are good. http://fine-woods.com/

[Basschair]

Originally Posted by PJ all day

where is the best place to buy a nice top for not to much money

Hi PJ,

Can you give some specifics on type of wood, or perhaps color if you aren't set on a type...in other words, some more info?

[PJ all day]

im open to all different ideas but i was thinking about a darker wood to contrast with the birdseye maple fingerboard

[Basschair]

Originally Posted by PJ all day

im open to all different ideas but i was thinking about a darker wood to contrast with the birdseye maple fingerboard

Something with figure in it, or just something dark? I ask because I'm wondering just how much contrast you'd like.

[leppikallio]

Originally Posted by PJ all day

where is the best place to buy a nice top for not to much money

I have been toying with idea that what it would look if top laminate was birch ply laminate so that the stripes were showing on top. Amount of plywood required is really small, there is some glue job sure but not that bad. Top should be made reasonably close to final thickness and sanded to final thickness.

Coloring the ply would take the idea even further and if top is carved little more than just flat it really would look great, I think

BTW, have you folks seen this product: http://www.cwp.fi/

I'm going to give it try in the near future, as soon as I get enough money. In fact it isn't that expensive at all compared to good nice core wood + the top but it isn't cheap either.

[PJ all day]

Originally Posted by Basschair

Something with figure in it, or just something dark? I ask because I'm wondering just how much contrast you'd like.

well i would like it to have figure and im open to all different colors it dose not have to be dark but i want something that will look good with birdseye

[pilotjones]

Originally Posted by leppikallio

BTW, have you folks seen this product: http://www.cwp.fi/

I'm going to give it try in the near future, as soon as I get enough money. In fact it isn't that expensive at all compared to good nice core wood + the top but it isn't cheap either.

Cool stuff! It loks like maybe that's what Ritter used for one bass.

[stevetx19]

How much is "not too much"?

You can get a very nice claro walnut top in the $40-60 range that will likely have some flame and look beautiful with a maple fretboard.

Also, there is a ton of figured maple out there if you wanted to try staining something. Ive seen decent tops from $25.

A word of caution though...ive bought cheap wood, affordable wood, and expensive wood, and ive had projects that were over budget because i bought cheap wood that had to be replaced by average wood.
As suggested before, fraser valley has some nice stuff that is very affordable. Ive only bought one top from these guys : http://www.notablewoods.com/index.html, but i was very happy with the quality, figure, and price.

[PJ all day]

sorry to mention top cannot be walnut im allergic bad things could happen

[dmcfarlin]

Originally Posted by stevetx19

Ive only bought one top from these guys : http://www.notablewoods.com, but i was very happy with the quality, figure, and price.

Bruce is a great guy to deal with. If you let him know your price range, he'll do his best to find something that you'll like.

[Ol'Bass'ead]

Well, I've got 4-5 tops lately for under $35 including shipping-and they are all pretty nice looking. You gotta shop, but if youre careful and patient you can score. Oh, and 4 of them were bookmatched already.

http://instruments.shop.ebay.com/ite...47067QQ_sopZ10

[CoffeeBass]

Originally Posted by dmcfarlin

Bruce is a great guy to deal with. If you let him know your price range, he'll do his best to find something that you'll like.

+10

I live on San Juan Island so I went over to see bruce for some Koa to build my wife a Ukulele. Bruce is a super nice guy and very helpful. He let us paw through stacks and stacks of wood, gave us a great price and even cut up some more wood so I could get a true 1/4" walnut top. We walked out with a Ukulele set and Walnut bass top, both curly/flamed etc, for $70. the walnut had a tiny pinhole in it that we established would be no-where near my pattern and he gave me a great discount just for that. If you send him a few photos of what you are generally looking for he can tell you if he has something like it. I had to stop the guy from going through his whole walnut stash looking for a certain kind of figuring. The guy has some of the most amazing Koa I have ever seen. If you are into Koa definately give him a call.

Cheers,

CB

Ps. I know you are allergic to walnut, but if you would like to see the wood we got let me know and I will post some pics.

[PJ all day]

sure post some pics

[CoffeeBass]

Here you go. These have mineral spirits rubbed on them. They are both going to pop moer once they are properly surfaced too.

Here is the Koa We got for my Wife's Uke:




Here is the walnut I got for me:



If you look about in the center bottom of the first walnut pic you can see a tiny black dot. that is a tiny hole (>1/8") and there is a knot on the center line on the other side way above where I am going to use. Perfect other than that. I am in love with it.

$70 out the door for the both of them. I think we got a bit of a locals discount but I think he is pretty reasonable anyway.

Hope that helps.

Coffee

ps
If you read on hiss website, you'll see that his sourding practices are very environmentally friendly. The walnut you see came from a tree that was dropped to build a house. They were going to cut it into fire wood, but he got to it in time.

[Arx]

Originally Posted by stevetx19

As suggested before, fraser valley has some nice stuff that is very affordable.

Man... Thanks tons for pointing that one out.

I've been trying to find a decent place to get wood in Canada, and that's not too far from here.

-Nick

[PJ all day]

ive been thinking about a holly top does anyone know where i could get some

[mikeyswood]

Unless you get REALLY lucky you would have to plan for four or more pieces for the top.

[PJ all day]

o nevermind that idea then

[erikbojerik]

"nice top"......"not too much money"

DOES NOT COMPUTE _ DANGER WILL ROBINSON!