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Do you Luthiers use Teak?

Discussion in 'Luthier's Corner' started by Mud Flaps, Oct 3, 2003.


  1. Oct 3, 2003 #1
    Mud Flaps

    Mud Flaps

    Feb 3, 2003
    Norton, MA
    I've never seen a bass before with Teak in the ingredients. Which I find odd, because, to my understanding, it is an extremely hard and dense wood. Why isn't Teak used in luthiery?
     
  5. Oct 4, 2003 #2
    schuyler

    schuyler

    Aug 5, 2003
    Atlanta, GA
    i second this question, as i have an excellent supply of teak, but haven't built any instruments with it yet. knocking the wood seems to have a decent resonance... maybe the high cost is a deterrent? i'd really like to get opinions from those more edu-ma-cated on this. thanks!
     
  10. Oct 4, 2003 #3
    JP Basses

    JP Basses

    Mar 22, 2002
    Paris FRANCE
    My very first bass was all made out of teak. Body, neck and fretboard.

    Worked great IMO and I wouldn't mind to use more for bodies.

    Peace, JP
     
  14. Oct 4, 2003 #4
    FBB Custom

    FBB Custom TalkBass Pro Commercial User

    Jan 26, 2002
    Maryland
    Owner: FBB Bass Works
    I have a nice piece of curly teak that I can't seem to sell to people. I think probably people are too used to seeing it on boats, and for the price you can generally get a piece of cocobolo with wilder figure. I'm using a piece of the flame teak on a prototype that should be done pretty soon. I'm looking forward to seeing it finished.
     
  18. Oct 4, 2003 #5
    Skorzen

    Skorzen

    Mar 15, 2002
    Springfield MA
    I saw on a site that was actually for flooring they had a rating system for the stability of wood. teak was given a rating of 1(options were 1-3) as the least stable. I don't know how accurate this was but I just thought I would throw it out there.
     
  22. Oct 6, 2003 #6
    Mud Flaps

    Mud Flaps

    Feb 3, 2003
    Norton, MA
    So maybe we (not implying that I am a luthier) can use Teak as a laminate wood. But it's awfully heavy, no? It might not be worth it. But it's certainly beautiful!
     
  26. Oct 6, 2003 #7
    FBB Custom

    FBB Custom TalkBass Pro Commercial User

    Jan 26, 2002
    Maryland
    Owner: FBB Bass Works
    If you like it, use it. Try to get FSC certified teak if you can. It's a heavily taxed species.

    It's hard to glue and fairly heavy, but people use wenge and cocobolo, and those two are just as heavy if not more.
     
  31. Oct 7, 2003 #8
    OldDawg

    OldDawg

    Jul 4, 2003
    Los Angeles, CA
    I had a custom guitar made with a teak body, ebony fret board, all brass hardware. Boy I never heard a guitar with so much sustain and clarity. But heavy I couldn't believe how much it weighed.