Paulownia... any one have a source for getting body blanks?

[SpeakerBoxxx]

So, I'm planning out my next build and I'm struggling to find a place to purchase a body blank of Paulownia. I found a few places through Google, but good lord, they are expensive! Seems like the price of this species has gone up quite a bit in the last two years. If any of you guys care to share a luthier supply, lumber yard, cabinet maker, flooring place... any place that caries this species at an affordable price, please pass that info along.
Please and Thank You!

 

[Beej]

I don't come across a lot of it where I am, but when suppliers have it, it's priced about the same as poplar. I last paid $8.50 /bdft (canadian dollars). I looked at all of my local suppliers and no one has any in stock right now.

 

[SpeakerBoxxx]

I don't come across a lot of it where I am, but when suppliers have it, it's priced about the same as poplar. I last paid $8.50 /bdft (canadian dollars). I looked at all of my local suppliers and no one has any in stock right now.

Thanks for the reply. I noticed that many of the vendors online that were carrying it last year are now showing it as out of stock. I put in a few inquiries, hopefully someone will get back to me with good news.

 

[Beej]

Do you need paulownia in particular or are you looking for a lightweight wood?

 

[SpeakerBoxxx]

Looking for lightweight... some of the the writeups I've read state that some guys are getting their bodies down in the sub 3lb. range using this species. I noticed that Sandberg is using this wood for their superlight line of basses as well. The plan is to make a medium scale 5 string that weighs in at around 7.5lbs.

 

[Jaygetsreal]

I made enquiries to a plantation timber guy in New South Wales a few years ago with the idea of building super lightweight cabs. He was very friendly and said shipping was no problem - within Australia. Not sure if he could ship further afield?
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The timber is almost like balsa it's so lightweight.
(I came across it when my son did karate exams - they have laminated paulownia breaking boards for the younger kids. They make a nice CRACK sound haha)

 

[Beej]

Looking for lightweight... some of the the writeups I've read state that some guys are getting their bodies down in the sub 3lb. range using this species. I noticed that Sandberg is using this wood for their superlight line of basses as well. The plan is to make a medium scale 5 string that weighs in at around 7.5lbs.

Other light ones more available are Linden/Lime/Basswood and Poplar.

I'm doing this bass here for the winter build off, and it's chambered poplar with a hard maple top. The body right now is 2.6lbs. I'm hoping for under 7lbs all in. I've been successful at getting several instruments below 7lbs, all are 5s or 6s. Light parts, careful design, chambering all play a role.

mockeroo

• Beej
• Feb 11, 2024
• winter build off 2024

neck body work

 

[SpeakerBoxxx]

Other light ones more available are Linden/Lime/Basswood and Poplar.

I'm doing this bass here for the winter build off, and it's chambered poplar with a hard maple top. The body right now is 2.6lbs. I'm hoping for under 7lbs all in. I've been successful at getting several instruments below 7lbs, all are 5s or 6s. Light parts, careful design, chambering all play a role.

So awesome! That's inspiring! I was thinking of going the chambering route, something like Basswood with a Mohagony top. I was really trying to do this on the cheap, just to build up my skills and confidence, before going with something more "exotic".

 

[CoughSyrup]

Other light ones more available are Linden/Lime/Basswood and Poplar.

I'm doing this bass here for the winter build off, and it's chambered poplar with a hard maple top. The body right now is 2.6lbs. I'm hoping for under 7lbs all in. I've been successful at getting several instruments below 7lbs, all are 5s or 6s. Light parts, careful design, chambering all play a role.

mockeroo

• Beej
• Feb 11, 2024
• winter build off 2024

neck body work

After the build off, what are your plans for that beauty?

 

[39-Bassist]

Don't waist your time with that wood...poplar or basswood if anything is better.

 

[GretschWretch]

Don't waist your time with that wood...poplar or basswood if anything is better.

The Exquisite/Glarry/Burning Fire Club would not agree.

 

[Grinderman]

So, I'm planning out my next build and I'm struggling to find a place to purchase a body blank of Paulownia. I found a few places through Google, but good lord, they are expensive! Seems like the price of this species has gone up quite a bit in the last two years. If any of you guys care to share a luthier supply, lumber yard, cabinet maker, flooring place... any place that caries this species at an affordable price, please pass that info along.
Please and Thank You!

Have you checked with Commercial Forrest Products out in Upland, CA--near Ontario Airport--to see what they have on hand? They're a supplier to Fender Custom Shop.

 

[Grinderman]

The Exquisite/Glarry/Burning Fire Club would not agree.

I'm here thinking, "Gee, what did Paulowania ever do to them?"

 

[GretschWretch]

I'm here thinking, "Gee, what did Paulowania ever do to them?"

Nothing. In that club, dissing Paulownia is like tugging on Superman's cape. And my experience with both basswood and poplar is that they are heavier, but not so heavy as ash, alder, maple, etc.

 

[Grinderman]

Nothing. In that club, dissing Paulownia is like tugging on Superman's cape. And my experience with both basswood and poplar is that they are heavier, but not so heavy as ash, alder, maple, etc.

Honestly, especially, if there's going to be an opaque solid color finish on it or close then a nice piece of pine can be fine. It worked for Leo in the '50s and MJT sells bodies made of pine occasionally these days.

If screw-hold for a bridge is a concern, drill oversize the mounting pilot hole locations, glue in hard maple dowels, trim flush, prep, and finish body...

 

[Freekmagnet]

So awesome! That's inspiring! I was thinking of going the chambering route, something like Basswood with a Mohagony top. I was really trying to do this on the cheap, just to build up my skills and confidence, before going with something more "exotic".

I did a chambered cherry body with a cherry neck. The bass weighed in at 6.8lbs.

Basswood is fairly inexpensive, and it’s pretty darned light.

If you’re struggling to find paulownia, there’s other options that will work. Sourcing and accessing materials is a big part of being a luthier.

Another weight saving tip: maple is pretty hard to beat in terms of stiffness, strength, cost, availability, etc., but walnut also can make a fine neck. Walnut is more expensive, but if you find a nice straight-grained piece, you can make a solid neck and it will be considerably lighters than a maple neck.

 

[GretschWretch]

Honestly, especially, if there's going to be an opaque solid color finish on it or close then a nice piece of pine can be fine. It worked for Leo in the '50s and MJT sells bodies made of pine occasionally these days.

If screw-hold for a bridge is a concern, drill oversize the mounting pilot hole locations, glue in hard maple dowels, trim flush, prep, and finish body...

Pine seems to be making a resurgence; in my experience it is almost a new body wood, like cedar for DB tops.
Paulownia's major selling points are its extreme lightness and resonance, and a grain that only some ash can compete with. I have yet to see any claims beyond these made for Paulownia.

 

[msgoodrich]

Bass Bodies and Necks
this is where i bought a couple for my light weight builds.

 

[mikewalker]

I have two extremely lightweight Paulownia-bodied instruments, one five years old, one more than ten - no problems with screws on either, and I do not baby them.

 

[Beej]

After the build off, what are your plans for that beauty?

Thanks kindly. This is a prototype, so I plan to play the living bejeezus out of it, but I'll probably build a small batch too. It's a work in progress for this year's Winter Build off.