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Where to buy wood!?

#41
amg3l said:
I feel like this just takes out the fun.. Idk I want to know that made it myself out of nothing. My dad has a lot of tools and I have almost 2 months to do this I think ill just go all out and get something of better quality or at least not from HD because like you said it is Always warped. I just need something to do over the summer so I don't go crazy being alone all day at home. :roflmao:

Thank you all for these websites too I'll check them all out.
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I've assembled basses from various pre-built parts. Took time to find and order all the parts. The actually assemble didn't take too long, though some minor modifications were needed. And then solder all the wiring, and give it fret work and a full setup. Nothing really custom about that but it was still a fun project to get a bass with the specs that I wanted.

Is 2 months enough time to build a bass from raw 2x6's? I don't know. Sounds like a tight deadline. Do you have s drafting pad of paper where you can draw out the body shape, and measure where the bridge needs to be positioned for the scale length you are building, and the rout sizes for the pickups, and control cavity? I've done some guitar design work in full scale on paper, and I spent a lot of time on measurements and the body shape - just getting everything to look right.

Oh and yes, wood IS expensive these days. Prices skyrocketed about a year ago.

Good luck with your project!!
 
#46
Lo-E said:
It's a pretty neat site but I noticed that the nearest it listed to me is over 35 miles away and I know there are at least 5 lumberyards that carry and/or specialize in hardwood that are closer to me so I wonder how they're collecting their data.
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I'm sure it's the big places that are willing to pay to advertise.
 
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#47
Local Woodcraft
20210708_164551.jpg
 
#48
This thread takes me back to when I was 14 and hot to build a guitar (I'm 70). Back then, wood wasn't much of a problem. I started my project with a slab of mahogany big enough to make the body in one piece. and a maple plank for the neck. The fact that I could afford it at all indicates that it must have been inexpensive. I don't remember the price. Ultimately the project was a failure.

I've built a few more guitars over the years and gotten it right, but that one still haunts me.

O.P., you say you're 14 and looking for something to work on while you spend the summer more or less alone. To build even the simplest instrument from scratch is a burdensome task, especially for the inexperienced. It's good that you have experienced mentors on this project. Please be sure to take any and all safety advice seriously. You may be using saws, routers, and assorted hand power tools and edged tools. Even old pros like me get nicked from time to time, and serious injuries can happen. I have a kind of rule of thumb to use potentially dangerous tools only when someone else is within shouting distance. I've seen some nasty accidents.

By all means keep us posted and feel free to ask as many questions as you like. I wish I'd had a resource like TalkBass back when I was so clueless..

Tom
 
#49
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#50
I think ashtray is offering good advice. I would recommend you buy a cheap DIY bass kit. They're like $150 to your door. Once you have it, do all the work to make it an EXCELLENT bass. Let's face it - the difference between a Sadowsky and a Harley Benton for the most part has nothing to do with wood. It's all in the labor and skill intensive process of accurate build and setup. I think you would do well to learn the ropes on a kit and if you do it right you will have a bass you can be proud of. There's no reason a kit bass can't be an outstanding instrument. After that experience a scratch build may be a good step up. Or maybe you will become a Warmoth junkie like me and many others!
 
#53
I respect that you want to do a scratch build (or close to it), and if you've got a bunch of tools/machines available, I say go for it, and good luck!

When I was your age, wood was cheap and widely available to me. Especially walnut. And it still is, if you live in the midwest, but you're in SoCal. And since you're not quite mobile yet, shipping might be the best option, though I would personally hate doing that.

I see there is a Lowe's in Hemet. They'll have some boards, at least, and probably some usable maple.

Looking at the firewood for sale in your area, eucalyptus and ash appear to be local. Both are potentially interesting for luthiery, if you can find them as boards or at least, seasoned logs.

If you don't find your ideal body wood locally, you might consider another option; build from something like Poplar or Pine, and consider it your practice body. I actually own and like a few poplar-bodied basses.
 
#54
Thinking about it, I probably should practice with something like poplar first I dont want to risk messing up a nicer piece of wood. My home depot also sells mahogany so Ill consider than too. I still need to talk it over with my dad anyway because it'll be his money. Poplar would probably look nice with a good finish. :thumbsup:\

Thx a lot I will keep u all updated. This probably won't be my only build. hopefully.
 
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#55
amg3l said:
My home depot also sells mahogany so Ill consider than too.
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That's probably Lauan/Meranti, which would be fine, IMO.

amg3l said:
Poplar would probably look nice with a good finish. :thumbsup:
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That's in the eye of the beholder. :) My favorite finish for poplar is a solid color. But it could depend on the piece.

amg3l said:
This probably won't be my only build. hopefully.
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Thought that might be the case. :thumbsup:
 
#56
So. My dad ended up telling me to pick from exoticwoodzone and I picked these out. Im thinking a scarf kneck joint or whatever its called for the headstock. We went for cheaper woods for my first build and he said if I do good we can buy something like walnut or sapele. Any other recommendations for making/attaching the headstock to the kneck? Also how would we give the kneck a satin finish as I prefer the satin over the thick laqcuer finish?
 

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#58
amg3l said:
So. My dad ended up telling me to pick from exoticwoodzone and I picked these out. Im thinking a scarf kneck joint or whatever its called for the headstock. We went for cheaper woods for my first build and he said if I do good we can buy something like walnut or sapele. Any other recommendations for making/attaching the headstock to the kneck? Also how would we give the kneck a satin finish as I prefer the satin over the thick laqcuer finish?
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Nice. Looks like good prices all around. I'm interested to see the fretboard blank. I remember their laminated body blanks from the website.

Any finish can be made satin or matte even "thick lacquer." As far as what I'm guessing you mean for the neck I'd suggest finishing it with TruOil or boiled linseed oil. Either can give a fairly protective finish but retain the "bare wood" feel. Another option would be just a few coats of whatever finish you're going to use for the body and knock it down with ScotchBrite pads to a satin finish. I'd also suggest something more than oil for the body. Basswood can be comparatively soft and dent easily and benefits from a harder, film finish such as polyurethane or lacquer.
 
#59
Matt Liebenau said:
Nice. Looks like good prices all around. I'm interested to see the fretboard blank. I remember their laminated body blanks from the website.

Any finish can be made satin or matte even "thick lacquer." As far as what I'm guessing you mean for the neck I'd suggest finishing it with TruOil or boiled linseed oil. Either can give a fairly protective finish but retain the "bare wood" feel. Another option would be just a few coats of whatever finish you're going to use for the body and knock it down with ScotchBrite pads to a satin finish. I'd also suggest something more than oil for the body. Basswood can be comparatively soft and dent easily and benefits from a harder, film finish such as polyurethane or lacquer.
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I'm pretty sure my dad has a bottle of finish. Another question, should I make or buy a bridge? I was thinking about making a bridge myself but I don't really know how to start. It doesn't seem too hard but I just want to know what you guys usually do.
 

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