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Wood choices and considerations

#161
I'll still discuss the subject here, occasionally, to help out some of you who are serious builders. Like, on your own build threads. And, I'll continue to go deep into the engineering on my Scroll Bass thread. My customers and fans love to know every detail. And I'll continue talking endlessly about tools, machines and build techniques.

But I'm not going to waste my time on any of these big "armchair engineering" threads. They seem to be an exercise in the abuse of social media: Get an argument going to get as many opinions as possible, then take a vote and make technical conclusions based on quantity of opinions. Rather than examining the engineering. I come from a long career in R & D engineering in big companies, and that's exactly how projects crash and burn. Sometimes literally.
 
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#164
Part of the problem is that people just don’t all hear the same things. I’ve no trouble believing that the majority of people (including me) can’t hear a difference between woods in a blind test while simultaneously believing that someone like Bruce can. We argue over whether it makes a difference but what we really mean is “does it make a difference to me” which is not the same thing and not really resolvable.
 
#165
Bruce Johnson said:
I'll still discuss the subject here, occasionally, to help out some of you who are serious builders. Like, on your own build threads. And, I'll continue to go deep into the engineering on my Scroll Bass thread. My customers and fans love to know every detail. And I'll continue talking endlessly about tools, machines and build techniques.

But I'm not going to waste my time on any of these big "armchair engineering" threads. They seem to be an exercise in the abuse of social media: Get an argument going to get as many opinions as possible, then take a vote and make technical conclusions based on quantity of opinions. Rather than examining the engineering. I come from a long career in R & D engineering in big companies, and that's exactly how projects crash and burn. Sometimes literally.
Click to expand...

I'm glad you chimed in. I started this thread to discuss wood in relation to techniques, and building with it. Particularly if it isn't the "normal" woods. I've worked in R&D as well, so I understand your sentiments. To be clear, it was never my intention to talk about "tonewoods" in this thread.

Except for something like the following: "balsa wood is too soft for a guitar neck, and doesnt have enough strength to hold enough tension." A similar wood with similar mechanical properties will sound very similar, even if it doesn't have the same name. I used balsa in my example because.... it's better for model airplanes than anything with tension. The balsa I handled was quite weak...

I've actually tried to steer the conversation here to unique techniques, unusual woods, in order to discuss wood.... without the tonewood debate. This thread has been my favorite thread on TB because we've talked about wood, and stuff like ammonia fuming. I've learned a bit about various woods for necks, and how other woods tend to darken with age. So far, there's been no arguments here, just discussion on wood.

I read an article the other day about how Australian luthiers (article was discussing acoustic) were planting trees for their grandkid's customers, due to historical difficulty in supply chain for them. They couldn't get the "tonewoods" that were made popular by Fender and Gibson. They used local trees that were not endangered. It was a cool article -- one that I cant post because it came off of a college library site. This is the sort of things I was hoping to discuss here.

So if you've had any interesting -- good or bad -- experiences with various woods, please share. Wood sustainability seems to fit in nicely to our "considerations" as well.
 
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#166
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#167
dwizum said:
A bunch of big traditional manufacturers are following similar processes as those Australian luthiers. Taylor has made a big deal about resource management:

Sustainability: Reforestation, From Politics to Planting | Taylor Guitars Blog

Fender stopped using Swamp Ash recently:

Fender to Discontinue Using Ash Bodies for Production-Line Guitars

Maintenance of Koa is a big deal among the traditional Uke builders:

Saving Hawaiʻi's Forests - Kanile'a 'Ukulele
Click to expand...

Sustainability is one my motivation for asking about local grown unique woods for bass. That and nothing says "I'm from TX" like a bass made from the state tree.... (pecan)
 
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#168
I wish I had some pecan. I'd love to build with it.
We have a large supply of beech around here. It's actually starting to overtake some areas. It's ideal for building in every way except for one: I read that it tends to move a lot in service. So, not ideal for mating to other woods, or instruments in general. Bummer.
There's no shortage of maple or walnut up here, which I'm grateful for, but I also want to try something different.
I have pin oak, swamp white oak and 2 old pear trees I'd like to harvest and experiment with over the next few seasons.
 
#169
RichterScale said:
I wish I had some pecan. I'd love to build with it.
We have a large supply of beech around here. It's actually starting to overtake some areas. It's ideal for building in every way except for one: I read that it tends to move a lot in service. So, not ideal for mating to other woods, or instruments in general. Bummer.
There's no shortage of maple or walnut up here, which I'm grateful for, but I also want to try something different.
I have pin oak, swamp white oak and 2 old pear trees I'd like to harvest and experiment with over the next few seasons.
Click to expand...

You could try a Kala California style ubass with a beech top just for giggles. If it sucks.... slap some pahoehoe dreads on it and call it a "trainer bass." pahoehoe dreads because each string is a different color. Imagine teaching: "ok now pluck the red one."

definitely tell us your thoughts when you do experiment. I watched this video on a 3000 year old acoustic guitar build. very interesting. Not bass though...

Edit: oh man.... tone wood argument beware: Wikipedia says in page on beech wood "some drums are made from beech, which has a tone between those of maple and birch, the two most popular drum woods." lol.... Interesting use in beer though (according to wikipedia). If it works for drum, should work elsewhere right?
 
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#170
@SlingBlader has a brisket that's getting attention. I jokingly said he could use the brisket in his build. Then I started thinking about that too much.....

I took the fat off of the brisket, and cooked it by itself in a pan to render out the oil from fat. I used that to make the best gravy you've ever had. However, it's relatively clear, so being an oil..... if one of you have an offcut from a fretboard laying around.... I'd be interested in what would happen. Other than being hungry every time you play bass....

I dont have an offcut. But if I get curious enough, I may have to buy a broken guitar on CL

ok I'll stop posting dumb stuff now...
 
#171
mrperkolator said:
@SlingBlader has a brisket that's getting attention. I jokingly said he could use the brisket in his build. Then I started thinking about that too much.....

I took the fat off of the brisket, and cooked it by itself in a pan to render out the oil from fat. I used that to make the best gravy you've ever had. However, it's relatively clear, so being an oil..... if one of you have an offcut from a fretboard laying around.... I'd be interested in what would happen. Other than being hungry every time you play bass....

I dont have an offcut. But if I get curious enough, I may have to buy a broken guitar on CL

ok I'll stop posting dumb stuff now...
Click to expand...

It may be the world's greatest fretboard conditioner for all we know! With the added benefit of the scent of smoky hardwood goodness. :thumbsup:

By the way, I had a nice brisket, turkey and cheese sammich for lunch and it was awesome. :D
 
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#176
Max Bogosity said:
I can confirm that I'd rather set fire to bamboo than ever use it to build anything again. It's like grass and glue, but even more like splinters and glue.
Click to expand...


I know no one asked but I’ve fiddled around a little with those palm blanks that Woodcraft has and they’re not much better. They looks really neat when finished but splintery and not super tough. Ok for knobs or maybe an accent or inlay.
 
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#179
Slidlow said:
Anyone had experience with hempwood? i was tempted to get a piece.
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for the bob marley vibes? I dig it.

I'm not sure of the legalities of it... some states dont allow anything close. But from a business perspective, I bet it'd sell. From a quick google search it seems to be sustainable too. Easy way to try it would be an alder body with hemp top....

I'm definitely interested to listen to what others think.
 
#180
mrperkolator said:
for the bob marley vibes? I dig it.

I'm not sure of the legalities of it... some states dont allow anything close. But from a business perspective, I bet it'd sell. From a quick google search it seems to be sustainable too. Easy way to try it would be an alder body with hemp top....

I'm definitely interested to listen to what others think.
Click to expand...
I think legalities are moot for hemp. You would probably have to smoke a 2x4 (full 8 foot length) and still not feel anything.
 
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