wood resources

[ljzimmer]

I feel like I've run up against a wall with where to find what I'm looking for.

When I started my first build I found all of the pieces that I needed locally. For the top I would like something that looks like this:

Link Removed

I would not be apposed to a piece of walnut that had some similar figure but I feel like I have hit a brick wall. Part of me thinks I should settle for something different but, the other half of me seems to be screaming BE PATIENT AND MAKE THE SICKEST BASS POSSIBLE.

Any help as always would be greatly appreciated.

Loren

PS I hope it's cool for me to post a picture of someone elses work. I really like the look of it. If its not cool I'll take it down post haste.

 

[Hayde]

Start by checking LMI (Luthiers Mercantile international) LMI.com I think. They specialize in tonewoods. Gorgeous wood! Check their site then call them.

Good luck

 

[ljzimmer]

Woah weird...just after I posted this I did another Google search and their site was one of the top couple. I had originally been looking at walnut. They have some good stuff, not exactly what I'm looking for though. thanks for the reply!

Loren

 

[vbasscustom]

try larry at the gallery, hes outta the shop for a while, but you should still be able to get some nice walnut

now, if that bass had matching pup covers and knobs, that would be really spectacular

 

[mikeyswood]

galleryhardwoods.com

anexotichardwood.com

gilmerwood.com

 

[fishhed]

I drove down to anexotichardwoods in San Diego. Mitch owns the company and is a pretty cool guy - understands luthiers and supplies some famous ones. Nice selection of bocote and cocobolo woods. He will mail you stuff too. He has some more expensive with wicked grain and figuring...

...for walnut though you can often find it at local lumberyards, even cheap among the "shorts" as all you need is 24" long lumbar if they can split it for you. I found a good supplier close by and great pricing - I am thinking of using walnut instead of mahogany for core of body, but of course then figuring is not so important, but he will let you wander the yard looking for nice figured pieces.

 

[mikeyswood]

Mitch is amazing to deal with.

 

[ljzimmer]

Thanks for all of the great advice!

I think in my quest I have stumbled across a couple of peices that would work well. The next question has come up though. Is it advisable to buy a piece of wood that has been air dried instead of kiln dried? If it is what should I be on the look out for? What questions should I ask?

Thanks everyone!

Loren

 

[mikeyswood]

If it is Walnut look out for honeycomb; where the wood checks internally. Tap the wood and make sure it sounds solid. Also, this is where I can be known to err, CLOSELY examine the piece for surface and end checks.

I prefer kiln dried, but a guy that knows what he is doing will be able to dry great wood either way.