Posted in: "2019"

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  Alaskan Yellow Cedar (cupressus nootkatensis)

  Posted in: The Wood Data Source

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  This wood is actually yellow and emits a pleasant odor, though called a cedar, it is a member of the cypress family

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  Borneo Kauri (Agathis borneensis ) - Agathis

  Posted in: The Wood Data Source

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   Used in the body of cheap electric solid-bodies, it has a less than sterling reputation

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  Afzelia Afzelia xylocarpa , Makamong

  Posted in: The Wood Data Source

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  Afzelia is a relatively dense wood that ranges in color between yellow, orange, and brown.  It is often compared to Koa in appearance.

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  African Walnut (Locoa trichilioides)

  Posted in: The Wood Data Source

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  A large tree from the Congo, it is reddish brown to a golden color in the heartwood and may exhibit darker streaks.

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  African Blackwood (Dalbergia Melanoxylon)

  Posted in: The Wood Data Source

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  African Blackwood   (Dalbergia Melanoxylon), it is a true rosewood   Strikingly different from other rosewoods in that it is black in color, and often with sapwood showing up in the guitar pattern, African Blackwood trees are quickly becoming harder and harder to find large enough to make two-piece backs. It has a tight, but robust sound.

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  Adirondack (Red) Spruce N. America (Picea Rubens)

  Posted in: The Wood Data Source

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  Also known as Eastern red or Appalachian spruce, Adirondack defined guitars of the pre-WWII era. Its availability is beginning to increase slightly, as another generation of trees matures, although they’re still considerably smaller than their old growth forebears. Current supplies of Adirondack tend to lack a certain aesthetic purity of look (they tend to be wider-grained and more irregular in color and grain patterns).

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  Achihua (Huberodendom swietenoides)

  Posted in: The Wood Data Source

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  Achihua is blonde wood with light grain flecks. The color is evenly distributed across the surface and there is evidence of occasional “silk”.

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  Acacia (Also look under "Black Acacia" and "Koa")

  Posted in: The Wood Data Source

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  Keep in mind that there are 1300 species of Acacias, spread all over the world, and that even experts may have difficulty in telling them apart. Many do not grow large enough to be used for guitars. But for our purposes, their similarities are far greater than their differences. That does not mean they are all identical, but it may be hard to differentiate between them and make generalities that transcend the inherent differences caused by a luthier's particular build methods and the...

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  How Gut Strings Are Made

  Posted in: Instrument Building, All

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  A step-by-step guide to the process of making gut strings for bowed instruments. Warning - contains images of animal intestines.

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  The Backstrip: It’s Function and Material Considerations

  Posted in: Design, Instrument Building, All

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  I talk about the role of the backstrip in reinforcing the centerseam of the back plate on an acoustic guitar.

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  Bending Figured or Difficult Woods with Inconsistent Grain

  Posted in: Instrument Building, All

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  I talk about and demonstrate techniques for bending woods with a heavy figure or difficult woods with an inconsistent or unpredictable grain orientation. I use the 5 troubleshooting factors: Thickness, Moisture, Heat, Pressure and Grain Orientation to show how I look at the task of bending guitar sides.

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  Improving your Guitar Building Process by Doing Things the Hard Way

  Posted in: All

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  Improving your Guitar Building Process by Doing Things the Hard Way

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