Locust

[The Bard Rocks]

I am looking for figured locust for a potential build, but have not had any success, so am appealing to a larger world. I would be interested in hearing anyone's experiences with it as well as recommendations for a top to pair with it.

[oliverkollar]

If you can get in touch with luthier John Arnold, he has mentioned working with locust. I believe has built two guitars with it.

He usually posts over at UMGF under the log cabin section. He is a very well respected builder and repairman.

[j. Kinnaird]

Locust is such a hard wood I'm sure it would make a great sounding guitar. We have tons of it here in the mountains but seldom see it cut into planks. Fence posts, rails, and firewood is the usual form it takes in these parts. I bet it would make excellent porch decking. Anyway, I'd like to see some figured locust.

[The Bard Rocks]

A few years ago, I saw some at the Woodstock show - so I know it exists. Have I seen any since? Not at all. We have smaller locusts here on our property and I know of some very large trees (30" diameter) and all sorts of ones in other sizes - but they are living trees. I have burned my share and pounded in plenty of fence posts of it and have a lot of respect for it for these things. I have heard superlative things of it as tonewood, but mostly it seems folks have never worked with it.

John Arnold does not seem to have a website, or at least I couldn't find one. I know he has used it and is highly respected.

[oliverkollar]

Originally Posted by The Bard Rocks

John Arnold does not seem to have a website, or at least I couldn't find one. I know he has used it and is highly respected.

I remember reading some threads where he talked about using black locust for bridge plates as well.

Yeah....no website.

[printer2]

I almost picked up a set to try but talked myself out of it. I have enough wood for the next few years that I need to try.

[skinnerb]

I've got about 1200 board feet of it under cover, milled 6 years ago. It was brought to North America by the Spaniards long ago and has spread to every state. Here in Western Washington it grows like a weed to rather huge sizes (3-5) in diameter, but with multiple trunks being common. Across the Cascade mountains, to the east, it stays small and kinda spindly, and is used for fence posts. It's used by some, locally, for boats. I use my stash for ribs and knees on rowboats and will be building a deck this next summer as well. It's as hard as any wood I have ever worked and has a greenish hue to it. Once dry and sealed it seems stable. It bends well. In my limited experience I've not seen a lot of what I would deem as figured.

[okeem22]

I have a locust guitar with a cedar top, sounds great. Locust taps like and is very similar, surprisingly, to brazilian rosewood. John Arnold said he built 2 guitars with locust and both were "stellar". Contact me and can send some pics and probably have "locust" email from JA I could forward you.

[Tim McKnight]

You might try Dave Maize tone woods. He used to have some sets.

[Bruce Sexauer]

I have seen plenty of locust, and have some on hand, but none is or has been figured. May well exist. . .

[The Bard Rocks]

If folks want to send photos, i would be appreciative.

[email protected]

[clinchriver]

I have quite a bit, never seen any figure, it does have nice medullary rays when well quartered. Very hard & a nice ring when tapped.