Douglas Fir Soundboard?

[dneal]

Saw that Froggy Bottom has this year's raffle announced. Back and sides are "The Tree" mahogany, but the top is Douglas Fir.

I can think of other woods, from pine to pallet being used; but I think this is the first I've heard of fir for a guitar top. I'm kind of surprised.

[The Bard Rocks]

I have heard of others, but it is not common, but will be more so as time rolls by. Fir can be pretty.

[Mycroft]

I've a Michael Dunn Weissenborn which has a Doug Fir top. He characterizes it as being very similar to a Koa top. Lovely instrument, clear, defined, almost uncomfortably responsive. Of course, that might be because it is a Michael Dunn...

I likewise suspect that the Froggy is awesome.

[Mandobart]

Sonny Morris has used doug fir on a few of his mandolins and fiddles. They sound really good.

[BrunoBlack]

It sounds pretty interesting with repurposed D-Fir top and repurposed Mahogany B&S from The Tree.

[tak2]

I was curious about this also including using it for bracing as my experience with using it for other things is that it is very strong and stiff and gets very hard as it ages.

[BrunoBlack]

Because I’m very familiar with the beneficial properties of Douglas Fir, I framed and trimmed my house with it. I would imagine the strength & stiffness could translate well for guitar construction.

[Mandobart]

Originally Posted by tak2

I was curious about this also including using it for bracing as my experience with using it for other things is that it is very strong and stiff and gets very hard as it ages.

Wow you ain't kidding. In my town, built for the Manhattan Project (early 1940's) they built a bunch of homes using Western Oregon doug fir from the Tillamook burn of the 1920's. I was remodeling one of those homes in the mid-90's. The original fir studs were literally as hard as any hardwood I've worked with.

[westman]

it has a high velocity of sound - higher than spruce -
Dion made DF topped guitars in the '70's - well regarded Japanese guitars.