#1
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Wow...’Sinker’ Mahogany slab that is gorgeous
Recently scored this slab (2” thick, 8” wide, 25” long) of highly figured ‘Sinker’ Mahogany. Knew this stuff would look good, but when we ran it through the planer was blown away by how nice it looked. I mean it actually looks nicer than some AAAAA stuff used by Froggy Bottom! Unfortunately at 8” it’s pushing the limits for a Dreadnaut or OM, but think how nice this will look bookmatched on a 00 or LG sized guitar!
I’m probably going to have this one Professionally cut by a mill that specializes in cutting tone-wood...definitely don’t want to risk screwing this one up! Really hard to put a value on this as it’s off the chart. Here’s a link to the pics (2nd one is laying next to some lightly figured Sapele which is also cool) - board is unfinished raw cut so you can imagine how nice it will be finished! https://flic.kr/p/28f5815 https://flic.kr/p/28f57Zy
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Current Arsenal 1949 Gibson J45 1965 Martin D28 1980 Martin D41 2001 Gibson J-150 2021 Gibson J-150 Noel Gallagher |
#2
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Great looking board, I wouldn't hesitate to build any Guitar with that.
You should have no problem adding a few pieces to the lower bout to cover the size. I build multi piece backs all the time, a 1/2 on both sides of top wouldn't stop me either. Build on and post lots of pics. SA |
#3
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Easy enough to use offcuts to make wings for the lower bout... Just try to match the grain with the offcuts and it will be fine.
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#4
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Did you get some wood for sides as well?
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#5
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Sadly no, its the only piece. I did get a crazy, highly figured slab of Sapele that is 2" thick and big enough for back and sides. Best of all, this stuff was free so I can't complain about sizes
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Current Arsenal 1949 Gibson J45 1965 Martin D28 1980 Martin D41 2001 Gibson J-150 2021 Gibson J-150 Noel Gallagher |
#6
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8" is plenty wide enough for a standard dreadnought, which is 15 5/8" in the lower bout.
The fact that you have at least 1/16" on each edge for the binding (1/8" total), and allow at least 1/32" for the backstrip, that means that the jointed halves only need to be 7.73" wide. Martin glues the backstrip between the halves of the back. In most cases, I do the same. Some backstrips are close to 1/4" wide. |
#7
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Sorry to be a downer but I don't like the end grain runout on that board. Your center seam would be a glued end grain joint but it's certainly been done before. If you do use it you might consider using some epoxy and doing a graft as well. You could make some ukes for sure and possibly even orientate the template so that you get the long grain.
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#8
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I would build with it. Mahogany (particularly old mahogany) is pretty stable. The grain angle appears to be about 15 degrees.
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#9
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You can also angle the guitar template so that the upper bout is kissing the same edge as the lower bout. This will have the grain more aligned with the center line.
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Fred |
#10
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Quote:
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#11
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John, not all of us live in the Dreadnought world.
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Fred |
#12
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I am right with you there. Nearly all the guitars I own and play are smaller than dreadnought.
But as a tonewood supplier, I consider it a shame to build smaller guitars from dreadnought size wood. It not only wastes wood, but it wastes money. With available logs getting ever smaller and smaller, it is a continual struggle to get wood suitable to make the larger sizes of backs, sides, and tops. |
#13
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Well if JA says he'd build with it then you can build with it. It will have a nice affect with the grain running together in a book matched arrow pattern. It is indeed true that mahogany is dimensionally stable. I've got some flat sawn boards of mahogany that was cut in the 1950's with the most incredible curl I've ever seen on mahogany that one day will make some stunning looking guitars.
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#14
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Quote:
I understand your concern using the most of wood especially if it is hard to come by, just giving a different option in case vibrolucky was thinking of less than Dred size, I think it looks better if the grain running parallel if I can get away with it. I have a 10" and a 12", 8' by 1" old growth Mahogany boards that I am saving for when I feel I am ready to build with. At first I thought to resaw them but then thought of them for necks. If I can get my resaw skills up to snuff they might end up as back and side sets yet
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Fred |
#15
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End grain mahogany?
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