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Last Saturday , before the Cicagoland area gathering, I was at the lumber store picking up some wood for a cabinet job. Over in the corner was some spalted maple. A lot of it was just kind of mottled and some was punky, and then this appeared. Now I just have to figure out which part to use for the back. I've got 17 1/2"x 69" to work with, I might have to try my hand at a jumbo, though I was planing on doing an OM next. Thanks to John Ressler for the resawing.
I accomplished some other lutherie tasks this weekend so far. Almost destroyed a top with a fly cutter cutting out a sound hole, so that will be my first bound sound hole. Carved an x-brace leg till the top in that area went thump instead of ring. This will be another first, replacing an x-brace, but a good lesson learned.

Now how cool is that?
I like the section that's in the shot numbered 014. That'd be my choice for the back.
But it looks like more than one guitar there to me.

Also looks like fun. Good score!

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

I like # 14 also.

Watch out for rotten spots !
Mike

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Mike Collins

Agree on #14

Can't wait to see this one finished (hurry up!)

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John Ressler

Steve - that is some lovely stuff you have there! And the guys have already weighed in on their choice. I must agree. can't wait to see this take form!

I recently read some article about making your own spalted wood. Very interesting. But the authors warned of the wood's weakend nature. What I came away from the article with was that the colors are essentially microbial waste products (wood poop). Some can impart spectacular colors. But the spalted areas are by nature reduced in solid wood content. So they are weaker.

But it is beautiful! Perhaps after you thickness, you consider a thin internal veneer? This should not affect sound, should it? And you are not using it for the top.

Mike (a may try that spalting technique some time soon)

I was surprised how solid this board is after resawing and sanding. It is very solid - I don't think you should have much problem with it. I didn't notice any soft pockets

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John Ressler

Well pic #14 was my first choice also, so that's how I cut it. I was going to do an OM with this, but I'm waiting on Brock's printer so I can get the plans. But then again the SJ that Doug Mills built for his daughter was a real nice shape also. Decisions, decisions.

We made a classical with a spalted neck 4 years ago and there has been no problems with it at all!!
You should have seen the reactions we got from those who saw it!


Mike

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Mike Collins