Official Luthiers Forum!

Many of you have been quite helpfull in my quest to build my first acoustic project and an unorthodoxed hybrid AGB design at that. The dimensions are based on a Taylor AB-1. A. Peebles as an owner of one has been most generous in helping me get a handle on the dimensions. Nine to 10 inch widths in top and backs with six inch sides in figured tone woods are not easy to come by.

At first I was going to try to buy my wood locally through a local builder but he has been out of town most of the summer and primarily does cutom electric guitars and basses.

So off to the list of OLF sponsors in quest of oversized tops, backs and sides that I knew would not be plentifull or east to track down. I wanted to give all our sponsors a fair shot at my meager business and sent all the tonewood dealers an e-mail request regarding availibility but could not provide complete specs until I knew what I potentially would have to work with.

Brad Goodman by far has excelled in personal customer service to me and I should be placing my order to him tommorow. If I left something off or something did not sound right he took the time to ask the right questions and question possible errors.

Honerable mentions in personalized customer service go to Blue Spirit Tonewoods who returned an e-mail after a family emergency trip to the hospital just to tell me he would look into it the next day.

Polite responses to the effect of we don't carry any top and back in those sizes but can cut any of the other pieces you need just ask were recieved from most sponsors such as LMI, AC Woods, RC Tonewoods, Highmountain Tonewood, Colonial Tonewoods, New England Tonewoods and BeachTonewood.com. I think I skipped Australian Tonewoods due to expected shipping costs and customs etc.

With the exception of one company (and I am going to take the high road here) all were helpfull and ready to provide any assistance a newbie from the forum would need. Sadly the one bad apple took more pleasure in pointing out my ignorance (which I freely admitted) than in providinng service and guess which company will never recieve a second look from me.

Good customer service overcomes customer ignorance.

Poor customer service blames customer ignorance and feels good about loosing the sale because it was not worth the trouble any way.

FWIW I highlly recomend working with Brad Goodman of Goodman Guitars and Blue Spirit Tonewood for personal, friendly customer service.

Kudos to the both of you.

Jeffrey,

Awesome that you found the wood! I searched high and low trying to find something, but couldn't come up with sides wide enough for you, except in Honduran Rosewood, but then I didn't have back material!

I'm glad Brad was able to fill your need...he's great to do business with and a class act.

Please keep us informed on your progress!

_________________
"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

Thanks Don,

I know you and many others looked through all you inventory on this one.

FWIW I decided to go with the Cuban Mohogany for the back and sides. I do like the contast of a darker redish brown for the back and sides but the widths were not currently available. It's all good though as the Cuban Mogany should darken over time and is supposed to be bending friendly as well, beautiful figure and excellent tone qualities. Plus it is just a classic hardwood.

I will post some pics when construction is underway but I plan to take lots of pics from start to finish.

Wow! Cuban is great stuff! It's darker than Honduran right off the bat typically anyway. Nice choice.
It will make a great bass.

_________________
"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

    I just received a set f beautiful Cuban Mahogany from Brad Goodman that
was purchased directly from him by a customer that is commissioning a
Baritone guitar from me. The wood is very nicely colored and has great
character in its deeply contrasting lines and unique grain oreientation.

     I look forward to getting all of the appojtment details locked in so we can
get started building with it.

    All of my dealngs with any of the sponsors of the OLF have been great.

Regards,
Kevin Gallagher/Omega Guitars