Official Luthiers Forum!

Hey fellas, do you all know where I can get some really cheap back and side sets? I made a great discovery today and found a goldmine resource. I'm currently attending school here at Purdue and found there is a professor in the engineering technology department that teaches a class in guitar building every semester. They have some great equipment, including a drum sander and brand new CnC machine. They spend one semester designing the guitar and programming all the cad stuff, then actually build the guitar the next semester. Currently they have been using old mahogany boards, maple, and even cedar for back and side sets because their limited budget (almost nothing) doesn't allow them to buy tonewood, and the students building are broke. Is there a place where they can get some dirt cheap back/side sets for building? Even if it's only scraps that aren't very well quartered, it will be WAY better than what they currently have. Any info on resources would be greatly apreciated.

The good news for me is that I may get to teach a few topics on building. They've already offered up the use of their equipment (including CnC machine) since I'm a student. I can't wait to get started!

Cheers!

John

Allied might still have some of the "opportunity" grade EIR left. I'd hate to see a person build with scraps and not have a very usible guitar. Spend $28 on wood and you've got a great guitar.

They should contact volume dealers like LMI and StewMac. I am sure if they have a quainity they cand get a super good deal on 2a and 3a seconds of mohogany and maple

John, I believe Allied would be your best bet...call them and see if they can help.

walter

Here's another thought. I've got a ton of walnut that has been drying in my shed for a year. It's only wide enough for sides but if people are willing to make three piece backs, I can part with it CHEAP. (read probably free) When are you needing it, not until second semester I gather. And how many sets are you looking for?
I'd just hate for a guitar to turn out badly because junk wood was used when otherwise it would have been very nice.

I'm not sure of any pricing but the woods are certainly quality: http://www.prosono.co.za/english/Luthier-woods.html

Sapele is only about $32 per set, and you can get 1A - 2A tops for less than $20.

I can't imagine anything could get much cheaper than that...

_________________
Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

John,

At times Ive bought fairly cheap wood from Dave Freeman at Timeless Instruments in Canada.

Cheers

You might try Grizzly Tools
They might cut you a deal if they know you're a school buying in quantity.Grizzly Mahogany Setvpelleri38967.8316319444

[QUOTE=Pwoolson] Here's another thought.[/QUOTE]
Hey Paul, what a generous and thoughtful offer!    Ain't the OLF a great place?!

Way to go Paul!

Gilmer Wood Company always seems to have student grade tops in their offerings and they also appear to be able to handle large volumes.

Kevin

Gilmer

Kevin your link seems to be broken. I think you accidentally put a comma between the www and gilmer instead of a dot.

Fixed link: Gilmer

_________________
Joe Breault
Merrimack, NH
Perpetual novice

I'll have to check and see what I did, but thanks for fixing it.

Kevin

Thanks for all the great references!

Paul, I think they limit the class to 24 students who build 12 guitars in 2-man teams. I'm sure they would love any wood, and 3-piece backs are WAY better as now they are using flatsawn maple and pieces of mahogany from boards they have pulled off the ceilings/walls (no kidding). Here's a link to their shop. It's about 3 levels underground in what looks like an old dungeon. Purdue guitar shop

Here a photo of the main professor teaching the course. He has made several trips to Taylor guitars and has consulted on the accelerometers used inside their ES pickups. He has several Taylor guitars donated by Taylor which they use for structural/physics type analysis (way above my head). pic

Hey Paul, do you need any CnC work done? They offered up the use of the machine to me when they start building in spring. Maybe I can do some CnC for you if you can get the computer files required. Let me know if you're interested.

Cheers!

John

John, I assume your college hopes that the grads get jobs once they leave?

I teach in a high school. We took a bunch of pupils round a major shopfitter's workshop as a careers trip.

Their "scrap box" was the size of a 40 ton dump truck.

"Take what you fancy" said the boss

we FILLED the school bus with walnut, mahogany & cedar.

planks 4x2, by 16 ft long & electric body and one piece neck sized blocks too.

SO FAR I've made a mandolin and a dread, and I'm working on a doubleneck acoustic and another mando. OK, they have 4 piece back, but they still SOUND great!!

_________________
My soundclick xx luthier blog xx luthier soundclick

I don't have anything to contribute really, but man what a great
opportunity!