Official Luthiers Forum!

Is Brazilian Rosewood that is slab cut, ok for guitar making, what do you guys think ?

Many Thanks

Russ

Russell there have been many fine guitars built with flat sawn Brazilian as well as slab sawn woods of other species. However because it is Brazilian doesn't make it better or OK. It will have the same inherant characteristics as any other slab sawn wood.

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Beautiful and unusual tone woods at a reasonable price.
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1109 Military Rd.
Kenmore, NY 14217
(716) 874-1498

Thanks Bob

I have used slab sawn Cocobolo before with no real problems, just wondered about brazilian as It has a tendancy to crack, doesn't it ?

Flatsawn Brazilian moves around more than IRW for example but none the less still makes a fine intrument and has lovely grain pattern.

Russell in my experiance QS has more of a tendency to crack along the grain lines. Flat or rift sawn is better in this regard. Same for ziricote and other woods that have a tendency to crack along the grain lines. Problem is you don't really know. It may never crack. The biggest problem as I see it is once the finished guitar is delivered to your client the luthier has absolutlely no control over humidity, or care of that guitar.

_________________
Beautiful and unusual tone woods at a reasonable price.
http://www.rctonewoods.com/RCT_Store
The Zootman
1109 Military Rd.
Kenmore, NY 14217
(716) 874-1498

I agree with Bobc on QS being more prone to cracking in some species. Knock a ziricote side piece off a table and wait for the tears to flow after picking it up
I do love that over-smoked bacon aroma when I sand it however.

Over smoked bacon? Hmmmm I'll have to check that out next time. No wonder my sandpaper looks like caked up bacon grease.

_________________
Beautiful and unusual tone woods at a reasonable price.
http://www.rctonewoods.com/RCT_Store
The Zootman
1109 Military Rd.
Kenmore, NY 14217
(716) 874-1498

Flatsawn BRW is a crack problem waiting to happen. QS wood is much better in the long run. I have seen too many BRW that the falt sawn causes more cracking than QS.