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Eucalyptus?
http://w-ww.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10102&t=14767		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  bob J [ Sat Dec 01, 2007 11:44 pm ]
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Anyone used or heard guitar. with b/s of Eucalyptus? Generally, what is sound and tone? Similar to?
Workability, tips?
Thanks
Author:  bob_connor [ Sun Dec 02, 2007 12:30 am ]
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Bob, if you got the Eucalyptus through Tim it is possibly Eucaluptus Delegatensis which is known locally as Tasmanian Oak or Alpine Ash. However there are a few other species of Eucalypt that are sold as Tas Oak.

If you sourced it from elsewhere it could be anything.

There are hundreds of Eucalypts here in Australia all of which may have different properties.

If it is E. delegatensis it is a very hard timber with a tap tone not dissimilar to some of the rosewoods.

I have some but have not built with it yet. I will be starting an instrument from it in the next few weeks but I will say that it has nice sustain, particularly in the bottom end, so it is a promising tonewood.

I will be able to give you more information early in the new year after I've worked with it.

Bob

Author:  Shawn [ Sun Dec 02, 2007 5:41 am ]
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I have built with several different eucalyptus species and they can vary considerably as a genus. 


I have bought some Alpine Ash (Both sides, back and neck) from Tim but have not built with it yet.  He has a set for sale on eBay where you can get a better picture of it.
Author:  Ken Franklin [ Sun Dec 02, 2007 12:55 pm ]
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I built a guitar with some California eucalyptus which is probably also known
as blue gum. It was very curly and had a sound similar to bigleaf maple
guitars I've heard.
Here's a picture.
Author:  Steve Kinnaird [ Sun Dec 02, 2007 2:34 pm ]
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Ken, that is a very handsome instrument.
Thanks for posting that, as we have a nearly identical set here at our shop.
Nice to see the finished product.

Steve
Author:  Ken Franklin [ Sun Dec 02, 2007 2:50 pm ]
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That's unusual, Steve, since I got mine from a guy who does mostly salvage
redwood and this was from a friend's tree that had blown down. It didn't
have much longitudinal strength. so I x-braced the back. The sides bent
like butter except for the curls, so I bent it a little think and sanded to the
final profile. I think I'll try less water when I do another one.
Author:  Dennis Leahy [ Sun Dec 02, 2007 3:05 pm ]
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Wow, Ken, I hope you grabbed more of that Eucalyptus. Gorgeous guitar!

Dennis
Author:  Steve Kinnaird [ Sun Dec 02, 2007 3:05 pm ]
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Well, actually, I wish I could say that "Yes, and I got the rest of that tree". My set had to cross a number of oceans to get here...it's from Tim Spittle, so is probably a different species. But it's (all the more) remarkably similar.
Glad to hear it bent so easily. Especially being that heavily curled.

Steve
Author:  bob J [ Sun Dec 02, 2007 10:18 pm ]
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Thanks everyone,
I did purchase the sets from Tim. Actually, it is fiddle-back eucal. Anything about it would be appreciated. Any other input re: general sound of the wood-does it sound closest to Maple? How is bending-what thickness do you use, or plan to use for the b/s. Any input on suggested top-wood?
Thanks alot guys. I am working on 2 at present, but this wood is so beautiful (I hope Tim has a picture). The fiddle-back on backs and sides is the most intense I have seen. I want to build one with this wood right away.
For the characteristics of this wood, any suggestions re body size?
Author:  Ken Franklin [ Mon Dec 03, 2007 4:54 pm ]
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Bob,
How stiff is yours longitudinally? Mine is a small jumbo size. Thtat's
probably the biggest I would go. OM would be good. I probably bent the
sides at .092. Had some minor chip out routing the bindings. Cut a
shallow pass first and you shouldn't have a problem. I paired mine with an
Italian spruce top and that was a good match. I wouldn't do cedar. I did
one with redwood too but it was a little bass heavy.
Ken
Author:  bob J [ Mon Dec 03, 2007 11:06 pm ]
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Thanks Franklin and everyone. Obviously not a wood that is used much today, but it's soo dn beautiful. For those that suggest OM size, I was thinking of 00 or 000.
Thanks again,
Let me add parenthetically, that the amount of useful information available here is unbelievable. For me, the hardest part is deciding a final path and decide whose advice to take-not always easy, but I have been a member for quite a while so I am able to see a consensus. That coupled with who constitutes the consensus has made it easier to make those decisions--and, other suggestions may be just as valid. What a diamond mine--with much mining already done
One question I have thought about is the questions of 'how many', 'degree of expertise', etc. to answer questions concerning 'when am I good enough to sell, be luthier.
I'm not saying pros here are wrong, in any way, but they should remember that builders that use this forum are miles ahead luthiers of the past that had to experience many problems including failure, to ascend to where they are today. Those luthiers have and do share that info. here. No wonder many of the first instruments and beyond are incredible to me----guess I'm saying that the learning curve here more resembles a vertical line.
The info. is here, just have to build to get our own experiences--Thank you, thank you, thank you.

BTW, I build for love of the art, not a seller.
Author:  bob J [ Tue Dec 04, 2007 5:46 am ]
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Just found out from Tim that the specie of Euc. is Delagatensis
Author:  FishtownMike [ Tue Dec 04, 2007 10:50 am ]
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Theres anice set on ebay right now. I bought some nice redwood from this guy.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Eucalyptus-Guitar-Back-Sides-OM-Classica l-OM2-by-LCT_W0QQitemZ220178318195QQihZ012QQcategoryZ47067QQ ssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
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