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PostPosted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 3:11 am 
I hope someone here can help. I absolutely love to work with burl mesquite and have some big enough ti mill for back and sides--burl mesquite is gorgeous with all the swirls and birdseyes. Question is, is it any good as a tone wood?


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PostPosted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 3:21 am 
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Old Growth Brazilian
Old Growth Brazilian

Joined: Tue Dec 28, 2004 1:56 am
Posts: 10707
Location: United States
Yes. It is one of the most stable wood you can find. The trouble is finding billets or planks big enough. Ihave been looking for two years for someone that has b/s sets Last year I found some 3 piece set but I want 2 piece sets. I have never worked with it burled or birdseyed


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PostPosted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 3:35 am 
I can sure get some--real pretty stuff. Can you help me with measurements to request--I have a frind that cuts lots of it and I can have it cut anyway I like. Let me know and I will call him today while he's milling. You can e-mail me a swell
s.kolar@att.net


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PostPosted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 3:48 am 
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Old Growth Brazilian
Old Growth Brazilian

Joined: Tue Dec 28, 2004 1:56 am
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Location: United States
Backs 2 pieces bookmatche of cource 8 x 22 to 24 x .18 raw thickness, sides 2 pieces bookedmatched 6 x 32 or 34 x .12 or .13 raw thickness. preferably quarter sawn but will consider flat sawn. I will email later today.

Grain long ways of course.MichaelP38744.4937384259


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PostPosted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 4:02 am 
I just got off the phone with him--he even has burl and birdseyed pieces big enough!!!!!!!!
I told him I would call him with measurements and he can thickness sand down to 1/8" and finished to 400 grit.
I will be buying some--e-mail me if your interested in persuing some.


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PostPosted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 4:18 am 
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Old Growth Brazilian
Old Growth Brazilian

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Location: United States
Too cool I will email at lunch thatnks bunches


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PostPosted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 4:22 am 
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Koa
Koa

Joined: Thu Feb 17, 2005 3:38 pm
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Location: United States
This is one of those tonewoods that are a real surprise. This stuff looks like a million under a finish also
john hall


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PostPosted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 4:30 am 
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Old Growth Brazilian
Old Growth Brazilian

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Location: United States
I have been looking 2 years for the right wood to use on a SJ with my Yellow Rose of Texas vine and peghead



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PostPosted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 4:36 am 
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Koa
Koa

Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2005 9:40 am
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Location: United States
af_one.....do you have a photo of the burled/birdseye mesquite? Will you post it...I love true burled stuff!!!


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PostPosted: Sun Jan 29, 2006 2:21 am 
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Koa
Koa

Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2005 9:40 am
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Location: United States
Before this thread falls back to far, I'll post some true mesquite burl photos. I've never seen "birdseye" mesquite. That would be "true" birdseye figure of the indented ring figure class. Often folks mis-lable burl buds as "birdseye" which is confusing. This happens on eBay a lot with maple "birdseye" burl...NOT!!...there's no such thing!! I have two mesquite species that I cut solid body tops from, but do not cut acoustic burl sets because I think it's much to risky for that use. The black mesquite burl comes from South America and the honey mesquite from Mexico. Honey mesquite rarely produces burls larger than a 2 pound wart on the side of a tree.   




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PostPosted: Tue Jan 31, 2006 1:48 am 
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Koa
Koa

Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2005 9:40 am
Posts: 600
Location: United States
I have a customer coming to the shop today for some solid body bass tops of mesquie burl. Fred Bolton of Bee Bass. Thought you might like confirmation that large mesquite burl does indeed be real. I chainsawed this chunk off a 700 pound whole burl. It's 9" thick and 30" at the longest point. It is black mesquite.



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PostPosted: Tue Jan 31, 2006 2:01 am 
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Old Growth Brazilian
Old Growth Brazilian

Joined: Tue Dec 28, 2004 1:56 am
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Location: United States
Well I never heard back from AF_ONE... Oh well


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PostPosted: Tue Jan 31, 2006 2:59 am 
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Koa
Koa

Joined: Sun Jan 09, 2005 1:50 am
Posts: 952
Location: United States
Larry
   That stuff looks great. Would you sell a thin slab of the burl for rosettes? I have a piece of curly mesquite that is big enough for two guitars and two necks. I think a mesquite burl rosette would be just the ticket for these two instruments.

John


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PostPosted: Tue Jan 31, 2006 3:03 am 
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Koa
Koa

Joined: Sun Jan 09, 2005 1:50 am
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Location: United States
Here is a shot of a back half. The wood is waiting to be resawn. Color is not good here but you get the idea.


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PostPosted: Tue Jan 31, 2006 3:56 am 
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Contributing Member
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Location: Morral, OH
John:
I wouldn't use that stuff. It has some nasty horizontal lines running sideways to the grain which will porbably make it very weak. Please ship it to me and I will be happy to dispose of it for you ... for a small fee of course ;)

_________________
tim...
http://www.mcknightguitars.com


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Jan 31, 2006 3:59 am 
Michael, I emailed you--I am waiting for teh material to arrive--should be a few weeks.


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PostPosted: Tue Jan 31, 2006 3:59 am 
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Old Growth Brazilian
Old Growth Brazilian

Joined: Tue Dec 28, 2004 1:56 am
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Location: United States
John, Tim is right. That is nasty stuff. I will will dispose of it for you for free


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Jan 31, 2006 4:02 am 
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Old Growth Brazilian
Old Growth Brazilian

Joined: Tue Dec 28, 2004 1:56 am
Posts: 10707
Location: United States
[QUOTE=af_one] Michael, I emailed you--I am waiting for teh material to arrive--should be a few weeks.[/QUOTE]

I have recieved no email, pics, price or details. Did you get my email of last week?


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Jan 31, 2006 4:08 am 
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Koa
Koa

Joined: Sun Jan 09, 2005 1:50 am
Posts: 952
Location: United States
Michael, Tim
    Your guys are really too generous. That is what I love about this place, the concern for fellow luthiers is overwhelming at times.


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Jan 31, 2006 4:12 am 
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Old Growth Brazilian
Old Growth Brazilian

Joined: Tue Dec 28, 2004 1:56 am
Posts: 10707
Location: United States
if you cant do a fellow luthier a good deed, who can you get to...I mean help out


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Jan 31, 2006 4:13 am 
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Koa
Koa

Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2005 9:40 am
Posts: 600
Location: United States
[QUOTE=John Kinnaird] Larry
   That stuff looks great. Would you sell a thin slab of the burl for rosettes? I have a piece of curly mesquite that is big enough for two guitars and two necks. I think a mesquite burl rosette would be just the ticket for these two instruments.

John
[/QUOTE]

Absolutely, John. I cut many products from the burls...knife handles, pistol grips, etc., Single piece rosettes require some pretty tight figure, but I do it in Mesquite, Amboyna and Thuya burls. Head plate?

I'm closing the shop end of this week for a month of trade shows and wood shows...well...one week is in Las Vegas but it's business and I won't be shipping anything until first of March. Sometimes slip past with time, but send me an inquiry thru the website in Feb and I can get something put together for ya. I'll also have burl slices at GAL if you'll be there.


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