Official Luthiers Forum!

Hey everybody!
i was commisioned to build a flamenca negra, and while sitting down with the costumer the idea of using alaskan yellow cedar came up.
has anybody ever used this wood as either a top wood or for back/sides?
if so then whats your impression of it?
also does anybody know where i could get some(besides LMI)?

thanks,
Udi.

Udi,

I have a source for some sets that I keep meaning to get going on for Steve Kinnaird. SO if you are looking for some sets I can get you going I think. I have heard good reports for backs and sides but no persanl experience, sorry!

Shane

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Canada

I built one of my Rubicon models with Koa and Alaskan yellow cedar. It's an awesome combination, with incredible sustain and overtones...a real finger picking delight. That may be a bit of a disadvantage in your situation, but then I built/braced it for fingerstyle, and Lord knows, the body cavitiy is certainly large enough to develop all sorts of sound.

As for a flamenco, that's for someone else with experience in that genre to answer. But, I do like the yellow cedar top, for sure. It has more of what red cedar has and seems, at least in my application, to have more headroom that the red cedar. That may be of interest to you since the flamenco will have a more percussive playing style than a mere finger picker would have and the yellow cedar should take it in stride.
As to using it in the body, I have no experience there.

A source for Alaskan Yellow Cedar Soundboards and Backs/sides is alaskaspecialtywoods.com. They have photos on the site. I have purchased tops from them of other varieties and liked what I received.

I have a set that I got from alaskaspecialtywood.com. It is going into a walnut OLF-SJ when I finish up my current mandolin. It smells very strange.

I have quite a few B&S sets & neck blanks if Shane can't get you some... (Don't want to step on any toes here)
Feel free to PM me.
I have built one all YC guitar & it turned out very nice.
YC is a dream to bend, but it will develop visible compression wrinkles on the inside of a sharp bend if you go too fast.
If you use it for necks, I suggest using CF or a truss rod, even on a classic or flamenco.
YC glues very well & finishing is a snap. It carves like butter... across and with the grain.
I believe the guit I built would have sounded better with a Red Cedar top, but it is very acceptable. Nice clear sound, with good separation but not a whole bunch of sustain in the treble range. The bass on this guitar is surprisingly strong.
Some folks are sensitive to YC dust, so take care with the dust 'till you know how you are going to react to it.
Hope this is helpful.

My Toes are tucked in. Dan is a great guy to deal with and does a lot of cedar tonewood business...probably the best in the business in that regard! And his guitars are pretty awesome too!

Shane

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Canada

What does it smell like?

Is the mysterious "Daniel M" the one and only Dan Minard?

Hi, Dan!

Dennis
p.s. The reference to killer Cedar sorta gave it away!

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Dennis Leahy
Duluth, MN, USA
7th Sense Multimedia

[QUOTE=MSpencer] What does it smell like?[/QUOTE]
The only thing harder to describe than sounds is smells. I've never smelled else that smells like Yellow Cedar. I'ts kind of sour but beyond that I couldn't describe it.
Sorry.

Migration happens

I would be wary of it for a flamenco. It is usually denser than spruce. That
would explain the sustain of Hank's guitar, but (as Hank suggested) it is not
what flamenco calls for. It would make a good flamenco back and side
wood, though.Howard Klepper38763.6141898148

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

And here I was, trying to keep a low profile!!!
When I fist started working with YC, I loved the pungent odour. Now, after using it for several years I don't much like it anymore.
The smell is difficult to describe... Maybe a combination of Red & Aromatic Cedar with hint of skunk cabbage.

I'm working with some YC now never used it before.I'm doing a SS Dred with YC neck (from Dan) and YC back/sides.Bends easy and tools easy.I don't have the box done yet.Smell reminds me of imitation Banana,with maybe a hint of wet tarp smell.
Tim

only thinking about using the B&S for the flamenco.
the top will probably go on a padouk bodied SJ.

Udi.

hi,

dont overlook the sponsors, Ed Dicks at Acoustic Woods will cut you a great deal on some excellent Yellow Cedar, i got 20 sets of it from him, and they are very nice,

paddy