Official Luthiers Forum!

There's the Real Zoot which is defined by all those that have purchased from BobC ...Bob Cefalu!!
All the rest is just wood not "ZOOT".
I don't mean to critisize any of the other wood suppliers.
There's ZOOT and then there's just wood from everyone else.

walterK

Amen to that Walter!

if I didn't keep being stung for customs duties, I'd order from Bob myself!!!

I have read LOADS of good things about the Zootalicious stuff from Bob.

At the moment, it has REALLY put me off ordering stuff from the US.

Having met Bob in person, i can tell you he's a real nice person, he'll treat ya like family!

Yep Sam, the shipping and customs fee, VAT, can really put the price we have to pay in the UK up a lot when buying wood and tools from the USA. One recent example was for a B&S set and some binding which came to just about $100, shipping then adds $40, and the customs handling and VAT added another $50. So overall the price at my door was about double the original price of the wood. WAS it worth it, Oh yes, but you judge. it was for this set of Black Limba from Bob



I've bought other great wood fom the sponsors here, notably some great Cuban from Brad, but most of my wood I get from UK suppliers or from Madinter in Spain.

ColinColin S38984.2545949074

_________________
I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Correction!

The term "Zoot", when applied to guitar wood, was applied to *very fancy, highly figured* wood. Back in the days when the term was first used (it started here on the OLF) Bob was getting some seriously fancy and cool woods. I can't remember who it was, and it's lost to the archives, but the term was first applied to either some sapele or some fancy eucalyptus that Bob had. Then of course we decided to christen Bob with the handle he now haves, after a very small debate of whether it would be Zootman, THE Zootman, The Zootster, or the Zootmeister. Of course Zootman won out.

Bob is associated with the term most directly since it was his wood that was first christened as "Zoot".
But the term applies to all fancy figured woods.

BUT...................there's only ONE "Zootman".

Long live the King of Zoot! Zootman!

See you again next week...
Same Zoot time, same Zoot channel.

_________________
"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

Bob is the man! I just received two sets of Black Limba and a set of Cuban Mahogany from him yesterday. It is sweet! I'll try to post a couple of pics either later today or tomorrow. Thanks Bob!

_________________
Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

I can vouch for everything that was said about Bob...and a lot more. Not only does he find and provide the best tonewoods in my opinion, I believe that he has re-defined the standard of quality and service to his customers. If you need it, and he doesn't have it, he'll find it. His pricing has always provided the best value at the lowest cost.

More importantly, Bob is a friend who I treasure as dearly as any of my family members. We're very lucky to have him as one of our trusted OLF members.

We love you, Zootman!!!

_________________
JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Zootman is King, however, I do buy from our other sponsors as well. I find the Zootmans web site really nice and easy to spend money. I think the format is great.

Mike
White Oak, Texas

Colin, that black limba is worth it. I think the real zoot only comes from the US. I haven't seen any UK suppliers selling zoot that nice.

yeah, I have been ripped off left right and centre. I had to pay ?60 on my last major order from the US. I think that UPS and other carriers may be to blame. But then they announce that they only cream off ?1.50 off the charge for admin fees...couple that with the risk of damage during shipping, the long nights in the warehouse, I'm not really sure whether shipping tonewoods from the US is a good idea for my otherwise strong nerves...

Sam,

Maybe it is different coming from the States but I have shipped a fair bit to the UK, and other European countries, even a double sided radius dish to Italy! and have never had an issue with the package getting there. I do NOT use UPS for anything. I think they are a very good service within the borders of the US but once a package crosses the border they are no longer just a shipper but become a broker as well and the fees just sky rocket. I keep the packages as light as I can and just send regular post. Good packaging protects the goods.

I hope this insight may help you get the stuff you really want, fairly risk free.

Thanks

Shane

_________________
Canada

Oh, you guys think he's so great, but how many marriages is he responsible for ruining? I bet for every happy customer, there's a wife out there cursing the Zootman. Have you ever seen the show Intervention? Next week there's going to be a special about some woodaholics whose friends finally have to do an intervention to save his life and marriage. It's really ugly how these "woodaholics" sneak around and retrieve their packages without their wives knowing, meeting the mailman at the mailbox to disguise their addiction. Waiting until nobody is around to feed their addiction. They pawn stuff on Ebay and dip into the kids college funds to pay for wood. What's really bad are the guys that do it right in front of their family, heating their wood and using their pipe! They call it a bending pipe--sure if that makes it sound better. Why don't we all just call it our wood bong!

Ok, maybe not. Back to reality. It's a good thing I only have time to build 2-3 guitars a year or I would need an intervention. I have to agree with the fellas above--wood from the Zootman is about as good as it gets!

Cheers!

John

   Oh John that was good. I read it to Sweetie and just about got myself into trouble.   "So... is that why you check the mail before I get home? Should I be concerned?" I answered the questions, but I'm being to think I should have been a politician instead of a surveyor. I was truthful and honest, sort of. You're right, an intervention might not be too far in my future. I did hide the last package I got from BobC. Oh my, I may be deeper into WAS than I thought.

_________________
Aoibeann

My heartfelt thanks goes out to each and everyone of my OLF bro's.

Don it was Steve Kinnaird that first used the term "ZOOT"

Now just a little clarification on shipping overseas.
I use the USPS Global Express mail for several reasons.
1.) Online tracking and insurance are included up tp $100 each add. $100 ins. is $1.00

2.) Delivery is estimated at 3-5 days. There are no broker fees charged by the US Post Office.

Air mail Parcel Post is a little bit less but ins. is addtional and est. delivery time is 4-10 days. No online tracking.

Economy Parcel Post is cheaper but est. delivery time is 4-6 weeks. I have had packages lost using this method of shipping. However if someone doesn't mind the long wait then I will ship using Econmoy Parcel Post.
The addtional customs import fees and duties charged by various countries is beyond my contol and I feel for those customers that have to pay these duties.Bobc38984.7570717593

_________________
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