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I am doing some research on building a Harp Guitar and need to find out what is available in back and side woods. I suspect top wood is much easier to come by.
My two thoughts are Indian or Cocobolo.

Does any of our fine OLF Sponsors carry such wood?

PM or email me if ya do.
Thanks!

Lance

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Lance,

You could always do a "bolt on" like Bill Cumpiano

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Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010

Hmmmm,
Ill pass

Thanks Dave!

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Lance, you might drop Mike Doolin a line to see where he gets such big pieces.

Thanks Paul, ya I was going to email Mike, and Lance McCollum a little later today after I saw if any of our sponsors had what I need.

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

[QUOTE=Dave White] Lance,

You could always do a "bolt on" like Bill Cumpiano [/QUOTE]


FLIPPING HECK!!!! That's a big one!!!Sam Price39024.3924652778

Lance,
What are the dimensions of the sets you are looking for?
Brad

Lance,
Allied has a couple of Rosewood sets in their weekly specials.

http://www.alliedlutherie.com/weekly4.htmTom Dowey39024.4055555556

Lance-

You might also get in touch with Fred Carlson about large tonewood. I think he harvests some of his own for his creations.

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John Lewis
Wannabe builder owned by 2 crazy dachshunds

Thanks John!

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Tom, that set just may work! Thanks for the tip!

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Brent Cole at Alaska Specialty Woods for Sitka or Cedar. He fells and mills his own timber and has EXCELLENT stuff. He can get you a set the size of a boat if you want it.

Tell him I sent you and receive a free blank look!

[QUOTE=mconk] Brent Cole at Alaska Specialty Woods for Sitka or Cedar. He fells and mills his own timber and has EXCELLENT stuff. He can get you a set the size of a boat if you want it.[/QUOTE]

That's for sure!

[QUOTE=mconk] Tell him I sent you and receive a free blank look![/QUOTE]

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

[QUOTE=mconk] Brent Cole at Alaska Specialty Woods for Sitka or Cedar. He fells and mills his own timber and has EXCELLENT stuff. He can get you a set the size of a boat if you want it.

Tell him I sent you and receive a free blank look![/QUOTE]


Yeah-

I have to second this. I bought some of his "head" sitka tops - they are 60 years air dried and very nice. Brent is one of the good guys, he reminds me of our sponsors here. Plus, he's got big wood.





John Lewis39024.6313194444

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John Lewis
Wannabe builder owned by 2 crazy dachshunds

Lance how big do you need. I can supply some yellow siris in large pieces
for back and sides. Looks a bit like koa. Robin

Lance, you can see what siris looks like on my web site
www.cloudforestproducts.com Pictures of some nice instruments there by
another occasional harp guitar maker Michael Dunn

Thanks Cloudforest. I am looking more for a rosewood though..

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

I cant remember their names but remember the guys (2 brothers) from Indonesian selling EIR that we met at the ASIA symposium? I thought BobC gets EIR sets from them...their sets were way oversized and they may have some sets that are big enough... They also sell on eBay as one of the brothers lives in NC.

heck, any vendor will take care of an order if they resaw. It's just "more of the same"

Shawn, that was probably the guys from "Eddy's Guitar Supplies" that had a stand next to Bob Cefalu, right? I bought some sets of rosewood from them, nice wood too. I tried to google now but nothing turned up, but I can probably find the contact info here somewhere if anyone is interested. Their family has a saw mill in Malaysia, I think.

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

I think Eddy is who you're thinking of:

http://www.sonoprima.com/imperialrosewood.htm

That is it..Eddy sells on eBay dont remember his eBay ID but what surprised me about his sets is how large they are cut (length and width)...any of them could handle a jumbo with room to spare.

Length is more of an issue than width. The back length needs to be 43 to 45" long. You can do it with 8.5" wide and add a piece for the horn area, because that area needs to be about 11" from the center line when you're done. Tops are much easier to find than backs/sides. Except now you're competing with cello guys.

I have backs and sides in walnut, myrtle, koa, and Honduran rosewood (or Bolivian - I can't tell). And maybe some Cocobolo. Good luck finding Indian. I've been looking for at least five years. And I'm told that it is illegal to export billet or log form Indian from their country. It has to be in a "product" form. Which ususally means regular guitar sets or fingerboards.

Lance
McCollum Guitars
www.mccollumguitars.com