Official Luthiers Forum!
http://w-ww.luthiersforum.com/forum/

Tupelo wood body?
http://w-ww.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10123&t=42519		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  the lotus kid [ Thu Jan 23, 2014 10:47 am ]
Post subject:  Tupelo wood body?
I work at a woodcraft where they've got some nice pieces of tupelo/tupelo gum/black gum/whatever you call it in your area.

I'm thinking of making a thinline tele out of one.

It's not a common wood, but it's rare enough to warrant the lack of information on it online. What I find suggests it works like basswood, but has a janka hardness up near 900.

I cant find one single reference to anyone ever making a guitar out of it. Not even advice NOT to.

what do you folks think? I'm sort of heartset on it, as a nod to Elvis (from Tupelo), but if it's junk I don't want to waste the time.
Author:  Sandywood [ Thu Jan 23, 2014 12:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Tupelo wood body?
I've never used it but have read that it is preferred by world champion wildfowl carvers in the U.S. and in Canada so maybe it'll be a great choice for "quack" with that Tele.
Author:  Chris Pile [ Thu Jan 23, 2014 12:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Tupelo wood body?
Quote:
I've never used it but have read that it is preferred by world champion wildfowl carvers in the U.S. and in Canada so maybe it'll be a great choice for "quack" with that Tele.


You will not get on Leno with jokes like that.
Author:  Sandywood [ Thu Jan 23, 2014 12:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Tupelo wood body?
Chris Pile wrote:
Quote:
I've never used it but have read that it is preferred by world champion wildfowl carvers in the U.S. and in Canada so maybe it'll be a great choice for "quack" with that Tele.


You will not get on Leno with jokes like that.


laughing6-hehe Maybe he'll give me a car to stop trying?

Well I guess those carvers prefer it over Basswood so if I had a nice clear body blank I'd find out what I thought about it.
Author:  theguitarwhisperer [ Thu Jan 23, 2014 12:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Tupelo wood body?
Chris Pile wrote:
Quote:
I've never used it but have read that it is preferred by world champion wildfowl carvers in the U.S. and in Canada so maybe it'll be a great choice for "quack" with that Tele.


You will not get on Leno with jokes like that.


Maybe not, but Letterman is sill an option..
Author:  Mike Baker [ Thu Jan 23, 2014 9:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Tupelo wood body?
I don't think there is ANY wood that could not be used or at least tried for solid body guitar bodies. If I liked the look, weight, etc., I'd use it. Anytime anybody says "Can I use this wood for solidbody bodies " I always say go for it. I would. I'll build a body out of anything I can find. I've seen guys use just about any wood you can think of. There's even a build thread on the TDPRI using popsicle sticks, for cryin' out loud.
Build on! Post pics. ;) pizza
Author:  the Padma [ Thu Jan 23, 2014 10:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Tupelo wood body?
Yo, lotus kid,

please define "junk" so that we might be able to answer your question.


Lots of 2x4s strung up and plugged in and play just fine...and guess what the janka is for dimensional lumber... ok, me save you the time...lower than your tupelo. Now what does that tell you?

Ok me makes it real easy for you, all of the following list and their janka rateing have been successfully use in the making of all sorts of stuff, ya including stringed instruments..even electrifier stringed instruments wow7-eyes ....Gee who wood a thunk? But its true! Yes me no lie. Been laid but never lied. bliss


Eastern Red Cedar 900
Southern Yellow Pine (Longleaf) 870
Lacewood, Leopardwood 840
African Mahogany 830
Mahogany, Honduran 800 (imagine that...a mahogany guitar...who wood a thunk it)
Parana 780
Sycamore 770
Shedua 710
Silver Maple 700[4]
Southern Yellow Pine (Loblolly and Shortleaf) 690
Douglas Fir 660
Western Juniper 626
Alder (Red) 590
Larch 590
Chestnut 540
Hemlock 500
Western White Pine 420
Basswood 410
Eastern White Pine


Bet you never thought of taking closer look at that junka list.


oh well
blessings
duh Padma


PS...welcome to the forum.


.
Author:  the lotus kid [ Thu Jan 23, 2014 10:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Tupelo wood body?
Well, I guess I'm not sure what I mean by junk, because I can't find any good info on the stuff haha

it could check/crack like crazy. Or warp. Or have hidden gum pockets. Or be cursed with bad juju, doomed to make guitars sound like buffalo.

It seems strange to me that there's next to NO information about this moderately common domestic wood.
Author:  the Padma [ Thu Jan 23, 2014 11:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Tupelo wood body?
Strange!...hmmm
Author:  Mike Baker [ Fri Jan 24, 2014 12:05 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Tupelo wood body?
Filippo Morelli wrote:
Padma he's talking about torpedo wood. You know ... the kind that gets deep sixed.

Filippo

LOL
Author:  Sandywood [ Fri Jan 24, 2014 8:05 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Tupelo wood body?
the lotus kid wrote:
Well, I guess I'm not sure what I mean by junk, because I can't find any good info on the stuff haha

it could check/crack like crazy. Or warp. Or have hidden gum pockets. Or be cursed with bad juju, doomed to make guitars sound like buffalo.

It seems strange to me that there's next to NO information about this moderately common domestic wood.


Maybe...thinking about good possiblities would help...after all it could turn out to be a sweet as honey sounding guitar and by giving it a shot you'd be one that gained "first hand" information.
At least you've gone from " it's not a common wood" (in your first post) to "moderately common domestic wood" so things are getting somewhat better already.
Page 1 of 1 All times are UTC - 5 hours
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
http://www.phpbb.com/