Official Luthiers Forum!

It seems strange that I'm having a rough time with my first time using Adirondack.
I have used almost all kinds of top materials except adirondack.
I am now using an adirondack for the first time. I has to be the hardest wood I've used for a top.
I has taken me forever to sand the top to an acceptable thickness.

It's hard and stiff for for sure but did not expect it to be so hard to sand.

Lance...I know you are working on 2 guitars using
adirondack, are you experiencing the same properties??

I'm sure it will sound nice but I thought I would check in with you guys to see if I'm losing my mind. It's possible.

Help me out with your comments please.

walterKWalterK38953.8417476852

Same here Walter, I bought 2 tops from Steve at Colonial and that stuff is pretty hard.... having a hard time running it through my drum sander!

Guess thats a good thing

_________________
Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

Sand across the grain. That helps.

_________________
Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

    All I use anymore is adi. I use a coarser grit to start. 120 then work to 320 . I also thin them more. .095 to .100 is my target .
   john hall
blues creek guitars

Hi Walter,
How are ya? Nice to see you are round and about. My experience with ady is same. When I first started using ady for braces I had to sharpen my chisels .
Be well!

_________________
Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"

I just sent a student out yesterday after finishing her first guitar; an OM with a Red spruce top. When I tested the wood it had the same lengthwise Young's modulus as the IE rosewood on the back! We thinned it out a bit, and braced it pretty lightly, and it's still got a lot of highs, although I'm sure the bass will come up with playing. In never met a piece of Red I didn't like, although it's dense enough that I think it's better for steel strings than classicals.