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I have a nice piece of Satinwood in my basement that is calling to me. Would anyone like to share their thoughts on building with it...how does it bend, what's a good topwood combination, what style of guitar is it suited to, what's a good neck/binding combination...etc. Who's got opinions?

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David White, Toronto

"All my favourite singers can't sing."

Sorry - I really wish I could help you here David, but I am clueless

Yep - I'm admitting I'm blonde and clueless!

I am hoping for some posts from the "veterans" because I'm curious as well.

I'm an old bald white guy with a grey beard and I'm clueless as well.

AlA Peebels38958.8613425926

Yeah Al, I'll allow you that as an excuse in somethings


- but what might you pair up with satinwood?

There are a bunch of different woods going by that name. It used to mean Ceylon satinwood, but now can be any yellow hardwood. Can you be specific?

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

I don't think I can be more specific. I bought it at the ASIA forum last summer, it was simply sold as Satinwood, with no other description. It has a yellowish tone and a nice flamed figure on it.

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David White, Toronto

"All my favourite singers can't sing."

Me curious too here, any pics available?

I have a few set of Ceylon Satinwood

I bent in at 0.85.

I bent it at 290F on a fox bender using a heating blanket and kraft paper as it doesn't hold water very well due to its waxy nature.

The sets I bent where for inclusion in some guitar kits so I have never actually completed at instrument from it, if I were binding it I would use something Dark Brown for bindings.


Hope this is of some help.

Thanks Russell.

Serge, I can't take any pictures right now, the digital camera is out of town with the wife.

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David White, Toronto

"All my favourite singers can't sing."

Cool Dave, let's see it when she's back!

I bought a bunch of orphan sides from Colonial Tonewoods last year. In the batch was a piece with "satinwood" written on it. Really pretty wood -- kind of a pale yellow with irredescent wavy grain. I used all the other wood to practice bending, but I kept the satinwood with the idea of making something out of it. I will get a set for a guitar in the future.

You might contact Steve at Colonial or Bob at RC Tonewoods to see if they have any information on how to handle this wood.

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53% of all statistics are made up on the spot
http://driftwoodguitars.blogspot.com/

I have satinwood and lacewood. The sets I have look similar as far as how they may take to bending. I have yet to try working with it though.

David, does your wood have the "ray" structure going against the grain?

Oops, actually satinwood and lacewood are not alike at all. I must be mixing it up with something elce.
That pic of satinwood sure looks nice though!
I bet it finishes pretty.

WadeWade S.38959.6940162037

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Wade
Nashua, NH
http://www.wadefx.com

David,
If you bought the wood at the 2005 ASIA Symposium, odds are the wood came from me.
Here's a sample pic of an African Satinwood board.



African Satinwood,Turraeanthus africanus, is strong and stable with a density similar to African mahogany. The wood bends easily too; I take my sides down to .085" and spritz each side piece with a good amount of distilled water prior to bending. You don't need to soak the wood. Use a moderate amount of heat and you'll find the sides bend very easily.
Please feel free to call or email me with any questions.

Thanks,
Steve

Avodire is the most common name for African Satinwood.

Nigerian Satinwood is another "satinwood" tag name in the USA for Movingue of the species Distemonanthus benthamianus. I like the Nigerian satinwood much more than the Avodire (just personal taste). High figured Nigerian sides can be thinned to .075 to help with tearing problems.

Steve, it probably was you, that photo you have looks exactly like mine. Wade, I'm not sure I understood your question but maybe the photo answers it.

Any thoughts on tops/neck/appointments that would look good with this? I can't see a mahogany neck looking right, perhaps maple neck and a little coco splashed around?

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David White, Toronto

"All my favourite singers can't sing."

Personally, David, I think mahogany goes with everything. It really is the best wood for guitar necks. You could always make a laminated neck with some extra "bling." In lieu of mahagony, you might consider figured walnut. Remember, satinwood doesn't really have a "curly" figure. I think mixing a blonde, curly wood like maple with it would be kind of like mixing striped trousers and a checked shirt. The curl in a darker wood wouldn't clash as much, IMHO. On the other hand, I could be nuts!

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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

Well, okay, if it's got curl like that, maple would work!

David--

I was speaking with a wood merchant a while back, and this is what I can remember from our conversation about mahogany:
that the wood from the more northern parts of its range, say Mexico, is much paler. The further south, the wood tends to be darker, and more of what you would "expect" from Honduras mahogany. The point of this is-- I think a pale Honduras mahogany neck would look great with your satinwood (Avodire). Get some Brazilian rosewood bindings from Steve at Colonial, and you're set to knock everyone's socks off.

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Okay, thanks for the thoughts and the photos. I think I'll get it built before I decide on the neck.

BRW bindings...somebody please stop me from buying 40 and edge jointing them into a back and side set! I can't afford the "real" stuff.

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David White, Toronto

"All my favourite singers can't sing."

This is Ceylon satinwood (chloroxylon swietenia).
It is very dense and beautiful!!

Nice, Brad! Now, that needs a sapele neck!

David, stop buying BRW bindings!