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A link to John Calkin's Heretic's Guide to Alternative Lutherie Woods http://www.guitarnation.com/articles/calkin.htm

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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

Thanks Bob,

An intresting read. Now if we could only get the buying public on board we would all benefit. With the dwendling stocks of "accepted" woods, We will all be using alternativs woods soon.

Cecil

Thanks for the link Bob,

Good to know that John has included Australian Blackwood. And yes he is certainly right about the blue stain. I mus remember to use the aluminium foil on my next side set.

Tim
Australian Tonewoods

Bob...Great article...it's now saved for future reference. He certainly confirmed a few things I have discovered through my experience.

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

Interesting if not wholly new stuff, but nice to see them discussed in one place.

What I did like was the tip about using a pencilsharpener to fill worm holes, always the simple ideas.

Colin

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

Yes,that was interesting Bob, Thank You

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

Good stuff.

I don’t think using alternative woods is not as controversial today as it perhaps once was. The buying public is getting used to seeing many of the woods mentioned in the article, at least from some of the smaller scale builders and factories, and it is probably a safe bet that it is going to become even more common as reliable supply of the more traditional woods dry up.

However, the message of the article is a little confusing; on one hand he stresses that many types of wood will make excellent backs and sides for guitars, and I agree, on the other hand statements like “If this soft and floppy American cardboard makes into a fine guitar--and it does--any wood will.” (on sycamore), makes it sound like wood choice does not matter much. Yes, “guitars sound like guitars” if they are constructed mostly the way we are used to, but I believe that back and sides contribute more than this suggests. I do believe I could tell the difference between my own rosewood and mahogany guitars in a blindfold test. However, I probably could not tell you what type of wood the guitar was made from if I was “...listening to an unfamiliar recording...”, so he certainly has a point. It is very easy to fool yourself (myself) in these matters...

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

[QUOTE=Colin S] Interesting if not wholly new stuff, but nice to see them discussed in one place.

What I did like was the tip about using a pencilsharpener to fill worm holes, always the simple ideas.

Colin[/QUOTE]

Colin
That works well for wood dots on the edge of the FB too.

_________________
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

Bob, that is a great article and the best I’ve read on different tonewoods. I’ve gained more building ideas from John Calkin’s articles in GAL than any other contributor.   I recall reading the article when it appeared in GAL #69.   For me it sure takes the hype out of what back/side wood makes a great sounding instrument.

I sure like the plug for Australian Blackwood.

I don’t know if you recall but it was followed by a lame rebuttal by Harry Fleishman who claimed he could differentiate different tonewoods even from recordings. What a load of….

Calkin’s article sure supports a statement made on the OLF by Mario Proulx, something to the effect of “choose your top wood to please your ears and the back/sides to please your eyes”.

Art I have seen posts where American Sycamore was refeered to as cardboard yet I have built 2 guitars with it that I thought sounded really good. Your right about fooling one's self.

_________________
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

[QUOTE=Arnt]
I don’t think using alternative woods is not as controversial today as it perhaps once was. [/QUOTE]

Dang, I miss that edit button!   

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

[QUOTE=Anthony Z] Bob, that is a great article and the best I’ve read on different tonewoods. I’ve gained more building ideas from John Calkin’s articles in GAL than any other contributor.   I recall reading the article when it appeared in GAL #69.   For me it sure takes the hype out of what back/side wood makes a great sounding instrument.

I sure like the plug for Australian Blackwood.

I don’t know if you recall but it was followed by a lame rebuttal by Harry Fleishman who claimed he could differentiate different tonewoods even from recordings. What a load of….

Calkin’s article sure supports a statement made on the OLF by Mario Proulx, something to the effect of “choose your top wood to please your ears and the back/sides to please your eyes”.
[/QUOTE]

Anthony I don't recall the rebuttal. I do remember Mario's quote.
One of these days if I ever get around to building again I'm going to buy one of Tim's Tiger Myrtle sets. I love the looks of that wood after seeing Hesh's beauty.

_________________
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

Thanks Bob

I've read that article many times... I'm a fellow heretic!
btw... I got to meet John Calkin a few years back. He gave me a tour of
the Huss and Dalton shop in Virginia... He's a very nice guy.

long

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"No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.” -Heraclitus of Ephesus

Bob, great article thanks!!!
Perhaps you could comment on this thread about alder B&S?
If you know anything about it, that is.....

http://luthiersforum.3element.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID= 10277&PN=1#148463

Cheers
Charliewood
PS Bob, thanks for that awesome Black Limba set, its for my poor mans zircote guitar