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Any thoughts on what type of wood is recommended that a first time guitar maker might use would be greatly appreciated. I am planning on building a solid body guitar. Thanks

The weight of the body blank also plays a role, but not as strong as
specie. The type of guitar you're building will help us point you towards
something specific.    

I'm with Hesh,

Swamp Ash Strat, Mahogany with Flamed Maple cap for the LP. If you can incorperate a neckthru into the design, do it, at the very least I would want a set neck of some discription. If not, you may as well just go and buy a bolt neck and play it rather than waste your time making one.

Have a look at Perry Ormsby's Site for some inspiration. Nice axes from a nice guy. The Carved Top Vine of his is very nice indeed.

Cheers

Kim

I am a big fan of all mahogany strats and tele's. I think they sound great and look fantastic.

On LP and other carved tops, I say go with something off the beaten path with respect to cap woods. Try rosewood, wenge, walnut, I have even thought spruce might be cool (but it would be a little fragile for an electric).

here is one of my "mahogany" tele's (the top is quilted sapele).

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

Woah, that's gorgeous.

Boy Brock,

That has to be one of the sweetest look'in Tele's I have ever seen, I love it (even if it is a bolt neck) Did you take a look at Perry's Carve Top? He does some good stuff and lives just up the road from me.

Cheers

Kim

I dunno, I've got a paint-grade (ie, has a crack that needs repairing, can be done almost invisibly, otherwise perfect) hunk of telecaster shaped Khaya I made as a demo during a builders meet here that I'm not even slightly tempted to turn into a guitar. Tempted to sell, yes. Just doesn't seem right to me, a mahogany tele (said the guy with a mahogany strat...)

Anyway, I'd reccomend Limba (white, black, whatever. Same wood, just different looks) if you like the mahogany family type stuff, or one of the African mahoganies. For easy to finish (ie, no pores), Alder's a tried, true, safe bet. Mahogany (or Sapele, or most Khaya) is also a great neck wood, ditto Maple, ditto Limba. The choice really is up to you, and sort of depends on what you want out of it.

[QUOTE=Brock Poling]
I am a big fan of all mahogany strats and tele's. I think they sound great and look fantastic.

On LP and other carved tops, I say go with something off the beaten path with respect to cap woods. Try rosewood, wenge, walnut, I have even thought spruce might be cool (but it would be a little fragile for an electric).

here is one of my "mahogany" tele's (the top is quilted sapele).





[/QUOTE]

Have you considered Tasmanian Blackwood? I have a several matched pairs for carved tops or drop tops.

My email is tjspittle@optusnet.com.au

Regards

Tim

Australian Tonewoods