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What can you tell me about this wood? I will be building one of my E2 models with this as a top wood and Madrose back and sides.
From everything that I read, its very stiff and light, as well as split resistant (per LMIIs site)
Sounds - perfect-

It is also not a cedar .

So, what can ya tell me? And where would be a good source to get a few master grade sets?

Thank'yee's

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

It smells bad!
I haven't built with it but have some. It's very yellow for my tastes. Bob Steidel had some awhile ago, might drop him a line.

It smells bad? I'd have to disagree!
I loved the smell of the PO Cedar...very spicy smelling.
I reckon everyone smells things differently though.
I used it for my first build at the recommendation of my instructor.
If I remember correctly, we took it down to 110 thousandths and it remained
very stiff.

It's true, it's not a cedar, it's actually of the cypress family.
It is slightly more on the yellow side but mine is a nice creamy yellow at this
time, (5 months old).

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Christopher C. Cordle
North Muskegon, MI

http://www.yardsaleunderwear.com
http://www.facebook.com/christopher.cordle

I agree with Chris, I think it smells great. I have built two guitars with it and was very happy both times. It is much closer to spruce than cedar in stiffness - you can brace it lightly. I don't know who has the best tops now - I bought a quarter log from Gilmer about ten years ago. I hate to admit it but I used a lot of it for drawer bottoms in furniture before I knew it was a tonewood.

                       Peace, Paul

Paul, Paul, Paul!  The things we will do in our uninformed youth.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

I ordered some nice tops from Dave Maize a couple months ago. They are beautiful. He said he was cutting a bunch more soon so he probably has some.

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Burton
http://www.legeytinstruments.com
Brookline, MA.

Lance;
I made a Flamenco with Port orford top ,back,& sides.

Smells like heaven and works well.

The guitar is in the hands of a famous player that has told me he'll never part with it.

Gallery hardwoods sold me mine.

Mike

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Mike Collins

Lance, here's another nod to Port Orford smelling great! It is my favorite wood smell, even over Brazilian rosewood. After that, who cares what it sounds like?

Well, ok, I do care. But I've only used it once, on guitar #4, so my impressions (and skill then) were unreliable. Plus, it was a parlor guitar, and they all tend to sound alike to me anyway. I need to go back and try some more, and appreciate the tip about Dave Maize cutting some.

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Haven't used it yet, but I'm told that it is at least the equal of any top wood. Supply is very limited, and it isn't well known among players. More buff than yellow, in my experience. Closely related to Alaska yellow cedar, but lighter in weight and not as yellow. Very high stiffness to weight, and very split resistant. Said to have it's own unique tone.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

Lance,

Here is a quote from Peter Oberg's website in regards to Port Orford:

"For the bracing of the soundboard I use two species of cedar: Alaska yellow cedar (Chamaecyparis Nootkatensis) and Port Orford cedar (Chamaecyparis Lawsoniana). Both of these varieties are incredibly stiff relative to their lightness, thus allowing me to use less material while still gaining the advantage of their stiffness properties. I’m especially fond of working with Port Orford cedar because of its unique scent. There is nothing like the smell of cedar plane shavings in the shop. Port Orford can also have a particularly high resin content, which I believe adds to the overall character of the sound of my guitars."

    http://www.obergguitars.com/philosop hy.htm

I have a few sets now with one of them already joined for a back and I agree with Howard in that the wood that I have is more of a tan than yellow and the scent is very distinct and pleasing. Some luthiers use as the inner laminate layer in laminated sides because of it's stiffness and lightness.

The wood is readily available at Northwest Timber but as you can see from the prices in the link, it's not cheap.

http://nwtimber.catalog.com/browseGroup.cfm?item_group_id=86 461

I may try it for bracing on my next flamenco and compare it to the Engleman I've been using.

Cheers, YMMV

Peter

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Peter

I have several sets and the tap tone stricks me as very impressive. I am in the works on a double top using Port Orford Cedar.
My tops are creamy white, stiff and very silky. Not yellow at all.

Great stuff, go for it.

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

I bought tops and back/side sets from Les Stansell and was very pleased with the wood. The stiffness to weight is very high and is very pungent (I like it). I have bought from Dave Maize too (not PO cedar though) and he is great as well. Both are very well respected builders and picky about their own tonewood - you'll get nice stuff.

I forget who, but one of them told me that the tone he gets with PO cedar (as a top wood) is spruce-like trebles and cedar-like bass. He also said this was a broad generalization, so take that for what it's worth. Every piece of PO cedar I have is extremely resonant - it just feels alive. Let us know what you think when you get it - make sure to take a big whiff when you open up the package.

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John Lewis
Wannabe builder owned by 2 crazy dachshunds

The Port Orford I have is a nice eggshell color. Although I see a lot of it(it is sold in lumber form around my area), and sometimes has staining(yellows and greys). I really think it has nice stiffness to weight. Definately on par with Spruce(maybe eng. sp generally). It has a nice ring. No complaints at all.