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A local sawyer just gave me two logs of Sweetbay, which is in the Magnolia clan, and I was wondering if any of you have experience working with this timber?

Advice, tips, warnings?
Thanks,

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

I wouldn't think Magnolia would be a very good wood for anything related to guitars, but the other woods in the family could be.  I see Magnolia as very soft and brittle wood.  However, Sweetbay could be different.  Certainly the Tulip Poplar, also in the Magnolia clan, is not nearly as brittle and soft.  I'm sure you'll get an answer from some of the wood guys.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Turns like butter. Close pored. Towards the soft side for North American hardwoods.

About as little visual interest as any wood out there.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

Thanks, guys. Howard, I did think about turning.
And lately, turning sounds intriguing, compared to slogging it out in the lutherie shop.

Steve

P.S. Hesh, I have only seen the logs, don't know what the lumber looks like. I can only imagine that it looks like regular only Magnolia.

Actually, what I thought about using this stuff for, was solid body blanks.
Who knows?

_________________
From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Steve,

I got an email yesterday from Dave Freeman at Timeless Instruments. Hes just finished a cutaway steel string using magnolia for back and sides. Drop him a line for comments, Im sure hed be happy to answer questions. One comment he made was that it was easy to bend using lots of water.

Cheers Martin

Some pics of Dave Freemans Magnolia guitar

Wow, interesting looking guitar! I've not seen Magnolia with that much visual appeal. Here's hoping mine looks so good.
Thanks for posting, Martin!

Steve

_________________
From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

I never would have known.  I have these big Magnolias in my yard, and the limbs crack and break with every ice storm, and, when green, cuts like butter with loppers.  It's even easier to cut than ligustrum.   I guess I should have since it is in the same family with poplar, but I never would have guessed that it would be good for guitars. It is beautiful, though.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Try letting one of the logs spault and see what happens.

Al

Al, good idea.
That's crossed my mind as well.
Just let 'em dry out in the rain....

(Well, what little rain we get here in Texas.)

Steve

_________________
From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com