Official Luthiers Forum!

Since I first posted that my (suspected)BRW was really Kingwood there was no further posting about any interest the Kingwood. I assumed it was a dead issue for building.

Since then however, there was a post about Kingwood that seemed to indicate it was useable. It 'is' a dead ringer for BRW... 

Would anyone go through all the trouble of slicing backs and sides from these 1" thick pieces of Kingwood, to make an instrument? Just to end up with a pseudo-Rosewood Kingwood guitar.

Getting ready to toss the rest of it in the dumpster with the cut-offs.

NO don't dump it!

Kingwood is a perfectly good rosewood, probably as good as any of the others. Madinter, here in Europe sells Kingwood B&S sets for more than $200 a set. I know one of my friends built a great guitar with it.

Madinter Kingwood

Colin

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

take those cutoffs out of the dumpster too. and send it all to me.

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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

I love Kingwood, and would use it in a guitar in a heartbeat. It's not a pseudo-rosewood, it's a true rosewood. In fact from what I've heard, 100 years ago and less, it was used interchangeably with Brazilian Rosewood. If you still have those big 'ol boards, I would love to buy them from you. I've been trying to find some Kingwood in guitar set sizes, and it's very difficult these days. And don't throw out those smaller pieces! They would make great bridges, fretboards, and headplates.

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

I know a local supplier who has a tonne of the stuff. It's gorgeous and seems very dense. I will definitely be building with it in the near future....

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

I think I know a troll when I see one.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

ok. Then it's useable.

BTW You didn't want any of this did ya Howard? :)

I was just talking with Lance about putting it on the Luthiersauction site. There is nothing on the Luthierauction site now, does anybody go there or announce an auction in the forums here?

Mostly 4" wide, one 6", one 8". Oh yeah I fished the box of cut-offs out of the dumpster. And I just set up the Luthiersauction account registration.

How does everyone know if something is being auctioned?

*passes out* YOU WERE GOING TO THROW IT!!!???

There's some hard-up UKers (like meself) who would HAPPILY relieve you of that lovely wood!!!

[QUOTE=Rosewood] ok. Then it's useable. [/QUOTE]

That's hopefully the case. It all depends on what condition it's in. Things like faint checks and cracks can ruin what looks to be a perfectly useable board. Also, how it's cut makes a difference with its value. Flatsawn is not worth as much as quartersawn.

[QUOTE=Rosewood]How does everyone know if something is being auctioned? [/QUOTE]

Just put it up there and we'll see it. Make sure you post a number of very clear pictures, closeups are important when buying boards. I would follow up the auction pics with more here with a lot of detail. Offer all the boards individually too...as opposed to as a lot.

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

Don,

I'll start with the bigger cut-off's from the box I fished from the dumpster. The box of smaller pieces will go as one lot. Then the 7ft boards.

This will be time consuming, each board takes a half dozen shots and a written description. There is a wide variation on color and I haven't got the 'true' color to come out yet. The top picture is closer to the right color... I'll try some daylight shots later.

The piece you have listed is not long enough to make a guitar back (at least not a dread or OM), but I may be interested in buying a box of it for headstock material if you list it on the auction site.

I would love to see others list items as I am always on the lookout for odds and ends.

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Reguards,

Ken H

I've been looking at some nice Kingwood for a 4 piece back. Gorgeous stuff for sure!

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

Hodges,

It's on the auction site. Hang on, I'm starting with the smaller pieces, bigger as we go along. Maybe this one could be a ukelele back. :)

http://www.luthiersauctions.com/detail.asp?id=648

Peterm,

There are some 4" wide boards coming up as well as 6+8" at 7' maybe a back and sides?

Hi-

What is the reserve on this cutoff?

Thanks-

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John Lewis
Wannabe builder owned by 2 crazy dachshunds

I received 3 sets of Kingwood from Dick Boak at Martin
when he handled all the woods-in the 80's
The wood was beautiful and easy to bend(1/4d sides)with sapwood!
The backs were 3 piece.
All the guitars are in sound (no Pun) shape and just lovely .
I'll send some pics when I can!

I wish I had more!!!!!!!


www.collinsguitars.com

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Mike Collins

   Just keep posting and taking pictures, then slowly listing a bit here and there. By the time you sell this stuff you will have so many hours in playing with and trying to figure out what it is worth. You will have little to show for your efforts.

   Anyone can do a few quick searches on exotic dealer’s sites to get a feel for the value of the wood in a short period of time.

    My advice; Do your quick research and get a feel for the approximate value. If you have good pictures, and can get in touch with a builder who is interested (in the lot). You can sell it all and ship it and you will not waste so much time.

    If you want to offer it in auctions. Place a fair starting price(based on your expectations), and don't mess with hidden reserves(they are silly and irritate real bidders, and gives the impression you are fishing and not serious). Offer as many peices as you can at one time. Part of the value in this type of wood is the ability to make well matched sets. Say a back billet AND side billet that match well(individually they hold less value, and the buyer has to gamble that the can get a good matching piece to complete the set).

    Have it resawn by a professional (probably about $60hr.). Hope that there are no hidden defects. Then try your luck at finding people to by it as parts. Remember you are not a dealer so your wood value will not hold the value of a professional retailer (as they are also selling there reputation, and knowledge as to what the quality is. point being don't fool yourself into over valuating).

    I am making these suggestions to help you not fall into a silly trap I have seen many people get into. I am not interested in buying any of the wood you have (I have a very experienced dealer that is very close to my house that has all the Kingwood I would need). Please take what I say as nothing other than trying to be helpful (that is my intent, and not meant to be negative).

Peace and best of luck,Rich

Rich,

I'm retired and just looking to find a place for this wood to live 'on'.

Some builders who had an interest in the wood may get the tonewood of their dream on the auction site. If you look at these pics, sure looks like BRW

Still looking for the photo right color rendition, here are a sunlight shots of the next 4 x 24-1/2 x 1-1/16 cut-off.

I remember this piece because 30 years ago I made a Rosewood circular checker board and used the white wood for the white squares and pieces. (Circular? - It kept my girlfriend from moving to the corners and forcing a draw) Which caused a new problem, the infinite circular move game.

    Well enjoy finding it the right home. Sounds like you are having fun with it so time is not an issue. If you are trying to hook up the right builder with the wood of their dreams. Be sure you match up boards of sufficient size to make sets. Maybe before you set up those auctions you should ask if the pieces you put together would make an effective back and side billet set. The other members here could chime in to make sure you have at least the required dimensions(as there are several size guitars that may be possible from certain sizes).

Peace, and enjoy.
Rich

Rich,

No minimums, no reserve, gotcha.

Wish someone could use that 3/4 Rosewood plywood in the backround. That's really BRW.

Greg