Official Luthiers Forum!

Can someone point me to a good source for Italian Spruce, beside LMI or Allied?

Many thanks, Don

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Don Sharp
Got Brazilian?
http://www.sharpguitars.com

Check with BobC - RCTonewoods, above.  His all shows sold, but who knows what he has in the works?  You may see some at the swap meet.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

BobC, BobC Oh did mention BobC

Thanks, I'll check with Bob.

How about Luigi DeLazzer? I've heard he may have some nice spruce. Anyone know How I can get in touch with him?

Thanks, Don

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Don Sharp
Got Brazilian?
http://www.sharpguitars.com

Rivolta

Their "E" class spruce, which I understand is their next highest category, is excellent. I have made several instruments from it, it is my favorite top wood. It is also a good value, at least for us Europeans...

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

Thanks Arnt. Rivolta completely slipped my mind.

thanks, Don

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Don Sharp
Got Brazilian?
http://www.sharpguitars.com

Oh, I just remembered. We have a German member here on the OLF who sells spruce from his country, but I cannot for the life of me remember his name; anybody?   I have not built with spruce from him, but perhaps he will chime in...

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

...but I see now that you asked for Italian, so never mind!    

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

[QUOTE=Arnt] Rivolta

Their "E" class spruce, which I understand is their next highest category, is excellent. I have made several instruments from it, it is my favorite top wood. It is also a good value, at least for us Europeans... [/QUOTE]


I might be totally wrong about this... but I could swear I either read this somewhere or someone told me...

Their wood is wet though, correct? If so, you would need to let that season quite a while before using it.

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

You might try the Guitarmaker's Connection at Martin.

On occasion they have Italian Alpine spruce tops available.

Ask for Gail!

Didn't think to call the GMC. Gail's great to work with. I used to live about 1/2 hour form the factory and made a weekly visit to the old factory/GMC just to smell the wood.

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Don Sharp
Got Brazilian?
http://www.sharpguitars.com

i'm pretty sure Steve (colonialtonewoods.com , a sponsor) has italian spruce.
if i remember correctly he mentioned it to me a couple of weeks ago.
and just like steve the man, "steve the wood" is top notch! ;)

as for some of the other suppliers mentioned:
1. Luigi used to have some great spruce.
dont know if he still deals with wood, but if you wanna give it a shot,PM me and ill let you have his e-mail.
Luigi, as far as i remember, got most of his spruce from an italian company called "ciresa".
you could google'em up too.
2.the "German guy" sells many other variations of euro-spruce(german,swiss,italian...)
again, PM me if interested.

i've dealt with Steve,Luigi,pierra ciresa(ciresa company) and Martin Guhl(from germany) and i have nothing but good things to say about them all.

Udi.

by the way,Don, Martin(germany) might also be of help with those ebony buttons you're looking for.

I've tried them but they can't deliver any of the higher grade until next year.

Has anyone tried wood from these guys: Laboratorio di Liuteria Antica

Thanks, Don

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Don Sharp
Got Brazilian?
http://www.sharpguitars.com

[QUOTE=fmorelli]Swiss Alps Spruce



Fantastic bracing, BTW.



Filippo[/QUOTE]

they cut and stock 6000 guitar tops per year and the quality is so high that they sell every single piece!!

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everything you know is wrong

[QUOTE=Brock Poling] [QUOTE=Arnt] Rivolta



Their "E" class spruce, which I understand is their next highest category, is excellent. I have made several instruments from it, it is my favorite top wood. It is also a good value, at least for us Europeans... [/QUOTE]





I might be totally wrong about this... but I could swear I either read this somewhere or someone told me...



Their wood is wet though, correct? If so, you would need to let that season quite a while before using it.



[/QUOTE]

brock, you're right... they sell "fresh" wood and they let the luthier season it...

sometimes you can find in the shop older tops (5-10 years), but the best ones are gone time ago...


ps. i'm planning to build a small jumbo guitar with the best italian spruce.... but i need the plans.... please...

_________________
everything you know is wrong

[QUOTE=Brock Poling]
I might be totally wrong about this... but I could swear I either read this somewhere or someone told me...

Their wood is wet though, correct? If so, you would need to let that season quite a while before using it.
[/QUOTE]

They stamp each set with the date that it was resawn. I have bought wood from them 2 or 3 times, about 15 (?) sets total, and none of them have been less than 6 months old, some have been 3 years old when I got them. I'm sure all of these sets would have been dry enough to be built with after stabilizing in my shop for some weeks, but that does not mean they would be seasoned, whatever that means. To some people I think that means letting the wood go through many seasons, maybe years of changing temperature and humidity cycles in open air, others just let the wood sit under their bench for a long time before they use it. Anyways, if you want older wood from Rivolta, send them a message and see if they have what you need.

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

Don I have some nice Italian spruce also German and Carpathian.
PM me if your interested.

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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

TOLD YA! 

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Don: tried emailing a few times, never got any response. They're in Belgium, though, despite what the Italian name may indicate.

I stick to Rivolta, because it's sorta on my way to/from our place in Italy if I'm driving, although I'm going to need to step up production before I go back for more; my girlfriend seems to think 60 guitar tops is enough for someone who builds 2-3 instruments per year, on average....

Hesh, I agree with you. The sponsors should be the first place to look. I have bought supplies from a good number of our sponsors and try to support them as much as possible. After I saw that Bob C was out of Italian, I set about looking elsewhere. I saw his post above and sent him an e-mail. Hopefully, he has what I am looking for ( I haven't heard back yet). I need at least two sets of heavily bearclawed Italian and some straight grained as well.

I think that the sponsors are great resources for smaller quantities but for larger orders (50 + sound boards, for example) I find it best to deal with the sawyer or cut it myself from billets or logs.

thanks, Don

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Don Sharp
Got Brazilian?
http://www.sharpguitars.com

Why do you want your spruce to come from Italy?

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.