Official Luthiers Forum!

To those who live in mid-range California?

Does anyone know of any sweet wood distributors anywhere in these general areas? I love to try to find the local "garage dealers" when I am in a new area. I am here on business from Michigan and have a spare day before I have to fly home.

Thanks so much in advance

A bit off topic, but your western waters are amazing. I have been on a boat 12 miles off shore in the bay for 12 days now and have seen SO MUCH wildlife. Dolphins and whales 20 ft off the back deck...I envy your area.

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www.ziegenfussguitars.com

I don't know the local local areas, but LMI and Allied are in Healdsburg. If you want to drive and hour and a half, Pacific Native Hardwoods is in Winton, CA. Some of the nicest walnut I've ever seen, in all species. They supply Taylor and Martin with tonewood, and Mercedes and Rolls Royce with burl.

Don't know any dealers down in that area, but if you drive an hour north, there's Global Wood Source in San Jose - not guitar wood specifically, but they do have some nice cocobolo...and, apparently, some newly arrived mahogony (I'll have to get on over there to check it out myself!).

BTW, what have you been doing out there on the ocean for 12 days? Just curious....

Dave F.

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Cambrian Guitars

"There goes Mister Tic-Tac out the back with some bric-brac from the knick-knack rack"

When I lived in California, I used to buy from MacBeath in Berkeley. On Ashby, about 1/4 east of Hwy 880/580. I wasn't buying for instruments back then, but they had some pretty spectacular stuff.

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now known around here as Pat Foster
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

I live in Felton just north of Santa Cruz and the only hardwood suppliers we have are Jaeckel brothers in watsonville and to a more limited extent, Aura hardwoods in Santa Cruz. Jaeckel brother used to be dulcimer makers but found the real money was in selling to woodworkers. They deal with a large variety of woods but targeted more to cabinet makers. I did see a beautiful quilted purpleheart board once when I was there. But I couldn't figure out how to use a 12 foot board.

Glad you are enjoying the scenery. I have lived here 30 years and have been to the shore less than a dozen times. Goes to show you sometimes don't appreciate what's in you back yard.
Bob

I buy a lot of mahogany, maple, Western Red cedar, and Spanish cedar from Jackel (correct spelling). It's Steve Jackel's business, and yes, he's a former dulcimer builder. I get great wood from him at very fair prices. There's also PALS in Oakland, Global in San Jose, Higgins in Watsonville and Oakland, and then there are some small time sawmill operators from whom I buy billets and slabs to resaw myself.

Thanks so much for your input, guys.

Now all I need to do is get off of this blasted boat and go shopping. It appears Global is right next to San Jose airport, so I am going to see if I can hit them up before I fly...

Thanks,
Stephen

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www.ziegenfussguitars.com

Yes, they are fairly close to the airport. Make sure you have a good map or a GPS to find the place - it's a bit difficult to get to because highway 101 cuts through a lot of the side streets and has a weird junction layout in that area.

They are open from 8am to 5pm M-F, 9am to 2pm Sat, and closed Sun.

Cheers,
Dave F.

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Cambrian Guitars

"There goes Mister Tic-Tac out the back with some bric-brac from the knick-knack rack"