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I just finished carving the top and archtop out of some very nice Aspen. While I don't have the guitar complete, the top has a very nice tap tone and seems pretty stiff yet flexible in the usually ways. It can be a little difficult to carve due to it being somewhat fiberious, but it really does work out pretty good.

Anyone using it for other parts of the guitars? I am going to try bending some this weekend for possible side material. But also I think it would be good for bracing and linings too.

Joe

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Joe

The only thing I have uever used Aspen for in lutherie is linings; Now I have about 30 backpacking walking staffs. Very good long grain stiffness when still in the round (beaver fallen or blow down young saplings were always usded for my staffs) Very light weight.

Mechanically, Aspen doesn't look too good to me. Even though it's reported to be easily worked. As I understand it, it's like bass wood soft, easily carved. But I've never used it in anything.

Doesn't have much of a grain to it, at all, does it? I don't know if I'd even use it in linings but that's probably the best place to use it, if I did. I get the impression it would be just as well to go to the Home Despot and use butter pine.

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

Here's a link to a post on here of an aspen bound instrument I finished this past spring.

It was REALLY easy to work with.


http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=16312

If you have any questions about it, feel free to PM me or reply here.

Dave

Ken Parker had a nice archtop with figured aspen back and sides that he was quite proud of at Montreal. I think it was over 10k.

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Ken Franklin
clumsy yet persistent
https://www.kenfranklinukulele.com

Thanks everyone. I checked out Ken Parker's Archtop page. Yep his guitar model "SPOT" has aspen sides and back. It sounds excellent on the soundclip page.

As for the grain, it looks a lot like maple to be honest with you. Its grain is a little light or subdued, but I would think with a little dye rubbed into the grain, it should pop real nice.

As soon as I get the archtop in a little further state of completion, I will post pics.

Joe

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Joe

Wow how many pieces did it take to make a back? The biggest aspen I have ever seen had less than a 24" girth

wow
It must have really been late when I replied last night.
I read the subject as "Anyone using Aspen for BINDING"

oops.

Michael,

I am building a 16" archtop and had to basically do it in 4 pieces. That is to say, I had to add a 1" wing on each side of the lower bought. The top bought was well within the size of the board. The grain of the Aspen is like Maple to some extent, but also a little more consealed. So it blends in pretty nice. All in all, It should be ok. I am thinking of a sunburst finish, so you may not see it....but then again I may just shoot amber.

I started with a 1x8" board, but I think they had a 1x10 at the mill too. Obviously not quite quarter sawn though. I am not so positive that having a 1 piece top or back would provide any difference in tone/sustain than a two piece or four piece. That is speculation right now, but other than cosmetics, I think multi piece tops/backs should be fine. Time will tell.

Joe

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Joe

Oh BTW: I did see a Benedetto archtop with a 3 piece back. Basically it was a flame maple back with a curly maple trapaziod board down the center. To be honest, it wasn't all that attractive like that. Also carving a top with different grains is really tough. Sometimes if you get the grains reverse when gluing the tops together makes a long process for carving. You have to spin the top the opposite direction to carve half of it.

Joe

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Joe

Here is Ken's site: http://kenparkerarchtops.com/kenparkerarchtoe.html

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Joe

Joe I love that The ultimate blond guitar.

Wish it were mine. That is Ken Paker's "Spot". It is an amazing looking science fiction/new age design. I hope mine turns out half as good.

Joe

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Joe

I got to get me some Apen planks

Wow, I never would have guessed you could use aspen for a tonewood.

That Parker looks nice.

What kind of aspen is it? Quaking or bigtooth?

Just Googled it, looks like bigtooth aspen gets bigger than quaking.

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Horton, MI

Yep, that is a pretty cool guitar. I am using Aspen for the top of my Archtop. Now that I see this, I bent up some sides yesterday to match. Lookin' Good!. I may just go ahead and make the whole box from Aspen for the heck of it. Right now I have a old growth Mahogany back carved for this guitar along with a mahogany neck. But what the heck, I might as well consider an all blonde git.

J

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Joe