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Got these pic's from another customer today. It's a curly purpleheart OM. Another fine example of what can be accomplished using alternative woods.

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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

Looks wonderful Bob! Keeps the mind busy with all of these ideas!

Shane

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Canada

I love the look of purpleheart but it can be a mother to work with. Not that it's realy kept me from working it, but I've never had the sense to say I wouldn't.

Dale

It is some dense wood, Bob. I have a bit of it in the shop that I use for its strength only. Never thought of using it on a guitar. Have you played this guitar?

Doug you have a better chance of playing it than I do. The builder is Gordon Mayer and he lives in Underwood WA. He told me that it bent without a problem.

_________________
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've never tried to bend it. It does splinter real easy and it's very porous.

How lightfast is the beautiful purple hue of that Curly purpleheart?

cheers,
Jeremy

Actually I don't think it's any more porus than walnut. As for lightfast I can tell you that when fresh sanded or planed it looks brownish and as it is exposed to air it turns purple again. The builder didn't have any complaints about it. I still think it's a beautiful guitar.

_________________
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

Can you tell us just how hard it is to work with? I`ve heard that it`ll dull bits and blades in no time.
I`d love to try some, but don`t hear too much about it other than the negative side.

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Give me 50 cents worth of regular.
Check my oil too, if you don`t mind,,,

It is hard wood but I didn't notice any particular difficulty re-sawing it. Certainly no more so than woods like bloodwood, lacewood, honduran rosewood etc. I do use carbide blades. Here's a picture of the sides in the mold. They look very nice with no ripples.

_________________
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 like you presses Bob, mind if I copy those

Dale sure you can use them.Anyone can. One thing I want to stress here. This is not my guitar but a luthier by the name of Gordon Mayer.

_________________
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

Bob

I have never seen purple heart like that before, what an amazing colour

I think it's beautiful stuff after it's been clear coated even the straight grained stuff. I picked up a plank of it last year that was 96" X 18" x 1 1/8", I've used it on 2 solid bodies so far and still find myself going back to that plank with ideas.

Hi Dale do you have any pics of those solid bodies, I would love to see that.

Russell

I'm shooting the neck for the strat body now when I get my camera back on line I'll post some pictures of it finishedDale38655.8100347222

Thanks Dale

Appreciatte you posting them, they are very beautiful. Till Bob posted this picture and you posted yours I had only seen purple heart as bindings, It looks really vivid and beautiful in large sections.

Love the two tone look of the guitar you are working on

That was before I buffed it out, I have the body completed now and it has a lot more of a dramatic look it, not as nice as that figured wood above though thats just to sweet. I had to order another mini usb cable for my camera or I'd show you one of it now.Dale38655.8522569444

The last time my wife and I went wood shopping, she pointed out some purple heart and commanted on how well she liked the color. I just sort of shook it off and continued looking at other stuff.

After seeing the photos Bobc posted, I'm gonna have to go back for another look at the PH.

Then again, Maybe I should just send the wife. After all she did pick out some really good macassar ebony billets for me.