Official Luthiers Forum!

Just thought I'd run this past you fellas. I ahve a huge piece of Bocote approx 8"x3" maybe 30" in length. Its beautiful stuff and i was thinking about cutting it up for some neck blanks, but it sure is heavy stuff--too heavy for necks?? Maybe just cut it up for fingerboads and bridges?
Also have some hippo tusks I was thinking about using for nuts and saddles?? Maybe inlays too. Also have about a dozen giraffe leg bones, this should make some nice saddles and nuts, its about the densest bone I've ever cut up. These materials are form my pistol grips I make--its extra stuff or not big enough for grips.
Any thought on this stuff??

If quartersawn or close to it, why not try and use the bocote for back and
sides?SimonF38781.7978819444

Many use it both falt sawn and quarted for back and sides. Ihave not worked with it but I would suspect that itis tough on tools.

I second the nod for Bocote back and sides. I bought a plank over Christmas for this very purpose. Should make a beautiful guitar.
And the tusks sound perfect--as do the Giraffe leg bones.
What a great selling point, by the way.

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

You can also make binding out of it. Some of it has very interesting grain.

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Jimmy Caldwell
http://www.caldwellguitars.com

I don't want to sound all alarmist or anything, but Hippo tusks? Where did you come by these? Are they legal? Most such items unless very old are illegaly obtained. Didn't know Hippos had tusks....

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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."

[QUOTE=Don Williams]   Didn't know Hippos had tusks....[/QUOTE]
They keep them hidden while they sneak up on you...

BTW, Don, it's always good to ask those questions about propriety when animal products are used. Thanks.

[QUOTE=Don Williams] I don't want to sound all alarmist or anything, but Hippo tusks? Where did you come by these? Are they legal? Most such items unless very old are illegaly obtained. Didn't know Hippos had tusks....[/QUOTE]

They're teeth, but they're dang dangerous, and may as well be tusks.