Official Luthiers Forum!

Hello! I'm new and I realize this is probably one of those classic newbie questions. So please accept my apologies for asking.

I recently purchased some E. Indian back and sides, Sitka and Engelmann spruce tops (AAA), ebony finger boards and bracing stock for my first and hopefully second build. I wasn't sure what to expect, and I'm not overly concerned with the quality given these will be be my first builds. Nevertheless, I was slightly disappointed with a few of the selections I received but I'm okay with that. I'm really hoping my slight disappointment is all on me and not them.

Anyway, which online suppliers would you recommend? I know there's a learning curve in adjusting my expectations to the realities of buying stock online, so I'd like to get recommendations for a top-notch online supplier as a baseline so-to-speak for my next purchase.

I hope that makes sense. Thank you!

Not to be flippant or sycophantic, but I think you will not be disappointed if you order from the OLF sponsors (look at the top of the page).

In addition to those, here are two recommendations:

1. For east indian rosewood, the Exotic Wood Zone on eBay.

2. For neck wood, Hibdon Hardwood.

Buying online can be tricky, and there are people offering deals that look good until you find that the wood you get isn't what was photographed, the shipping takes forever, or it never arrives, or comes damaged. And they don't return your messages. But if you buy from the suppliers listed at the top of this page you will get quality product and great service. We don't say this just because they pay some sponsorship - we have all been dealing with these businesses for a long time and we are happy with the experience.
When you are building your first instrument it is natural to think that you should start with cheap wood. And sure - maybe don't start with Brazilian rosewood. But don't sell yourself short either. If you are careful you will end up with an instrument that you are going to be playing for years, and you will invest maybe 150-200 hours of your time in building the thing. It is worth using some wood that makes you feel good about owning it. And make sure you put decent tuners on the thing too.

I've had consistently good experiences with all the suppliers below:

Suppliers with websites:
RC Tonewoods (OLF sponsor)
Alaska Specialty Woods (OLF sponsor)
Pacific Coast Woods (OLF sponsor)
Gilmer Wood Company
Fiddleback Wood Shack (also sells on ebay as fiddlebackwoodshack)

Suppliers who sell on ebay. I've had zero problems with any of these ebay sellers:
A.Hix Tonewood (OLF sponsor) ebay user name is ahix1176
zootman2 (aka RC Tonewoods)
eurotonewood (European spruce tops)
fiddlebackwoodshack
heeersjohnny
shabbychicguitars
yangman4
exoticwoodzone
mauricecontracting

There are undoubtedly other good sources too.

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Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right - Robert Hunter

One suggestion I would make is to buy a dozen #2 grade Sitka tops from Alaska Specialty Woods (sponsor above) and test them for stiffness and runout and see how they compare to the "higher quality" tops you already have.

I can +1 RC and Hibdon, always good stuff from them.

Brad


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Ordered from several sponsors here including Alaska and Hib


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I do like the AAA sitka from Alaska Specialty Woods. Really good quality for the price. Haven't tried their lower grades or their master grade.

I've gotten several sets from Aaron Hix. There's a link up above. I broke some Bocote sides and he helped me out with replacement in a very timely manner. + 1 for Alaska Specialty Woods for tops. Got a 2fer for a couple of jumbo tops out of an old bridge beam that were really cool.

If I was able to reply before OP spent money on tops, I'd suggest getting inexpensive tops from Alaska Specialty Woods. I took their occasional offer to buy as many tops as would fit in a USPS Priority Mail flat rate package, got bracewood and eight tops for, at that time, eighty bucks. I've used four, all worked out really well. Tops are sold by appearance, not performance. Cosmetics. A builder can save a fortune by holding that thought. All my b/s sets I've gotten from RC Tonewoods and I've been very pleased.

I've also gotten tops of other species than Sitka spruce from a Canadian supplier, Bow River. Very fairly priced. But I haven't used any yet.

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Peter Havriluk

Howdy Jeff,

More than happy to assist you with any Tasmanian (Aus) species in Tonewoods
Our online store has plenty of photos and details of the exact Tonewood set that you will receive and I'm more than happy to answer any questions you may have!
https://www.tasmanianacoustictonewood.com.au/

Good luck with your first build!!

Kind Regards,
Bentley
info@tasmanianacoustictonewood.com

Thanks everyone for all the great recommendations and buying tips. This is very helpful!

I have purchased materials from most of the suppliers listed above. When looking for something specific like back and side sets, i check out my list of "usual suspects". They all list the sets with pics and descriptions. I have NEVER been disappointed and all have been great to deal with.

If you are new to the hobby and are trying to build up some materials is to look at some of the domestic woods available in your area. If you have the ability to do some resawing and can recognize the grain orientation in a board, you can acquire some sets fairly economically. Not every piece of wood is suitable for instrument making so you have to be selective about what you buy, but eventually you will find yourself with an unreasonable "hoard" of materials.

Can't forget Dave Myers on Ebay. I've bought many sets of Engelmann spruce and Red Cedar from him and been delighted with the quality and price.

My faves are Alaska Specialty, Hibdon (anything they have), and RC Tonewoods.

If ONLY I could find a reliable Koa dealer (flamed!!!)

What was it that you were disappointment about?

If ONLY I could find a reliable Koa dealer (flamed!!!)
Mike OMelia,
Check out notablewoods.com very nice flamed koa wood.
Bruce Creps is the owner.

Cal

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Remember, there are no stupid questions, only stupid answers!

I’d err against sourcing your own wood locally for now.

I also second the recommendations everyone else has made. Shipping prices do add up, so it helps to consolidate as much as you can at first. As you continue in the hobby, you may find yourself getting five tops here, a few neck blanks there, etc, but you probably won’t do that at first. LMI and Allied are both good one stop shops.

Brent from Alaskan Specialty Woods is a real gem in the business. I ordered a handful of lower grade tops a few months ago and called him up to talk about something else. I was shocked that he had as much passion about the lower grade tops I got and knew the stories of those logs just as well as the AAA and master grade material.


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I’m with James on recommending against the use of local lumber for guitars, at least for now (no offense intended to Clay for recommending it). I think the problem comes down to the combination of two things, as a beginner. First, the skill required to know what you need, and the best way to cut it, is not yet developed in a beginning guitar maker. Second, most of what is available locally is not useful for guitars as is, and would need to be cut very differently, if you can make it work at all.

My local woodworking club has a lot of very talented craftspeople. They and I enjoy sharing and contrasting. One of the biggest differences between what they do and what I do is in the lumber with which we start our respective projects. We just start from different assumptions about what will work.

In time, you can get better at making guitars out of local wood, but at the beginning, I would use store-bought.

My first guitar was build with 'local' wood. It depends on what one means by local wood I suppose. But there was a very good hardwood dealer 5 miles down the road from me. I've also seen wonderful guitars made from Lowes wood. So I'll have to throw another wrench in this thread and give that suggestion a plus one

I remember when I first started building, 1992 I believe was my first acoustic, that was the general consensus, use cheap wood for your first few guitars. Save the BRW for when you start to get better. 25 years later I built my first BRW guitar And dang do I wish I bought stacks of it back in the 90's when I thought $200 was expensive for a full set!

Hi Don,
I'm not easily offended, (even though one's skin thins with age) especially where no offense is intended. In my post above I did list a couple of caveats which should be considered.
We often assume that the self described "newbie" guitar maker doesn't have any wood working experience, but for all we know Jeff may have 40 years of cabinet making experience where the careful selection of materials is equally important to a good out come. Jeff didn't say why he was disappointed in the materials he received, but it may be that he could recognize that they weren't the best quality for their intended use.
Recently I have seen a couple of "exotic" sets posted on lutherie forums that did not appear to be suitably milled and problematic for guitar making. "Store bought" doesn't guarantee a high quality product.
I think those who have mentioned people they have dealt with felt they got value for their money and products suitable for the intended use.

Here we go lol. If you watch Hibdon they have sales on beginner packages. B & S, necks and trim. for really good prices. I can't stress this enough. Buy from reputable dealers as the wood has been seasoned properly and cut correctly and when they sell you a 2A or 3A top its exactly what it is. In the beginning eBay isn't the best source. When I started I knew a guy who knew a guy who bought a bunch of tonewood off eBay that seemed like a great deal. Can you say $20 B & S sets & $10 tops lol anyhow its all rift sawn and low grade. And stuff my friend wouldn't build with now. I'm not saying all eBay sellers are bad its just you have a lot to learn about wood. And for the love of god don't build with any Master grade crazy figure wood as theres a limited supply, wait until you gain more knowledge and wisdom about the finer points.

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I built my first guitar with locally sourced walnut for the back/sides and neck. Bought the spruce top from a supplier. Turned out just fine but I have a cabinetry/furniture making background. If you know something about wood and can resaw it then it's not a big deal but not for the beginning woodworker.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Thank you for the kind words folks.. James, we are Not “Alaskan Tonewoods”. One could look for that business name on the internet and find some very nasty and derogatory reviews and stories. We Are “Alaska Specialty Woods Inc”. with domain AlaskaWoods.com. Family owned and operated since 1995 as a world class Soundboard producer. With the occasional other special use quility Sitka spruce product, like aircraft wing spars and other aircraft components, and sailboat spars and other parts. Plus a few other custom cuts. Have a Great Day everyone.