i looked in this stuff and had samples sent down by a local grower.....
if you want to build guitars out of wood that is very similar in weight and density to balsa wood, paulownia would suit you
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i looked in this stuff and had samples sent down by a local grower.....
if you want to build guitars out of wood that is very similar in weight and density to balsa wood, paulownia would suit you
I'm working on taking better pictures. But I'm glad you enjoyed the photos as much as I do putting them up.
The paulownia neck was build in the traditional spanish heel construction, wasn't reinforced, and the neck also has a very flat profile, for my playng pleasure. Still, it's been over a year, and it's still very stable, as you would have read about this timber, in spite of string tension. But bear in mind, that this neck takes nylon strings at medium tension - D-addario J45. For higher tension, like on a steel-string guitar, maybe you can let me know when you build one with a paulownia neck. But my feeling is that, it'll fair pretty well. Reinforced it with hardwood, like ebony, down the middle, if you like and it'll look very handsome as well.
Keep the music alive!
aah yes...the nylon strings bring much less tension...i forgot about tht :)
unfortunately i prob won't be using paulownia for necks anytime soon as i am going in the other direction... towards using the more dense/stiff woods rather than less dense but resonant woods
i did a 1-piece cocobolo neck (truss rod from back) recently using something like 7/8" stock
the typical bolt on neck is around 1"
just from the cocobolo neck (and in comparison to maple and mahogany necks - i have a few guitars i can compare to) i make the following observations:
1. the cocobolo neck has not deviated one iota from the straight line using strings gauge 10 and tuned to standard pitch...and it is not particularly thick as i shaped the neck to quite a slim rounded profile (but not thin)
greater density = greater strength ...which means i can use less wood to get the stiffness of a larger neck made from less dense materials
win, win in ma book
2. there appears to be a stronger fundamental tone using the cocobolo relative to maple and or mahogany
this creates a sound with more clarity...espc on the lower notes where, on less dense material neck, lotsa overtones can contribute to a wolfy/muddy sound when using high (or even moderately high) gain settings on the amp
moreover the attack (of the sounded note) is a bit faster and the decay slower leading to more sustain
3. this cocobolo did not require a finish at all (not all dense woods like this btw) and i found the feel to be far superior to a finished neck - satin/oiled/or otherwise
in fact there is a silkiness that comes from the patina that develops after a while of playing the neck ...tht is simply quite luxurious
i now rarely play any other guitar due to this fact alone
4. i have been itching to do a neck without a trussrod using this material and i suspect it be more successful than using typical maple material
i really dont want to adjust a neck at all and am looking for material that just do not deviate from the straight under the (quite light string pressure) of strings tht are gauge 10 and tuned to standard pitch (iirc it is around 140 pounds of lateral tension pressure...not sure what the vector component of the force is acting downwards on the neck, though)
maybe when we get a nice stretch of weather here in the west, i will soon start doing something of the ideas in me head
sorry to resurrect an old thread but i thought i'd get more discussion here.
any thoughts on this wood as a tonewood?
i see a few body blanks going for quite cheap (as well as those already routed) on the internet.
will be for a bass, and the lighter the better.
Chop the cheap body in half and make a through neck
Well... It's traditionally used for Musical instruments in it's home range...
Then.. the early Fender electrics were made with Pine bodies.... Solid Spruce has been used plenty of times on electrics as well... No reason Paulonia wouldn't work just fine.
I say go for it!
Thanks