opinions on timbers for instruments

**black_labb** · 19th April 2008, 03:02 AM

hi guys, was curious what some people thought about some timber types for guitars and thought that a bit of a thread for other peoples thoughts about timber types and any questions.

what do you guys think of turpentine for a timber for a guitar? its quite dense, has straight grains and has a nice smooth feel to it. im thinking it might make a nice fretboard or even a 1 piece neck.

any comments about it from people who know a bit more about timbers?

**mongrel** · 19th April 2008, 10:11 AM

Does it go "boing" when you tap it? (the timber that is

)
My only concern would be that if it is a true "turpentine" tree a.k.a. one they extract turpentine from then I would think that it would be difficult to glue and keep a finish on. Wikipedia has a small bit to say on the tree. You could get the scientific name and google it from there.
This is OPINION only, based on no solid proof what-so-ever.

**black_labb** · 19th April 2008, 05:00 PM

http://www2.dpi.qld.gov.au/hardwoodsqld/13209.html

seems to be a reasonable choice. the piece i was feeling was only around 150mm long so i couldnt judge the sound too well. it seemed good, but you dont get to hear much of the frequency spectrum, just the high frequencies (that sounds like i think i know alot about tap tone, which i dont. i just know the piece was too small). i might try to find a place that has some in stock that i can get a better idea of what the sound is like, and see if some figure is prominent (though i doubt it).

im getting an urge to make a simple bass. might do something like a p bass with a different shape, and was thinking a 1pc neck with turpentine would be nice.

**old_picker** · 19th April 2008, 05:15 PM

hi silica content - bad for tools
dense and hard - maybe ok for fretboard possibly necks
possible candidate for chambered bodies

what does it look like?

aesthetics are a considerable aspect of choosing solid body guitar timbers
most hardwood is fine for electric guitars pretty much imho
there are many would argue against that pov
if i had a nice looking piece i would use it

**oz tradie** · 19th April 2008, 06:25 PM

Density will tell you whether it has any place in necks or bodies.

At 995kg per cubic metre, that's heavy and dense stuff.

Qld maple = 575
Qld walnut = 690
Jarrah = 835

Fretboards only I reckon, unless you choose to use it for a hollowbody .

**black_labb** · 19th April 2008, 07:05 PM

i know it will be heavy, im not quite sure wether it will be a fretboard or a whole neck. i just checked the weight of purpleheart, which is lighter than turpentine (thought it was heavier). maybe not the best idea for a 1pc neck, might be a good idea for a fretboard or a section of laminate though.

**mongrel** · 19th April 2008, 07:08 PM

want to buy yourself some damn sharp router bits for that hollowbody tho...
smokin smokin smokin

**oz tradie** · 19th April 2008, 07:53 PM

Even for a neck it'll be heavy as all getout.
I made a neck from Qld Walnut which is way lighter than turpentine and that one is
alot heavier than I expected it to be.
A very heavy neck will be unbalanced when coupled with a mid weighted body IMO.

I do think laminates and fretboards are good though, Blacklabb.

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