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Looking for some red mulberry for a top.....anyone?
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Author:  Dave Fifield [ Sun Jun 28, 2009 2:11 am ]
Post subject:  Looking for some red mulberry for a top.....anyone?
An acquaintance of mine just asked if I could help find him some red mulberry wood:

"I have not been able to find dry red mulberry wood. I need a couple of pieces
(1 as a spare) to repair a Persian stringed music instrument. The size is
approx 5" x 8" and I want to ultimately thin it to around 2mm thick. This is to
replace a broken soundboard."

Does anyone have any they could sell me? Since it's for a soundboard, I'm guessing
that he wants it quarter sawn / nice and straight grained. Any ideas where to look
would also be appreciated.

Cheers,
Dave Fifield
Author:  wbergman [ Sun Jun 28, 2009 11:19 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Looking for some red mulberry for a top.....anyone?
A google search shows a couple of sources of mulberry (not sure if it is "red"), including a board on ebay.
Author:  Dave Fifield [ Sun Jun 28, 2009 4:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Looking for some red mulberry for a top.....anyone?
Thanks Bill (is it?), but my pal already exhausted all the ideas that google comes up with (he actually found some at one place but they won't ship anything less than $500 worth!), and that board on eBay is as flatsawn as can be!

Any other ideas? Perhaps someone in Florida who has a local lumber yard nearby with a log or two?

Cheers,
Dave F.
Author:  wbergman [ Sun Jun 28, 2009 6:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Looking for some red mulberry for a top.....anyone?
I am curious if your friend is really sure it is red mulberry. If not, then some other wood should be OK to restore the instrument.
Author:  Dave Fifield [ Sun Jun 28, 2009 6:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Looking for some red mulberry for a top.....anyone?
He's adamant that it's red mulberry. He says "I did some research and found that almost all of the plucked lutes from the entire region are made of mulberry, not just Iran. It is a common and not
especially fine hardwood but I might as well restore it with the proper wood if I can. The color of the entire instrument is a ruddy brown, unlike the soundboard of an oud which is "al'oud" and which the Spanish mispronounced and became the Western instrument "lute"" in one email.

However, like you, I'm not convinced. I've given him lots of options like using spruce and simply staining it to the right color, or even having a go at repairing the damage (which is puncture/split damage due to the instrument falling from about 7' to hard ground).

Thanks for your help.

Cheers,
Dave F.
Author:  Lillian F-W [ Sun Jun 28, 2009 7:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Looking for some red mulberry for a top.....anyone?
Dave, you might want to talk to Colin. He might be able to give you some insight into the use of mulberry and a possible source.
Author:  Dave Fifield [ Sun Jun 28, 2009 8:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Looking for some red mulberry for a top.....anyone?
Thanks Lillian - clue me in please, which Colin? [uncle]

Cheers,
Dave F.
Author:  Lillian F-W [ Sun Jun 28, 2009 9:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Looking for some red mulberry for a top.....anyone?
Sorry Dave. Colin S. has worked on some very old instruments for museums.
Author:  Ken Franklin [ Tue Jun 30, 2009 1:46 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Looking for some red mulberry for a top.....anyone?
Do you have pictures, Dave? Would two pieces with a seam work? If so I might be able to help you. It's ornamental mulberry and turns maybe a little more honey colored than yours. I use it for bridge plates.
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