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so I've just started on No.3 and it'll be the first time I'll bend the sides myself. I've ordered a heat blanket/steel slats/bending form and will build myself a fox style bender. I also have a few practice sides (I think it's Ovangkol).

Which back sides would you recommend for me the first time? I have:

Honduran Mahogany
Tasmanian Tiger Myrtle (not one of the wild $300 sets, but a lightly figured set for ~$120)
Curly Spanish Cedar (I have 4 sides)

Hog is the cheapest, so destroying it wouldn't hurt as much as the others, but it's somewhat tricky to bend (and if I should destroy it, I'll have to move to one of the other sets as well)

Tiger Myrtle supposedly bends pretty easy, but it's my most expensive set

The figured cedar is probably the trickiest to bend, but I have 2 extra sides which I only bought with destruction in mind (keeping them "alive" and resawing them for binding or something else would be nicer of course).

any thoughts appreciated,
Christian

Maybe not the answer you want to hear, but ideally your first couple sets should be Indian rosewood.
Otherwise, pick the easiest one I think. Also plan your thickness according to the box size. You can go thinner on a smaller guitar. You can also thin the wood a little more in the waist (and maybe the widest point of the upper bout). Even very small layers shaved off help bending a good deal.

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Build log

Thanks for the advice, Alexandru... it's definitely not what my wife wants to hear

I personally love Indian Rosewood. The sets I have acquired until now reflect mostly opportunistic purchases

Christian

I agree on EIR. Just wish I had bought more when LMI was selling great stuff for about $50

Joe

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

I would say that Walnut or Myrtle may be the easiest woods to bend. Probably more forgiving that EIR.

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Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

Christian, I bent my first sides not long ago. They were mahogany (just test pieces). Everything went fine, no cracks and such but lots of resistence and some spring back. It didn't seem easy.
Then I did the next set (Mad Rose) and they just about bent themselves. They made me feel like there wasn't something wrong with me after all. Sooooo.... for what ever it's worth I might hang on to the mahogany for a later bend.

Thanks everyone.

Seems the myrtle set would be the easiest... I'll try to get my hands on some SuperSoft II before tackling the spanish cedar and mahogany.

thanks again, Christian

Here's my two cents.

If you're worried about trashing some good sides, why not thickness some scrap maple to 85 thousandths and go for a trial run?

Another option is to buy some opportuity grade EIR from Allied Liuthiery - I think they're selling it at about $35 a set - with a little stain you could make a heck of a good sounding, good looking guitar.

Finally, black walnut bends very easily. A set of black walnut is very affordable.

I wouldn't practice on your most expensive set, for sure.

Good luck.

Thanks for the suggestions Corky,

I have 4 practice sides (3 Ovangkol, 1 plain Koa) which I'll try to bend to shape before I tackle any of my sets.

Christian