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| Alaskan Paper Birch http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=36444 |
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| Author: | fingerstyle1978 [ Thu May 10, 2012 4:17 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Alaskan Paper Birch |
I know Martin used birch for necks waaaaay back in the day at some point. But I doubt it is Alaskan Paper Birch. We have tons of this stuff up here and we can legally cut it right here on post and anywhere outside of Denali. It should be relatively easy to find a decent figured slab. I want to use it as a neck wood though. Anyone see any problem with these specs? Overall it's fairly similar to maple, the main difference being that Maples get much bigger. http://www.wood-database.com/lumber-identification/hardwoods/alaska-paper-birch/ |
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| Author: | jackwilliams [ Thu May 10, 2012 7:18 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Alaskan Paper Birch |
I'd say try it Joey; I'm certainly no Martin expert, but I have never heard of Martin using birch for neck wood ... maybe spanish cedar... best regards, jack |
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| Author: | fingerstyle1978 [ Thu May 10, 2012 7:49 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Alaskan Paper Birch |
jackwilliams wrote: I'd say try it Joey; I'm certainly no Martin expert, but I have never heard of Martin using birch for neck wood ... maybe spanish cedar... best regards, jack I'm probably wrong, maybe I was thinking birch body guitars. It certainly wouldn't be the first time I've been wrong! |
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| Author: | TRein [ Thu May 10, 2012 8:28 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Alaskan Paper Birch |
I don't think Martin has used birch in any way, shape or form in their premier models. But, with Formica Martins now (sorry, HPL!) and multi-ply necks it is possible birch has crept into some of these lower dollar Martins. Lots of Chicago guitars made of rotary cut birch in the early part of the 20th century. Gibson used lots of yellow birch for their mandolins at the same time. Yellow birch is actually quite dense and grew right in the same region as the factory in Kalamazoo. |
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| Author: | Tai Fu [ Thu May 10, 2012 9:05 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Alaskan Paper Birch |
Stella used birch for every part of the guitar except the neck (which was poplar) in the 1930's. |
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| Author: | Shaw [ Thu May 10, 2012 11:48 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Alaskan Paper Birch |
I have a birch Garrison and it sound pretty good. As for Martin they now list some lower price models as "with select hard wood necks" So maybe they can be using some birch in certain models. Who knows? |
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| Author: | JasonM [ Fri May 11, 2012 10:53 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Alaskan Paper Birch |
I have used it for back, sides, and necks. It's a great tone wood. Best part is no pore filling! |
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