Official Luthiers Forum!

I forgot how much I love this stuff. I lived in a log cabin in Indiana that a guy built himself and the floor was made from Imbuia. When I first came to check out this place for rent I was shocked at how beautiful the floor was. After he learned I built guitars he said, "I have a barn full of left overs take what you want." So I took a pickup truck load. That was about 1995. I built many guitars out of it but then just let the stash pile sit for a long time. The floor boards are big enough for 4 1/4in sides and 4 piece backs. It ranges from chocolate dark brown almost black to light tan in color and almost always has some sort of crazy figure to it.

Just thought I'd share

I cut enough sets this weekend for about 5 guitars. Also the stuff smells fantastic when you are working with it.

This is what most of it looks like:


The curly stuff was on my reserve list for a long time. But note also the almost orange one next to it. That piece was almost black till I resawed it open and fresh.

Nice!

_________________
Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Why can't I see the images?

_________________
The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Not there for me either!
Cal

_________________
Remember, there are no stupid questions, only stupid answers!

Ooops sorry, maybe now you can see? I think it's a Google permissions thing.

Images are coming thru now! I also love the stuff.

In fact I'll be starting a build soon with this interesting set I got from Bob at RC Tonewood way back when.

_________________
Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

Thanks, can see them now - really nice!

_________________
The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

What is the tap tone like?

I love it.
The sweet odor, and it holds a bend well.
My first guitar I made with it went to Steve Miller the rocker.

Mike

_________________
Mike Collins

Yup that's the stuff! I have a few boards that have that same figure on it, it's wild.



I'm not one to attribute tap tone to what a finished guitar sounds like but of course I always tap wood to see if some day it all starts making sense The tap of Imbuia when thinned down to guitar plate dimensions is rather dull. It's more of a knock than a ping like rosewood. In full sized 3/4in boards it has a nicer musical tone to it. But I can tell you that it makes a great guitar. To harp more on the subject, some of the best guitars I've made were with tops for example that tapped like wet cardboard.

Beautiful!

_________________
Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

+1 for imbuia have never seen a board yet

That's good looking wood!

Yeah, I don't think tap tone is a thing with back and side wood. For example, walnut rings about like soggy cardboard when tapped, yet it makes a fine guitar.

_________________
George :-)

And Tasmanian Tiger Myrtle — totally thuddy tap, but two of my best sounding guitars were made from it. Go figure...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

_________________
Mountain Song Guitars www.mountainsongguitars.com