Official Luthiers Forum!

There was a time, back in the 70's I think, when all the interior doors in houses (at least in the UK) were still panelled. Then there was a craze for nailing hardboard (masonite) over them to turn them into 'flush' doors. Made them easier to paint. At that point manufacturers started producing 'flush' doors veneered in hardwoods and the most popular seemed to be stripey sapele. I've never really liked stripey sapele to this day. It always looks to me to be a bit artificial. I suppose it's because of that, that I'm not even very keen on stripey Cuban mahogany either (sorry Hesh). Zebrawood doesn't do it for me either.
Spectaculer Bird's-eye maple makes me think of glossy formica covered dressing tables.
Anyone else have any dislikes?

I'm allergic to Lacewood. Just typing the name might make be break out in a rash. I like the looks and tone though.

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I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/

Any wood with interlocking grain

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Build log

I love the smell of Alaska Yellow Cedar but I hate to sand it.

I'm not fond at all of the figured Redwood that some people use for tops. Just seems like a bad idea,
and I guess I like a blander visual statement.

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

I can't think of any species that I really don't like. I just cannot understand why anyone would use a piece of wood with a big sapwood stripe in it.

Steve

ELM. Just looks ugly to me.It also likes to bow and twist when drying.

I dislike working with Wenge. It just splits and splinters too much and i reall am not that fond of its apperance either. there are other woods that are hard to work or work with but at least they have redeming attributes making the effor worth while. But this is just my opinion of Wenge other like it a lot.

I agree with you about wenge. I would like to add that it's so porous that glue just seems to disappear.

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- Ben Pak
North Wales, Pa.

Never worked with wenge and, from what I've heard, I'm not very tempted. Padauk's another one with enormous pores. I built a solid body from it and when I'd finished the whole workshop was orange! I like it when it's finished though, although I think I may be a bit alergic to it now and I've still got a great big plank of it left.

Ebony

Yes, I think it's pretty
Yes, I think it can take beautiful detail
Yes, I love the way you can polish it to a shine

But...the dust is The Devil (TM). Even though I'm in full protective gear (dust mask, goggles, gloves) when using it, I still get a crummy (and really gross tasting) tan when I'm in production on ebony.

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Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services

Stump Brazilian. I don't trust it.

Last weekend I was resawing some interesting looking mineral stained Poplar... geez did that stuff reek! My shop smelled like a rank dumpster on a hot summer day. Next time I'll do it outside. As for Wenge, I don't care for it for all the reasons above.

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Jim Womack

"Be thankful we're not getting all the government we're paying for. "
Will Rogers

Personally, I like the way a sapwood stripe along the back strip on a Brazilian back and sides guitar looks, if it is tastefully integrated and not real wide... I guess that is what makes the world go round. But do you think there is something structurally deficient about the sapwood that makes it unusable or is it just the way it looks that bothers you?

I'll agree with Alexandru. Don't like curly wood. To iffy to bend. And sanding it? Not the easiest thing to do.

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

Don,
I just don't like the look. I've seen some beautiful guitars made with it, and they seem to be wispering "My maker couldn't afford a good piece of wood". Just so you guy's know, I'm not trying to start anything here, just having fun. If I get a board with sapwood I'll you trade for some boring straigt grained consistant color stuff.

Steve

As a pro woodworker, I like it all. Everything has it's place but only a few are good enough to make stable guitars. Many woods
though not good for structural stability, add great beauty when added using the right mix in the form of inlay. So, I guess I can't
come up with any I don't like. Sorry

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Bill Hodge


One does not simply, own enough guitars!

though burls are beautiful, last time I built with one, I just kept reliving the nightmare of waking up with absolutley terrible acne - something I spent the better part of decade through high school combating. I think because of that burls are not my favorite...

Stephen

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www.ziegenfussguitars.com

Steve, Gotcha... maybe I will take you up on that trade someday...

Ebony: yeah, it is pretty mucky stuff. What's more, I used to want the really fine grained, very black stuff until someone asked me if I'd made all the black plastic parts as well.

Now I quite like ebony with a few streaks in it.

Stump Bazilian? I don't think I'd trust it either (if I could afford it )

Wenge again. Every time I picked it up, splinter time.

There is another that is just as bad Leopardwood.

After resawing a bunch for resale, I vowed never again.

So far, wenge never made into the back of the truck.

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

Another vote for Wenge. I like the looks of it under certain conditions but have the scars in my fingers to prove that it splinters. This one I hate the most is red oak. Makes me think of the worst craftsmanship on the planet. I also get a bloody nose everytime I work with Padauk (even with a mask).

I also dislike wenge. It struck me interesting, and I had to try it on an OM...I never got the guitar finished (that was almost 2 years ago.) We tried EVERYTHING to fill the stinking pores on it, and it just wouldn't fill, and wouldn't cooperate with finish period. I bought a huge piece of it (about $70, quite a price for a teenager like me) and just don't really want to use it anymore lol. I'll stick to mahogany, walnut, and other more traditonal and useable woods.

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Jake

~Make a joyful noise unto the Lord~

I like black cherry and walnut. Black cherry is abundant in SW Pa., and is a stable and light wood,, not to mention the beautiful grain and workability. Walnut has all of the above and a wonderful aroma.

Chuck

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Hey all:
I don't like Pau ferro. Smells like cow manure and it gives me a reaction like poison ivy. Any one want a bridge blank and finger board blank? Zebra wood is next, gives off little splinters that go right into your hands.
Bill

Ebony - I have to be really careful around the dust, I get asthma like symptoms, and get red spots on my skin where it lands... respirator and a quick shower after working with it.

Poplar - another vote against it, I just hate the way it smells when cutting it. I'd rather use red oak or one of our other native hardwoods (in kentucky) for fixtures.