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Alan
 Post subject: Sycamore
PostPosted: Fri Sep 18, 2009 5:51 pm 
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What are your thoughts on sycamore for guitar backs and sides? I just got a couple of pieces of quartersawn 4/4 sycamore with a little spalting that looks like it would make some nice guitars.
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MRS
 Post subject: Re: Sycamore
PostPosted: Fri Sep 18, 2009 5:57 pm 
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Location: Philadelphia, USA
First name: Michael
Last Name: Shaw
City: Philadelphia
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Semi-pro
Is this American sycamore or European? There is a difference. The European sycamore is really maple by another name. American sycamore is fine for guitar building. So is is the European even though its maple.
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Alan
 Post subject: Re: Sycamore
PostPosted: Fri Sep 18, 2009 6:10 pm 
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Thanks Mike. It's American sycamore.
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Steve Kinnaird
 Post subject: Re: Sycamore
PostPosted: Fri Sep 18, 2009 10:28 pm 
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Alan, do you mean like this?--


Attachment:
otb back3 sm.jpg



And this?--


Attachment:
otb butt sm.jpg



I find it's just great to work with. Bends fine, looks wonderful, sounds mahogany-ish. But it resists sanding, somewhat like maple does.
Go for it...you'll like it.

Steve


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Alan
 Post subject: Re: Sycamore
PostPosted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 10:06 am 
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Steve Kinnaird wrote:
Alan, do you mean like this?--

I find it's just great to work with. Bends fine, looks wonderful, sounds mahogany-ish. But it resists sanding, somewhat like maple does.
Go for it...you'll like it.

Steve



Yep, that looks like the wood I have.

That guitar is a realy beauty Steve! Thanks.

Alan
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Steve Kinnaird
 Post subject: Re: Sycamore
PostPosted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 1:24 pm 
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Ahh, thank you Alan. You really will like working it.
If your set behaves like mine, you will love the fact that there was NO springback after bending. How dreamy is that?

Steve

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MRS
 Post subject: Re: Sycamore
PostPosted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 3:14 pm 
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Location: Philadelphia, USA
First name: Michael
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I also have made a telecaster style neck of sycamore. Not sure if its equal in strength to hard maple but i have had no issue with it.
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James Orr
 Post subject: Re: Sycamore
PostPosted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 3:20 pm 
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A few years ago I was able to play a Santa Cruz Guitar Co. OM made of a local sycamore that had fallen. I loved it, and the sound of the guitar was very much like what Steve described. It had a warm, dry sound.
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Neil Gardiner
 Post subject: Re: Sycamore
PostPosted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 7:33 am 
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I have a set in my stash that I picked up about 6 months ago.

Doesn't have much of a tap tone. But it looks great.

The stuff I have really sucks up the glue.

Neil
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Chris Oliver
 Post subject: Re: Sycamore
PostPosted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 7:32 pm 
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Alan, it works easy.
Image

Good luck.

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Mike R
 Post subject: Re: Sycamore
PostPosted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 10:19 pm 
Here is a site that shows the hardness of a variety of hardwoods. As far as necks go, I am not sure sycamore is okay, but for backs and sides, who knows. Sounds like it works.
It is beautiful wood. And if it bends easy, and sounds good, I'm ready to try it.
Mike R.
http://www.sizes.com/units/janka.htm
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Alan
 Post subject: Re: Sycamore
PostPosted: Thu Sep 24, 2009 11:33 am 
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Chris....with the spalting, that looks very similiar to the wood I have. Very nice guitar...I hope mine turns out as well!
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Steve Kinnaird
 Post subject: Re: Sycamore
PostPosted: Thu Sep 24, 2009 11:40 am 
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Mike R wrote:
As far as necks go, I am not sure sycamore is okay, but for backs and sides, who knows.



Let me answer that:


Attachment:
otb back sm.jpg



This neck is Sycamore. Now granted, there is 1/2" of Bubinga in the center, w/ the usual 2 way truss rod and 2 CF bars either side of the TR. But...it just hasn't moved. It is stable as a rock, and seems plenty stong as it sports medium gauge strings.
As a benefit, it matches the body fairly well.
Not cut from the same tree as the back/sides, but from a neighbor's Sycamore tree. (Hey--it was free.)

My recommendation: it works.

Steve


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Alan
 Post subject: Re: Sycamore
PostPosted: Sat Sep 26, 2009 12:11 pm 
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I just resawed the sycamore....pics below. Wish that I could try it out now, but I have two builds to do before I can get to it.


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Steve Kinnaird
 Post subject: Re: Sycamore
PostPosted: Sat Sep 26, 2009 5:16 pm 
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Oooh, yeah, Alan, that looks great.
'Twill make a handsome guitar.

Steve

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