Official Luthiers Forum!

Has any one any experience in using this wood for a sound board? A guy wants me to build him a guitar with a paulownia top. I know it's been used for various Asian instruments and for dulcimer tops. In fact he said he went to a shop in NC looking for a dulcimer and found one made out of paulownia that sounded great. The guy who ran the shop said it was the best sounding dulcimer he ever heard. So he's curious about it's use in guitars and so am I but I won't use it unless I am well advized.

Thanks

I haven't made any soundboards using paulownia but have used it for solid linings and surfboards. sometimes considered 'heavy balsa'. Very workable wood, BUT;

Locating a piece that is a) large enough, b) well quartered c) taps well could be difficult. I would personally handle the piece of wood before proceeding....I have not considered it for soundboards for the above reasons....Also, I believe it's a fast grower, so tight grain may not be an option. Good luck and let us know if you find a workable piece. It really comes down to the piece of wood in your hands......

I have built 2 guitars with Paulownia tops; a steel string and a classical. I also gave a set to a friend in Santa Fe who build a flamenco. The guitars sound great. I displayed the Steel String during the last GAL convention and it was played at the listening session. It was very well received.

The trick for me was to find the Tomentoas trees that grow at a slightly higher altitude to get tighter grain. I found a guy selling a tree that fell in a North Carolina and got about a 6 quality sets. I only have 1 left.

Feel free to contact me directly if you want to talk about building techniques etc.

Brian.

Ok good to hear and thanks Brian. I don't know if I'm going to do this yet but if I do I'll take you up on your offer to ask questions. The stuff grows like mad here in Virginia. I see HUGE trees off the sides of roads in the middle of no where. I'd love to get permission to cut some down. Of course this is not high altitude here so I don't know of the quality but I do know it's abundant.

regards.