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I have been communicating with a fellow that had an ad on Craigslist for a few months, and finally got over to his place today to take a look at some wood that he had cut. Previously, I had told him of the rough dimensions that I needed, and he cut it pretty close. There is a pretty well flowing supply of White and Black Walnut that he is going to cut into back/side sets for me, and let go for around $50 or $60/set + shipping(I told him that I'll do all the work minus the cutting!). I've attached a photo of just one of the pcs that I took as an example(white walnut). A nice portion of what he has has some nice sapwood center to it. He will be cutting the black up in a few weeks(it is already milled, but he will be cutting it to my specs). Just testing the waters to see if there will be any interest in them at all ....let me know. Steve

What is white walnut?

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Formerly known as Adaboy.......

I believe that it is also called Butternut, but I could be mistaken(it's been known to happen every so often). Grows in the northeast. The black walnut that he has is tremendous looking, and he will be cutting the sets from the quartersawn slabs that he's got.

I think he's referring to what many people know as butternut, Juglans cinerea. Black walnut is Juglans nigra.

That looks like ordinary black walnut to me, if I had to guess. I see a lot at my day job. The sapwood is always white. Usually it gets trimmed off or steamed before sale; hence a lot of people haven't seen the white part. edit - Oh, black and white walnut, . Yeah, butternut.

Butternut is considerably less dense and softer, more like spanish cedar or something. Other than that, it does look about the same. It is a species of juglans after all.

If there are any "perfect" pieces of butternut for necks, I'd like to get least 4, or more if the price is reasonable. I don't like doing the opposing riftsawn lamination style for the neck shaft, so my requirements are strict... vertical grain lines, no runout, no curved grain, no knots, thin sapwood if any. Ideally 1x3x24" rough sawn, plus some heel stock. But I can use as small as 0.75x2.5x20", with minor imperfections like pin knots or curved grain allowed in the last 2" from either end (where they'll end up in the headstock and heel), and cut the headstock from a separate piece rather than the usual flip-around scarf joint style.

Heel stock is less strict. I do like to do opposing rift/flatsawn vertical lamination here, so ideal is 1.25" thick, 3.25" wide. But can use 1" thick, 3" wide. Need about 6" length of reasonably clear grain per neck (probably just a few boards totaling maybe 8 feet of length). Curved grain, runout and sapwood are ok here. Knots are no problem since I can work around them.

I may be interested in a back/side set of each species as well, but I'm picky so I'd need pictures first.

How many board feet of wood in a guitar? the craigslist adds here are asking 2.50 - 5.00 a board foot for walnut(the guy charging 2.50 just went up on prices, he has been selling walnut for 1.75 for several years now). I know a couple people that saw lumber and they would be celebrating big time if somebody told them they would pay them 50 for enough walnut to make one guitar. When I had my sawmill I would have been very happy selling walnut for 10 a set.
I have never worked with white walnut/butternut but seems like I remember reading it was becoming endangered. I dont remember if it was a fungus or bugs.

I'd also be interested in some butternut for neck and bridges.
Ernie (who is on here) has been asking about butternut for over a year now. Might contact him.


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"After forty-nine years of violin building, I have decided that the search for a varnish is similar to the fox hunt. The fun is in the hunt."
Jack Batts Maker and Repairer of Fine Violins

Looks like light-colored black walnut to me. Butternut is similar, but the fluted growth rings generate a unique pattern on slab surfaces.
Note how the ends of the 'cathedral' pattern have jagged edges:
http://www.ebay.com/ctm/Natural-Edge-Wood-Coffee-Table-Slab-

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John

Good to know, John.

Chuck, I think butternut is too soft for bridges. It's very similar to Spanish cedar.

And Britt, it is indeed being wiped out by a canker fungus.. very sad, seeing as how it's one of the few hardwoods light enough for classical necks, and domestic at that. But as long as the diseased trees are being cut, we may as well put them to good use.

The prices of guitar sets are more about the trouble of picking through wood and slicing it and the waste involved, than the raw board foot cost of the final pieces. I think the average back/side set is less than a board foot.

John, thank you very much for the info. I certainly don't want to misrepresent what I'm selling. If you don't mind, can I send you some more pics back channel, once I get them(just to get a bit more solid info)?
There will be detailed photos posted of each set that is available, and it will all be sorted through for the most attractive/usable sets. If pricing is an issue to some of you(and it seems that it may be), feel free to contact me to see if we could work something out OR move on, fair enough. As I said previously, it will be listed in the classifieds hopefully beg-mid March. Until then, any more info on what type of Walnut it is would be greatly appreciated.

Dennis, the fellow in grandview, does have a lot of walnut from 1- $ 2 a bd ft depending on size/quality. call him or PM me for the number he/s abt 13minutes from your place.Chuck ,hi I was in houston 12 days ago looking for a place /shop, the butternut was for necks only , It could be used for bridges only on a uke IMHO . The local butternut vy $$$$. Are you in so. ill or h town ?? cheers ernie. Yes chuck . I would be vy interested in 1/4 sawn butternut. Dennis if you ever are interested in learning how to set up/ maintain , and run a bandsaw I will show you how to do it just PM me. There are a lot of them on craigslist.