Basswood/Tilia Discussion

Malkav

Hey All,

I've decided I'll be building a guitar and am currently in discussions with a guy in the states about sourcing cutting and kiln drying a piece of Basswood for me, just wondering if anyone here knows of a place locally that stocks American Basswood, or can give me any useful info regarding it ? Also if I were looking to get a piece big enough to make a 2 piece body for an 8 string out of it what kind of price should be considered fair? Also links to websites that internationally sell wood and have American Basswood as a lumber they export would be something I'd appreciate greatly ?

Thanks all!

singemonkey

Just wondering... isn't basswood economical enough to get a 1-pc body?

Malkav

singemonkey wrote: Just wondering... isn't basswood economical enough to get a 1-pc body?

This is true, and it is possible - Though I have read a lot of debate of the merits of 1 piece vs 2 piece bodies and it seems in terms of strength and frequency response having a 2 piece may be the preference, this information I have perused could be wrong though so this may be a great point of discussion! 1 piece vs 2 piece bodies - Pro's & Con's in terms of my wood choice and just in general does anyone have any experience or information regarding this that could be of use?

Wizard

Basswood is seriously soft - considered to be an excellent choice for carving ☹
Also known as "linden" in American and "lime" in Europe.
Some info here:
http://www.ehow.co.uk/info_8162281_timbers-similar-basswood.html

Couldn't find Basswood in my pricelists from Rare Woods and Country Woods.

Rare Woods has Lime at about 22,000 / m3 (excl VAT) ...
I'll leave you to guess if it's the same stuff ... and to calculate the cost for a piece of timber.

Or ... phone Rare Woods @ 021-535-2004
Also try Country Woods @ 021-552-2631

Malkav

Wizard wrote: Basswood is seriously soft - considered to be an excellent choice for carving ☹

It's not as soft as you'd think, you can still make guitar bodies out of it afterall ? and in some cases necks ?

Wizard wrote: Also known as "linden" in American and "lime" in Europe.

Apparently the European version is slightly denser which is not what I'm going for, I'm wanting me some of the even grained light weight American variety, Linden is apparently also a part of the family but what I'm looking for I've been told will be specifically labeled as American Basswood.

Wizard wrote: Rare Woods has Lime at about 22,000 / m3 (excl VAT) ...
I'll leave you to guess if it's the same stuff ... and to calculate the cost for a piece of timber.

Lime is a no, as stated above it's not quite the same thing ? Rare woods doesn't seem like the place where I shall win, most likely cause Basswood isn't exactly rare it just seems it's F***ing impossible to find for purchase ?

Wizard

Well ... if you do find a place that sells Basswood; ask them if they have any Swamp Ash while you're about it
?

Gearhead

Make that +1 or any greater number, I think even a whole tree from the swamp would be interesting... ?

Malkav

Ash is somehow easier than Basswood :-[

http://www.hearnehardwoods.com/hardwoods/exotic_hardwoods/domestic_wood/ash_lumber/ash_wood.html

http://www.northridgehardwoods.com/BodyBlanks.htm

https://www.gilmerwood.com/items.php?CID=46

AlanRatcliffe

Speak to Tommy at USACG - he'll supply body blanks.

Ebay is another option:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lightweight-BASSWOOD-Wood-Guitar-Body-Blank-2-Piece-7-Pounds-/271052152386?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item3f1bf79e42
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Basswood-guitar-body-blank-1-3-4-X-14-X-23-3-4-/170907159928?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item27cadc4d78
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Basswood-guitar-body-blank-1-3-4-X-12-1-2-X-18-1-2-/170907539974?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item27cae21a06

I am a fan of one piece bodies - no chance that different pieces fight each other and I believe a one-piece matures better over time. Not as important with basswood as some variable weight woods like ash.

Malkav

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: Ebay is another option:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lightweight-BASSWOOD-Wood-Guitar-Body-Blank-2-Piece-7-Pounds-/271052152386?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item3f1bf79e42
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Basswood-guitar-body-blank-1-3-4-X-14-X-23-3-4-/170907159928?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item27cadc4d78
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Basswood-guitar-body-blank-1-3-4-X-12-1-2-X-18-1-2-/170907539974?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item27cae21a06

None of these dealers offer international shipping ☹

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: Speak to Tommy at USACG - he'll supply body blanks.

Sent him an e-mail, waiting to hear back ?

The guy in the states who's willing to cut me a piece is concerned as to whether it would be a good idea for me to rather look for tonewoods here cause just shipping comes out to being about $75 without VAT :-[ I can never find anything I like here though so I'm going to approach a few other sources and if I can't find an alternative I rate I'm probably going to bite the bullet...

AlanRatcliffe

You can buy on Ebay and have them ship directly to your builder (Tommy does that too - he doesn't stock exotics, but if you want to buy something and have it shipped to him, he'll use it). Why your builder can't source a nice piece, I don't know - it's one of the most common trees in the US, so plain lumber yards will probably stock it.

Malkav

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: You can buy on Ebay and have them ship directly to your builder (Tommy does that too - he doesn't stock exotics, but if you want to buy something and have it shipped to him, he'll use it). Why your builder can't source a nice piece, I don't know - it's one of the most common trees in the US, so plain lumber yards will probably stock it.

I am the builder :-\ I can't source a nice piece because it's not common in S.A ? So it needs to be an international shipping ?