Beginner - Humidity in solid body builds

[Alexbiggs]

Hey guys!

I'm new to forums and though I did a search of things like 'beginner' and 'humidity' I couldn't find exactly what I was looking for.

As a little bit of a back ground, I've been playing music since I was 8 (am currently 19) and have recently built my first guitar pedal - a custom tube screamer.
I've been looking into the art of building guitar for a while now and am researching everything before I begin. My University offers a luthier course but I can't afford the additional teaching fees.

So after factoring in costs and tools (I've decided to utilize a Men's Shed for my first build) my first problems ar concerning the humidity of wood. From my research so far I understand it to be a crucial part of guitar building. Things like where to get wood (and if they kiln dry it for you), if I need to let the wood adapt after shipping, what season to start (I was thinking Autumn) and what humidity to work at and how to regulate that all come to mind.

I would appreciate any help you had concerning this and more.

Thanks!

p.s. I've been watching a lot of videos such as this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkYYOAXW9Mk

[56nortondomy]

Hello Alex welcome to the forum, i'm sure one of the gurus will answer your questions for you, i'm still new to this addiction myself , so i'll leave it to those with more knowledge than me. Wayne

[Alexbiggs]

Thanks! I'm waiting until I feel like I'm informed enough so that I don't mess up materials haha

[Bob Connor]

Get yourself down to Bunnings or Mitre-10 and buy some gum tree. It'll be quartersawn and kiln-dried and will make a fine electric instrument at minimal cost.

Just true it up, glue and clamp it.

I'm building a couple of electric lap slides from it at present.

For electrics I wouldn't be at all concerned about humidity as long as your wood is reasonably dry.

Regards

[Alexbiggs]

Gum Tree is a new one! What sort of tonal properties would it bring to the table? I wouldn't use it for the neck as well, would I?

[DarwinStrings]

The only time I would consider humidity with a electric is when fretting the neck. If the neck wood is at its most swollen time of year and you fret it, when things dry out a bit the frets will bump out a little giving you a bit of a saw effect. You can always re-dress the edges though if that happens.

Jim

[Bob Connor]

You could use Gum Tree for a neck.


Regards

[liam_fnq]

A whole gum tree?

[peter.coombe]

There is nothing wrong with gum tree (translation - Tassie Oak) from Bunnings. Works well in Guitar backs and sides, mandolin backs and sides, and necks. Is underrated as a tonewood, but is actually excellent.

[Nick]

Plus, if it doesn't come out right......it burns well!
A Kiwi here so I'm not sure what timbers you guys use across the Tassie but just wanted to say welcome to the forum Alex.

[Alexbiggs]

Thanks guys!

If it's my first build I might as well use gum tree. Hopefully all goes well! What kind of finger board would I want? Would ebony be too snappy? And do you have to oil ebony?

[Tod Gilding]

Thanks guys!

If it's my first build I might as well use gum tree. Hopefully all goes well! What kind of finger board would I want? Would ebony be too snappy? And do you have to oil ebony?

If it's going to be a Gum Tree Guitar Why not a gum tree finger board only in this case a nice piece of Wandoo (Eucalyptus wandoo) would look great with the tassy oak

Tim Spittle has some nice Wandoo http://australiantonewoods.com/product_ ... ucts_id=53

You Don't have to oil ebony fingerboards but then again it doesn't hurt Ebony is also less stable with variations in humidity than (for example ) Indian Rosewood or wandoo for that matter.which is, I believe, why you don't see a lot of luthiers on this forum using it.