Suitable Tasmanian soundboards

[martintaylor]

I would take Peter Coombes advice. I have played one of his Mandos and it was the sweetest sounding one I have ever heard or played. He is an exceptional builder.

[Allen]

I use to see Rick Turner go on about using the at the very least the best top you could afford, as the cost of it in comparison to the labour and love that you put into the instrument was going to so far out last that small savings you got by going with something that might just work. I know that he rubbed a lot of people the wrong way with this advice, but the buy has been building for 40ish years, and there is no doubt he knows his stuff.

If you want to build just one instrument, then go with something that has a known track record. Pick a spruce or a cedar, or even go with a Blackwood top. Mahogany and Koa make very nice tops, as will Blackwood. Depends on what sound you are after, and that's not something anyone else can help you with. It's in your head. Not ours.

If however you want to dig deep into this craft then don't listen to what anyone has to tell you and just go out into the bloody shed and start cutting up wood. I can guarantee it's not going to happen for you on the first, or even the fifth instrument. But it will be fun.

And as Nick said, if you've been lurking here long enough you should know that this isn't one of those politically correct American forums where we all play nice and have a group hug. You asked for opinions, so take them for what they are. Now, go back and read the third paragraph of my reply.

[nnickusa]

I'm with Allen, too. I'm on my third. first was Bunya Pine, second Redwood, and this one Sitka....The first two sound better than any store-bought acoustic I've ever had. Of course, there might be just a touch of builder's pride in there, even tho they both sound VERY different(OM and Dread), they are a joy to play.

Build the bloody thing out of whatever you want, and believe whatever you read, wherever it may be from, but take heed. These guys make some REALLY NICE instruments, and have way more experience than I, so....

Who's for a group hug?

[ozwood]

Who's for a group hug?

i'll be there in about 7 hours

[Bruce McC]

If we are a......" pack of wankers", shouldn't that be a group tug?

[ozwood]

If we are a......" pack of wankers", shouldn't that be a group tug?

Not my deal , sorry Nick I'm at karuah , I'm turning around Now and going home Just got Freaky!!! when Bruce gets there turn of the lights and pretend your not Home

[Kim]

The ANZLF, its just gotta be the best little forum in the cyber universe.

Its got ying, its got yang, and its overloaded with twang, and to top it all off, its even got a bunch of group hugg'in wankers

Thank you sideshow Bob..Ooops!!! eeermm sorry what was I thinking?? I mean thank 'you' Mrs Kidding' for the reminder of how great we are.

Cheers

Kim

[nnickusa]

Just got "not" home, Paul. Bruce, I've moved to ..... Incognito, just east of Mexico City....

[Bruce McC]

You're all safe, I am stuck in Canberra.....with Dom and Craig and Graham Mc

[DarwinStrings]

"Group tug"....seems I have missed a few ANZLF parties in my absence.

Jim

[ozziebluesman]

G'day Jim,

Haven't seen you here for ages.

Have you built any teles lately?

Cheers

Alan

[DarwinStrings]

G'day Alan, After thirty years of wood work I have been on a bit of a break and am re-building/customising a 1976 Honda XL250 that I bought broken for $270, it has been great fun and a huge challenge.

I do have some plans for a Tele with my own twists but it may be a while before I get to it.

Sorry for the off topic Jo.

Jim

[kiwigeo]

Great to hear from you Jim. We were wondering what had happened to you.

[Kim]

Great to see you make an appearance again Jim. Your experience and humor has been sorely missed by many, myself included. ..

Cheers

Kim

[auscab]

Hi Jim,
Good to see you.
Clancy / Craig was asking about you down on Anything goes a month back .
An XL250 , are you going to ride the streets or the Bush ?
I still tell people of the Mahogany that I saw here that you got that was planted after cyclone Tracy and is now tone wood. They love it.

Good thread to come back in on , it's been a ripper

[charangohabsburg]

Good thread to come back in on , it's been a ripper

Too true. I still wonder why nobody suggested Tassie Wankey Pod as top timber.

[jeffhigh]

So to sum it up
Everyone likes King Billy
No one is particularly keen on Celery Top
Bob Connor likes Huon if it's the right lightweight example,but not for a first build.
No one likes having "internet research" presented to them by a beginner to justify their opinion.

[DarwinStrings]

Response in "Anything goes"

Jim

[ozwood]

Come on Guy's you've turned this whole thread into a facrce , we have gone from a serious plea seeking our learned and collective "opinions" on Tassie Topwoods , from a very receptive newby I like to call JoBob, about to embark on a first build, that's been in the Planning for ten years, with solid independent advice from a Tasmainian tonewood supplier and the Internet (cause everything on the net is true) that states without question that Celery Top Pine and Huon Pine are the greatest soundboard material bar none , hence justification for the fact it's often twice the price of a top of mastergrade euro spruce and in a display of utter rebellion you gave your honest opinions, which was clearly not sort , in Hindsight and for future reference , the correct reply is , "That's correct Huon pine and celery top pine are in fact the world's best soundboard material , and well worth twice the price of mastergrade euro spruce" , and then you should direct said enquiring newbie to suitable vendor , suppling a link would be helpfull. instead there was Sarcasim (a quality I personally find repugnant), offers of group base Homo erotic activities, people Behaving like a collective lot of wankers and a general reluctance to tow the Line shame on you all and Me as well .


Next time the quetion gets asked , you know what to do !

[kiwigeo]

I gave up on this thread quite some time ago....

I've got enough to deal with here at work without having to deal with Scotsmen undergoing sex changes and swapping their kilts for a girlie skirt

[needsmorecowbel]

I would not touch Tassie Tonewoods with a ten foot Scottish Transvestite's pole

but..................
"I'm a lady"

[ozwood]

awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww !

[Taffy Evans]

It's not often I follow a thread this long and read every post, but it's been fun, but I'm drawing the line at three pages tho....I've got things to do. Well I might look in from time to time to check for the newbies first build.

[nnickusa]

Doesn't seem that we'll see that......

[Kim]

Doesn't seem that we'll see that......

Making it a “Wasn’tborn “ hollow neck guitar then?…Nice and lite in the lap with very clear projection. But I understand they lack detail in separation due to overwhelming complexities of the fundamentals…..at least that’s what I read somewhere on the internet.

Cheers

Kim