Opportunity knocks.

[rocket]

Yeah i had the opportunity to grab the butt of a perfectly healthy Chinese elm, 1200 long x 550 diam, haven't seen any info on any lutherie use but thought i'd grab it while i could, what do you reckon, worth seasoning and milling up for a geeetr??
R.

[curly]

Chinese Elm is a beautiful timber , particularly if flat sawn to show the 'partridge feather ' grain . The colour is in the vicinity of walnut brown as a base with red washes and even strange green blotches sometimes . As far as luthierie I'd say it'd probably be pretty dead tonally , it has a coarse leathery texture . I'd expect it to tap something like cardboard , though I haven't tried .
As far as whether to use it for timber < I'd say definitely yes . One small warning would be that it needs careful drying under cover and weight , also it moves a lot in late stages of drying . When it's nearly done it needs the most care .
Pete

[Nick]

As far as luthierie I'd say it'd probably be pretty dead tonally , it has a coarse leathery texture . I'd expect it to tap something like cardboard.

Be perfect for one of mine then

looks like it could be pretty though.

[demonx]

Very pretty - that looks Great!

Would make a very nice electric guitar top if bookmatched!