Guitar build #2- marbled California Claro Walnut

[line6man]

I'm not yet done with my first partial scratchbuild, and I'm working at a snail's pace, so I'm getting a bit ahead of myself, but I came across this incredible piece of mastergrade marbled California Claro Walnut, and just had to have it. :blob7:

There is some slight checking, 1/16" deep, but it should not be a problem. Apparently the seller guarantees it will not show up when resawn. :icon_jokercolor:

The board is 1 5/16" thick, so there should be enough wood for not one but two identical bookmatched laminate tops.
I was thinking it might be cool to have matching top and back laminates on a Curly Maple core. Any thoughts on that combo?

I've still no idea what neck woods and pickups/hardware to choose, or even what shape to make the body.
Should I do another Strat, or spice things up a bit and go with something more like a Soloist or Dinky Strat?

 

[Updown]

WOW  :blob7:  WOW    .... What a great looking piece of wood.

Are Gibson having an 'under the counter' sale  :icon_jokercolor:
Shape is up to you, But .... I'm thinking a Ziricote Fretboard would match that very nicely  :icon_thumright:

 

[nexrex]

Wow. Beautiful pieces Of wood. I would go with a walnut neck. It would make for a very tonally balanced guitar  :icon_biggrin:

 

[Cagey]

That's a helluva hunk o' lumber! Make some nice salt 'n' pepper shakers, I'll bet <grin>

 

[m4rk0]

we will have to organize an intervention to make sure he is not turning it into pens!!

 

[line6man]

we will have to organize an intervention to make sure he is not turning it into pens!!

But look at all the damn scrap that's going to be left over! :icon_biggrin:

I have Black Walnut left over for the rest of my life from my last body build. Now I'll have some Claro.  :blob7:

 

[DangerousR6]

That's unmistakably awesome.... :rock-on:

 

[TK4261]

That is some of the best looking Claro Walnut I've ever seen. Great find!  :kewlpics:

 

[greywolf]

Stunning wood,  it is going to be gorgeous

 

[line6man]

Should I do top and back laminates over Curly Maple, or just a top laminate over Ash?
Both are tempting.

 

[bagman67]

Top lam over ash; then do another guitar with another top lam.  Maximize the return on the investment in that nifty lumber!

 

[line6man]

She came today! Oh what beauty to behold! :icon_biggrin:

Here is some wood porn. (Wet with naphtha.) :blob7:

 

[Patrick from Davis]

Well, there is the standard creosote suggestion, then there is primer grey, and of course, carbon black.  I would go the creosote route.  This is probably because I don't like grain filling.  Anyhow, it looks like one heck of a piece to play with.
Patrick

 

[Mor Paul]

we will have to organize an intervention to make sure he is not turning it into pens!!

I wouldn't mmind

 

[rapfohl09]

I say top and back lams over curly maple. When you buy something as nice as that, you go big or go home.

 

[Cagey]

That's a sinful waste of curly maple, though. It's an uncommon (read: expensive) wood, so why cover it up with laminates? If a Maple core is desirable, then one can be had without using a figured piece. Usually laminates are used to cover up common or uninteresting woods with something uncommon and desirable. Putting a laminate over curly would be like buying a solid gold statue and painting it with Sears' Easy Living latex paint.

 

[line6man]

That's a sinful waste of curly maple, though. It's an uncommon (read: expensive) wood, so why cover it up with laminates? If a Maple core is desirable, then one can be had without using a figured piece. Usually laminates are used to cover up common or uninteresting woods with something uncommon and desirable. Putting a laminate over curly would be like buying a solid gold statue and painting it with Sears' Easy Living latex paint.

The idea is to show off some curl around the sides, and a little at the forearm contour, tummy cut, and in the trem spring cavity.

I'm looking for a source of 12/4 Curly Maple that won't set me back $150-$250. I wish I had a local woodyard. :sad1:

 

[Cagey]

This is probably silly to point out because if you have the tools to do what I'm going to suggest, you already know this. But, you can save quite a bit of money by buying unmilled stock and machining it yourself. Only real caveat there is it's tough to tell what a piece is going to look like before it's been milled. Some pieces are just magical. Others... not so much. Plus, if you machine it yourself, you risk the dreaded "tear out", which is frighteningly common with figured Maple.

 

[line6man]

Ok, it took me a while to find some Curly Maple that was the proper dimensions, and reasonably figured, but not absurdly overpriced, but I found this piece.

Unfortunately, the two-piece core will not be bookmatched, but it should not be noticeable. I'm going to cut the board in half and have it flipmatched.

 

[line6man]

I got the Curly Maple board a few days ago. Looks good, but my only worry is that one side will be more figured than the other.

These pics are of the same face. The board will be crosscut at 19" or so.

I don't know what the sides are going to look like yet. The faces and endgrain look nice, but one side is a natural edge, and the other is a rough bandsaw cut that prevents me from seeing the curl, until I sand it after the wood has acclimated to my garage for a week. :blob7:

I'm pondering body shapes now. I figure that since the laminate top and back will be about 3/16" or so, it would look best with a 1/4" roundover, like a Soloist. I want to do something with somewhat of a Rickenbacker 4001 swoop, but subtle. I'll be sketching ideas out in full scale soon. Maybe I'll take pics and post them here for public opinion. :blob7: