I’ve only been playing about a year now and I don’t spend tons of time online and don’t really have my finger on the pulse of this topic.
The reason I’m asking is I run a sawmill and we have a pretty large piece of property. Storms and other things drop more trees then I can process. Just last week I had several healthy ash trees and a pile of oak trees get knocked down. I’m contemplating on the idea of producing body blanks but I don’t know what people really want. What size, thickness, etc. What types of wood are sought after and which are unwanted?
I notice that most readily available blanks are two or three pieces glued together. Is that more desirable than a one piece solid body, or is that just a cost saving measure?
We don’t have large maples here, but I could produce one piece ash, oak and poplar bodies pretty easily.
Just looking for some input from people that are in the know. I’ve got trees!..but little experience in this matter. Any input and advice would be appreciated.
I’m not sure who here has experience in the bass-building / body-making world.
Hopefully someone can help out.
Otherwise, you might need to reach out to some custom bass makers - hopefully people in your vicinity - or check in on whatever specs the main manufacturers have that are public.
I know that P bass and J bass bodies (modeled after the 2 classic fender bass models) are the most popular instruments in our world.
I’d start there.
Poplar and swamp ash are two of the more popular woods used for solid body guitars. The only builder I’m currently aware of whose using ash is Taylor and IIRC it’s sourcing that locally from the LA urban area using downed trees. More than anything weight/density is a factor in what I believe a guitar builder would seek.
One piece bodies are very rare. Most Fender guitars and basses are at least two piece bodies and some will use as many as five pieces glued together. Multiple piece bodies are less costly to produce based on the availability of the lumber used and are considered less prone to warping than a one piece body.
Contacting a manufacturer like Fender would be the best place to get info on the desired size and weight they need for their body blanks. You might also inquire as to who builders ordinarily rely on to supply them. Your best bet may be selling to their existing suppliers due to the quantities they need for production.
Another source I might suggest you contact is Ron Kirn. Ron builds custom built Telecasters and Stratocasters in his shop in Florida. He may also be able to give you some advice and direction; https://www.ronkirn.com/. Best of luck with your endeavors.
Plenty of luthier wood is sold on ebay (in Europe anyway). Most is figured tops (8-20mm thick) or veneers. Whole body blanks tend to be available in kits. I imagine most body blanks which are not figured in some way will end up painted.
I make entire instruments, so I collect lumps of wood to make (often) unique and unusual guitar bodies. I will try virtually any hardwood (Beech, Oak, Iroko, Maple, Mahogany, Lime, Ash, Willow, Afromosa, Walnut).
I imagine people who want one or two guitar bodies will want replacement ‘standard’ bodies, probably cut to shape and routed. A local luthier might just want dried balks.
Good luck.
Yeah, the blanks I was seeing on eBay is what I was interested in. It wouldn’t do for me to contact Fender or any large manufacturer as I’m sure they’ve got deep contracts and I probably couldn’t supply their demand. But I think I could produce quality slabs for DIY’ers
I did some math on an ash I milled yesterday. At 2" thick it would produce 4 one piece blanks and 8 two piece blanks. From the prices I’m seeing online (~$70 for two piece blanks) that’s about $600 for the two piece blanks. I couldn’t find anyone selling one piece blanks, but if they’ll bring $100 each that’s $1,000 for that log and I’m getting four logs from that tree.
I don’t have maple on the property but enough to do much, but some rough math says an average maple tree here could produce 75-100 necks pretty easily.
I didn’t know poplar was popular. I assume it primarily used by folks who plan to veneer the top and want to keep weight down?
Hi there. My friend, Scott Beckwith, is literally a luthier (he’s made all of my basses) and he and his head luthier (Jake) design and make guitars and basses for a living. Birdsong is the name of his company. Super nice people willing to help others where they can. Perhaps they can give you their perspective on blanks to help you with your wood marketing endeavor. Small business. Real people. Website: www.birdsongguitars.com. Email: birdsongbass@yahoo.com. Phone info is on the website. Hope this helps.
