Official Luthiers Forum!

I've seen some sets for $549 and some for $2500. Are the lower priced ones any good, scam or what? I know they aren't perfectly brown.

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Hutch

Get the heck off the couch and go build a guitar!!!!

know your sources David Nichols has decent stuff under $1000 ebay is the last place I would buy any BRW Email me I will give you his number

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

I bought some sets from Dake Traphagen. He had advertised them in the classifieds a few months ago.

He has sets from about $300 and to over $1k.

I'm happy with the ones I got.

Kevin Looker

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I'm not a luthier.
I'm just a guy who builds guitars in his basement.
It's better than playing golf.

If you want 100 sets you can pick them up for 355 each! From a well known luthier, CITES appendix 1 pre ban 1992.

https://reverb.com/item/26474039-100-sets-brazilian-rosewood-back-side-sets-for-acoustic-guitar-nigra-pre-ban-1992

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http://www.Harvestmoonguitars.com

I had the same experience as klooker. Dake has some nice sets and you will pay more for the nice ones. He has some less expensive sets that are good value for the money.
I never had a bad experience dealing with him and he's is good about giving you the dimensions if you ask before hand.
There are sets on eBay, I have been selling excess inventory over the last couple of months, that come from people who are selling off some of what they have. Then there are people who seem to have a never ending supply. You need to be patient and know what you are buying.
A good set will cost you more but just because you pay more doesn't mean you bought a good set.

I'm a hobbyist, I would just like to build one for myself some day. And not right now, I'm just curious.

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Hutch

Get the heck off the couch and go build a guitar!!!!

Thanks John, I'm just curious, not ready to buy any right now.

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Hutch

Get the heck off the couch and go build a guitar!!!!

Wow, I'm kind of surprised that didn't sell.

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I've had the pleasure of working with BRW recently and a stack of about 20 sets to choose from, all cut in the 1960's, straight grained and beautiful color.

I have not seen anything under $1k that isn't flat sawn or crotch wood. I'm sure it's still usable, many beautiful guitars are built with it, but it has the potential for causing lots of problems.

I am not knowing how to eyeball what is stable, but I have an example of flat BRW in a fine guitar that is stable.

I have a 1980 Kohno 30, which is a very high end classical. The sides are flat sawn and the back seems mostly flat sawn, with numerous inconspicuous pin knots. It has never cracked, even though in the early years of owning it, I did not keep the humidity up in the winter in Chicago, to the point that the frets started to protrude from the fingerboard. I keep the house humidified now, and a sponge in the case.

I have heard that bending BRW often results in cracks, even in the best appearing grain.

I found the seller (same guy I get the IRW fingerboard/bridge blanks from, and also has the truss rod) from China sells BRW sets too, not cheap either but it may be the only way for me to get BRW. I do not know how "real" they are.

No CITES between Taiwan and China because it's not "international" (for China to enforce CITES export to Taiwan is to admit that Taiwan is a different country, China wouldn't do that), and that's assuming China even respects CITES, which from what I have seen they don't care about CITES. They still sell ivory, like illegal ivory on Taobao!

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Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

Here are some of the sets the Dake had, not sure if these particular ones are still available.

I'm not involved with these in any way, just thought some of you might like the looking at the photos.

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I'm not a luthier.
I'm just a guy who builds guitars in his basement.
It's better than playing golf.

It seems like there are a fair number of sets on the market right now. I guess some builders have figured out how many more guitars they can build and have decided to sell the excess while the law allows. If I intended to build with it in the future I would look around for a decent set now. As time goes on the pickings will become slimmer and the quality will become lower. I'm perfectly happy to do the lamination thing so I have enough.

And as we "speak", Hippner just listed 12 sets on ebay.

I can't find them

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Hutch

Get the heck off the couch and go build a guitar!!!!

Those Dake sets don't look too bad especially if they are under $1k.

Can you provide a link?

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Hutch

Get the heck off the couch and go build a guitar!!!!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Brazilian-Rose ... SwjBRdQimZ

Hippner's listing

I bought this set on eBay a few years back for $299. It’s large enough for an OM. Darren Hippner can be a good source of BRW as well...

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Brad

You need to email him. Those were some photos that he sent me.

His contact info is on his site
https://www.traphagenguitars.com/

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I'm not a luthier.
I'm just a guy who builds guitars in his basement.
It's better than playing golf.