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| Douglas Fir as a tonewood http://mowrystrings.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=53313 |
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| Author: | DanKirkland [ Mon Jun 29, 2020 6:25 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Douglas Fir as a tonewood |
About 5 years ago I picked up some ridiculously straight quarter sawn 4x4s. They've been air drying ever since so i was curious if a tone had experience using it as a wood for back/sides or a top? And if you have. How was it bending wise? |
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| Author: | Ernie Kleinman [ Mon Jun 29, 2020 7:05 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Douglas Fir as a tonewood |
Hi dan , I have only used d fir for tops , in a small baritone uke sized classical guitar,it has a good tone, as well as a tenor uke. I made the fir tops thinner than spruce wrc etc . due to the d. fir I had was heavy and dense . I have also used silver mtn fir . but it is a much lighter. an less dense wood. and I made that top thicker than spruce pine wc etc.. I try to balance out the tops I use, by testing for ring tone, deflection weight, grain lines per inch etc. Good luck with it |
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| Author: | Alan Carruth [ Tue Jun 30, 2020 12:06 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Douglas Fir as a tonewood |
I've used a lot of Doug fir for soundboards over the years on dulcimers and other of instruments, but never on a guitar. I prefer something less dense. Doug tends to have high surface hardness, but it is often splitty. I've never tried bending it. |
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| Author: | Ed Haney [ Tue Jun 30, 2020 5:19 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Douglas Fir as a tonewood |
Charts that I've seen showing Young's Modulus indicate that D. Fir is very stiff. I've never used it so I can't add more. |
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| Author: | B. Howard [ Wed Jul 01, 2020 6:40 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Douglas Fir as a tonewood |
I have built guitars with DF tops. I am currently building a classical with a DF top. I set thickness by deflection test and these tops come in at the thin side of the normal range. If you bend it you will need to take care as heat + water will likely cause dark blotches. |
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| Author: | Mike_P [ Wed Jul 01, 2020 4:37 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Douglas Fir as a tonewood |
Alan Carruth wrote: I've used a lot of Doug fir for soundboards over the years on dulcimers and other of instruments, but never on a guitar. I prefer something less dense. Doug tends to have high surface hardness, but it is often splitty. I've never tried bending it. I tend to call the stuff North American Crackwood (especially when it's vertical grain) |
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| Author: | Dave Livermore [ Sun Jul 05, 2020 11:32 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Douglas Fir as a tonewood |
I have made some fantastic guitars with DF tops and braces. Makes great sounding instruments. |
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| Author: | Freeman [ Sun Jul 05, 2020 6:57 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Douglas Fir as a tonewood |
Dan, ironically I have just started a doug fir guitar. A few years ago I was given a bunch of lovely straight grained fir that came from the gymnasium of our local school. It hat been planed to 1/8. I'm bored and don't need another guitar but decided to make something out of this to see what happens. I've decided on a classical - I built a '37 Hauser years ago and gave it to my son, I'll build the doug fir guitar and compare it. I'm throwing an additional challenge to myself - I'm going to do this without electricity - I want to do everything with hand tools. The classical has several advantages here - no truss rod slot, Spanish heel instead of M&T, bridge should be simpler, no inlay, shcllac... So I faced the first obstacle today, I hand planed the sides to .080 and bent the first one. I figured if I couldn't bend a side I would stop right here. Darn thing bent over the pipe just fine and is cooling in the mold right now. Guess I'm committed. |
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| Author: | Herr Dalbergia [ Mon Jul 06, 2020 4:57 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Douglas Fir as a tonewood |
Hello, I have resawn about 100 Tops of Douglas Fir, but not yet used one. Perhaps I need to resaw less and built more... Anyhow I was realy positive surprised about the Tap Tone, very promising, clean, long, deep, wide range....everthing you are looking for I did not have any problems with cracks or wrapping. Only sometimes a Gum pocket was ruining a top set..... Unfortunately I do not yet have any pictures. Cheers, Alex |
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