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| Port Orford Cedar bracewood http://mowrystrings.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10102&t=14203 |
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| Author: | Eric Mathre [ Tue Oct 23, 2007 10:38 am ] |
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Baed on suggestion from John Mayes on one of his videos, I am using Adi bracewood for my build #2 (OLF SJ). Although I'm very early in whole lutherie learning process, I think I understand that the critical factors for bracewood are density (i.e., weight) and stiffness as opposed to species, per se (assuming good quartering and little runout). But I'm curious if anyone has used Port Orford Cedar for bracing. I'm using POC kerfed linings in my build and I enjoy the distinctive terpene aroma. I'm interested in making classicals in the future, so non-steel string comments would be welcome, too. Do any of the OLF sponsors supply it? I did run across a non-sponsor tonewood vendor in Oregon with a nice selection of NW regional woods who has it. Thanks, Eric PS I may as well admit that I have a bracewood "problem". I already have stocks of Adi, Sitka, Engelmann, Lutz, WRC, and Mahogany. And after seeing that outrageous Swiss "moon spruce" that was (fleetingly) available in the recent Swap Meet, I've been doing shipping costs calculations with the tonewood.ch folks... PPS Anyone else in the SF Bay Area? I live about a 5 minute walk from Gryphons in Palo Alto. |
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| Author: | Bruce Dickey [ Tue Oct 23, 2007 1:53 pm ] |
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5 Minutes, wow, I know right where you live. Having been to Frank and Richard's place a couple times recently. Unfortunately I was just on vacation. Don't know anyone who admits to using Port Orford for bracing. Matter of fact I don't know anyone who uses it for tops. But I'm sure someone on the OLF does. By the way, Welcome Eric. Do you know Willie Carter or Matsuda? |
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| Author: | Carey [ Tue Oct 23, 2007 2:50 pm ] |
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IIRC Greg Byers uses POC soundboard bracing for his outstanding classical guitars. He has a very informative website as well. |
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| Author: | Shawn [ Tue Oct 23, 2007 3:46 pm ] |
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I build classicals and use Port Orford Cedar for Kerfed linings. I have used it for back braces as well and like it. It has a very small natural growing range in Northern California and Oregon mainly so it can be hard to find luthier grade stock. Its biggest use is for arrowshafts as it is light and strong. It is a shame to think that really nice boards are being ripped for arrowshafts. Les Stansell is a Flamenco builder in Oregon who has built really nice all POC flamencos and they look and sound great. |
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| Author: | Bobc [ Tue Oct 23, 2007 5:58 pm ] |
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Eric I have a small amount of PO Cedar bracewood as well as soundboards. |
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| Author: | Peter J [ Tue Oct 23, 2007 10:33 pm ] |
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Eric, Take a look at Peter Oberg's website. He was a student of both Ervin Somogyi and Robert Ruck and he uses the Ruck style fan bracing. He also mentions the use of POC for his bracing. Oberg Guitars |
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| Author: | Eric Mathre [ Wed Oct 24, 2007 5:57 am ] |
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Bruce, Thanks for the welcome. I've been a constant reader (and archive searcher) for a couple of years, but don't post very much. I'm a bit in awe of a lot of the folks at Gryphon, but I have chatted with Willie Carter a few times. He seems like an extremely nice guy. I've never seen Matsuda-san there; I think he's in the repair dept. It is really great living so close to the store. I treat them as basically a musuem of stringed instruments and try to (gently and carefully) inspect and play as much of their constantly-changing used inventory as possible. I try to buy a lot of books from them to make up for my frequent presence. Apropos to the ongoing bending discussion happening in another thread, Willie recommended to me to use a hot pipe to hand-bend the waist before using the Fox bender and said this is his standard practice. This, along with getting on the Rick Turner "let's use HHG for at least all of our soundboard-related gluing" bandwagon, is on the list of things to try in my next build. Regards, Eric |
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| Author: | Rick Turner [ Wed Oct 24, 2007 7:15 am ] |
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My question would be "Why?" Why use POC for brace stock? What is it about it that you find appropriate or that draws you to it? That would be my question about any wood choice, any glue choice, any parts choice, any finish choice... If you can't answer "Why?" with logical reasons, then that'll tell you right there what the answer is. "Logical choices" means a basic understanding of the physical properties required for the job at hand. If you don't know them, then you need to research and learn how to ask the right questions. For instance, what are the properties of superior brace wood? High stiffness to weight ratio, low density, low damping, good toughness and strength, good gluing characteristics. Does that describe POC? If so, then use it. If not, then don't. Aroma? Hmmm, I don't think that's on the list of important physical properties... |
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