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Progress Report: Decided to do an all local Tennessee Wood Guitar.
My neighbor had a White Oak down and I got the trunk and re-sawed some back & sides.
It has some nice splalting in the sapwood. $0.00
John Arnold had some Norwegian (European) spruce from his neighborhood. $5.00
I have some Persimmon for the fingerboard and bridge. I cut the Persimmon off my place.
Either going to use Walnut or Sassafras for the neck. I have Sassafras I cut off my place also.

I like it already!

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

Thats some of the stiffest spruce I've ever messed with. Have you used the Osage that I sold you? I'm pretty sure it came from TN too. Good luck!

The Osage is going to be the bridge plate.

Cool stuff. I think you're winning in terms of low cost!

I still want some of that persimmon if you're willing to sell any, by the way Perhaps a small fingerboard for my harp ukulele challenge build? 12 x 1 3/4 x 3/16". But only if it has some of the black stripe... otherwise I'd rather stick with my previous plan of osage... that is if I can find any of that either

Anyway, looking forward to the build Have you decided what size/shape, or still plotting and planning?

I have a ton of the Persimmon its just very wet. Let me get it dry enough to use and I'll get in touch.

Doing a Martin O size.

Thanks for looking.

I have always wanted to visit Norway. If only I had realized it was in Tennessee!! I could combine trips and visit Graceland and Norway at the same time!!

Norwegian spruce is local to you?? Say what?!? Must be one of the trees the government brought in for some reason. I like the top by the way, just confused about my geography I guess! Keep the pics coming Clinch!

Tony

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http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC

Hi Tony,

Actually there are many trees that now grow in the US that was imported here for various reasons. One is Paulownia and also grows profusely in Tn. The Tung bean tree grows down in the deep south and is used as a source for Tung oil. Not trying to start anything here either , I just love wood whether in tree or lumber form!

Mike

The two most common spruce species planted in yards here are Norway spruce (Picea abies) and Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens). Red spruce is native, but it will not grow below 3500 feet because the summers are too hot. Norway spruce is much more adaptable, which is one reason it is a popular choice for yards.
In TN, Norway spruce can grow very fast if it is unshaded. The tree that yielded some tops was in my neighborhood, in behind some duplex apartments that were built in the 1950's. When the tornado passed through last April, it was one of the trees that was uprooted. I counted 56 growth rings, and above the butt swell, it was about 25" in diameter. For years I had wanted to build a guitar from neighborhood woods, but until then, I did not have suitable top material.
Hardwoods that I have cut in the neighborhood include pecan, walnut, cherry, sassafras, spalted hackberry, dogwood, and elm. I also have some Eastern hemlock, but it is only suitable for bracewood because of the small size.
If Nathan's osage orange came from Ted Davis, it was cut in 1981 on a golf course in Loudon, TN.

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John

I've been busy resawing a truck load of Black Locust but managed to get the top and back joined and HHG'ed.

Norwegian Spruce from Newport Tennessee and White Oak from Andersonville Tennessee

That's gonna be a beautiful guitar. And i really like the top. Has a lot of character.

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Mike

The only thing nescessary for evil to thrive is for good men to do nothing.

Hey Greg - Hows your build challenge coming along? Looking forward to seeing it finished! Care to post more pics?

Gil
Ran out of time so I dropped out.
I'll post some pics its coming long nicely, almost ready to close the box, Finishing up the top.

Looking good! So you decided not to use the Norwegian/East TN spruce? I'd like to come check this one out when you get it done. Also those others you are working on.

Thanks

I'm saving the "Tennessee wood" top, I want to modify the bracing.

I have a big pile of Lutz so I'm using one of those to finish this build. When I'm finished we'll have a show and tell. I'm going to hooking up with Dave at Ball Banjo's in Fountain City later this week or next.

Hows the "zook" coming? I was listening to WDVX and your band is playing locally sometime next week. Might get out and check you all out.

Come on by sometime. The zouk is getting close to finished. It's closed up and Im working on binding and the fretboard. I hope to have it finished end of June. I'd like to take a look at the Lutz you have, dont think I have ever seen this type of spruce before.

C'mon out! We play at the Jig and Reel this Sat. then on Tennessee Shines Monday 6/18.

Probably last post in this forum,(challenge 2012) congratulations to everyone who finished. I'll be done in about a month.

Got a box

Looking good!