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I've got this bookmatched set of flamed ebony. Each side is an inch thick. It's the dark ebony with grayish streaks. It's been in my workshop for several years and appears quite stable.
I was going to use it for a neckthrough, as I can make the front and backs of the body wings matched that way, and also have enouh wood for the fretboard and headstock binding to match.
Lately I've been thinking that since the set is quartersawn, I can get 4 sets of fretboards, bridges, and headplates out of it that would be matched sets per guitar.
There are some small pinholes here and there that don't affect the strength or integrity of the wood and could easily be filled in and not noticeable at all.
What would you guys do?
I'm posting this in both the acoustic and electric sections for maximum response, since I think it applies to both.

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Old growth, shmold growth!

I've only built one guitar from scratch, so take that for what it's worth. But if I had it, I'd definately do the neck through. It would be beautiful.
However, if you're in this for the money, you need to think of how you can get the most for your materials. If you can sell an electric such as you mention, then all well and good. If not, you might be better off to cut it up into matching sets of fretboards, bridges and the like to use on several guitars.
Just as an aside, I'd be very interested in seeing such wood. I've never seen flamed ebony. Sounds beautiful.

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Mike

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

it's an inch thick, but how wide and long?

8 inches wide 22 inches long.
I don't know how to get pictures to work in this forum.

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Old growth, shmold growth!

if it were mine, i would get a back for an acoustic,
then use ebony sides that don't match, (who cares! it's flamed!?)
and cut the rest up for fretboards, bridges, and what-not.

I saw an ebony topped carved top electrics (quasi PRS) and it was unbelievable. It was beautiful and very classy. (I am not sure I would try carving that with a plane though.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

If you check out Q-tuners website there is an ebony solid body there, looks really nice and different, I could only imagine that flamed ebony would be even better.

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John Thiessen
http://www.iszacguitars.com

i think a flamed ebony top would look gorgeous on an electric, i also think it would be like hanging a cinder block around your neck, might not be the most practical for playing a long period time, but dang if it wouldn't be pretty.

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~shad peters

http://www.flickr.com/photos/petersinstruments/
http://petersinstruments.blogspot.com/
http://petersinstruments.com/

Since you don't have the length for a set of sides, and since I assume this is stellar fiqure, I think I would use it for bookmatched electric tops and try for 8 tops if I was OK with the resawing. I would also consider matching fingerboard/bridge sets for acoustics.

We would all gladly suffer your delimma.


Danny R. Little

I'm digging the Guitar Back idea a LOT.
I measured them again, and they are actually 7 inches each, not 8, but I could do a 3 piece back with a quilt maple wedge in the middle, that would be KILLER! One side would bookmatch into that, and then I could use the other side for 2 sets of the fretboard, bridge, and headplate, maybe sell one.

Anybody got any ebony sides they want to sell, or a board large enough?

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Old growth, shmold growth!

Some electric drop top..! I dram of a ebony-top telecaster... No pickguard, 2 hums.

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Francis Richer, Montréal
Les Guitares F&M Guitars

Sell it to me! Pictures please!

I wish I could find the picture I am thinking about... it is a guitar by gabe hoffman and was featured in a Guitarmaker magazine in their pictoral area... It was a stunning carved top of striped macassar very similar to this.

I will dig through my old magazines and see if I can find it

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

yeah that dude is pretty much nuts, i have seen a lot of his guitars before not realizing they were all made by the same guy. lol he is one of those fellows who really just makes you feel like your efforts as a craftsman are worthless. o well, a nice big slice of humble pie is good every now and then.

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~shad peters

http://www.flickr.com/photos/petersinstruments/
http://petersinstruments.blogspot.com/
http://petersinstruments.com/

Hmmm....
Now I'm thinking carved top, neckthrough.
Not sure I want to spend the extra bucks to get sides for an acoustic.
That guitar is pretty gosh darn sharp looking.

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Old growth, shmold growth!