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Hello, Is this type of wood any good for a guitar body? I came across it on ebay looking for body blanks and have never heard of it. Is it comparable to any of the more common woods used? Thanks

tree of heaven is junk, you could not pay me to use it, it grows in out back yard like weeds.very fast growing tree, very soft wood, very stinky wood, and very boaring grain, i would not waste my money if i were you.

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~shad peters

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

shad don't be so indecisive, tell us how you really feel!

Mike

Yikes!

" In many urban areas, it has acquired the derisive nicknames of "ghetto palm" and "stink tree". "

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ailanthus_altissima

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Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services

Try using mahogany.
African is good.
I like maple, and plan to start using walnut as well.

I built a guitar out of an old cutting board, and am in the process of building another one out of yet another cutting board. I had the wood on hand, and it's maple, so why not? the first cutting board was poplar. Both of these woods have been used extensively in electric guitars. The first one ended up sounding and playing great, and I have no doubt the second one will, as well. You can make a guitar out of pretty much anything( but understand the wood for both of these guitars has been around a while, and is well seasoned).
However, we call them high heaven trees, and i agree with Shad. Don't waste your time. You'd have to dry it, and even if you did, it's so soft it would probably give you trouble holding screws and hardware in it.
I also second Filippo. If you can, use woods that have been tried and tested in the guitar world. On an electric guitar, you'll spend a decent amount of cash on hardware and pickups. You'll be glad you used decent wood in the end.

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Mike

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

my apologies mike, let me try and be a little more clear, tree of heaven does not even make good firewood.

_________________
~shad peters

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

So sad, but so true. They are like the weed of the tree world, for lack of a better descriptor. They grow "to high heaven" around here, but are worth absolutely nothing.

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Mike

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

I kind of figured it wasn't too desirable. I wonder why anyone would peddle such a material as this for guitar making if it's junk. I found a nice piece of Swamp Ash. Thanks for the input all.
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One never knows. But since you say you found it on ebay, my guess is either someone who doesn't have a clue what they're doing, or someone who hopes you don't. Kinda like the guy/gal from Moldavia or some such who emails you about getting your share of their inheritance. There's a sucker born every minute, and I'm beginning to think that people who try to take advantage of them are born evey 30 seconds.
Congrats on the swamp ash. Now you're talkin'!

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Mike

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

now I want some just to prove you guys wrong.