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Can Flatsawn be Beautiful?
http://www-.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10102&t=11313
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Author:  Don Williams [ Sat Mar 17, 2007 1:35 pm ]
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You tell me.....
















Author:  af_one [ Sat Mar 17, 2007 2:01 pm ]
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Sure is pretty!!

Author:  AStass [ Sat Mar 17, 2007 2:14 pm ]
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Yep, sure is mighty fine, and would probably sound fine too! I wouldn't hesitate to use that for a guitar, and if you had some back and sides for a Weissey style, I would buy it now. Alan.

Author:  Steve Kinnaird [ Sat Mar 17, 2007 2:48 pm ]
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Oh mercy, that flatsawn is beautiful.
What do you have planned for that?

Steve

Author:  Don Williams [ Sat Mar 17, 2007 3:08 pm ]
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Well, I'm either keeping it, or selling it. Haven't quite made up my mind on it yet.
On the one hand, it's flatsawn, and so might not command as high a price as quartersawn BRW. On the other hand, under naptha it's absolutely stunning with amazing contrast and color, so in my mind, more valuable than typical flatsawn wood.

I've been staring at this board in my overhead wood rack for years now, just dreaming about how great looking a guitar it would make. Sell, or use it? Choices choices. The more wood I cut, the more I want to build again. Who knows? Money talks good too, so it depends on how much I could get for it. The outline drawn on it is a Martin OOO-12 fret, so getting a dread out of that could be tough.

Brock tells me that a person who sells wood can't afford to fall in love with any of it. But I'm an emotional sort of guy....

Author:  John Forbus [ Sat Mar 17, 2007 3:08 pm ]
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Is that Mother Teresa's face. Just kidding, but it sure looks sweet.

Author:  Don Williams [ Sat Mar 17, 2007 3:13 pm ]
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John, you know, I didn't notice the face until you pointed it out. Maybe some over-sentimental person in New Hampshire will want that set, in remembrance of the "Old Man on the Mountain" that crumbled and fell down a couple years back...

Author:  Terry Stowell [ Sat Mar 17, 2007 3:40 pm ]
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Well how about a picture of it under naptha? Or is this just another portion of the tease show?

Author:  Don Williams [ Sat Mar 17, 2007 4:04 pm ]
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I will accomodate that request in the morning....

...and no, it's not intended to be a tease. Like any good business man, if someone really wanted this bad enough, it could be had for a reasonably generous offer.

At this moment, I'm not inclined to sell it necessarily.
Who knows what I might do.

Truth be told, as I started to cut into all the BRW planks I had, there were a lot of hidden cracks and checks which are making getting sets difficult, at best. I once felt I could possible get 20 sets out of it all, but now, half that amount seems like it would be fantastic. So much for Don's rumored stash...


Author:  zac_in_ak [ Sat Mar 17, 2007 4:42 pm ]
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of course you could maybe do some parlour and uke sets

Author:  Billy T [ Sat Mar 17, 2007 6:03 pm ]
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Man! That is stunning! Very Nice!

Author:  JohnAbercrombie [ Sun Mar 18, 2007 4:38 am ]
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Very interesting appearance.
However, shouldn't the thread title be 'Can Sapwood be Beautiful?'
Cheers
John

Author:  Don Williams [ Sun Mar 18, 2007 4:52 am ]
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Wasted? Oh, nothing goes to waste. It's either bridges, headplates, bindings, fretboards, or firewood.
Nothin' wasted.

Author:  JJ Donohue [ Sun Mar 18, 2007 4:55 am ]
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Beautiful wood, Don. I can understand your dilemma regarding building or selling. BTW, what do the sides look like? How stable do you think this will be?

This is a timely thread. The topic of "Flatsawn" is something I've been pondering since I was eyeing some sets on the West Penn site. They have some rather seductive EIR they've designated as "Funny Grade". What's the consensus from the experts as to when flatsawn is ill advised. I was most concerned about the sides and what will happen with the additional stress from bending.


Author:  Don Williams [ Sun Mar 18, 2007 8:00 am ]
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Sides will be flitched off the same boards. These are now about 1" thick each as you see them. I've bent quilted maple and other figured woods that are flatsawn with no issues. I guess if I were really concerned, I could thin them way down, and laminate them to something more quartersawn.

Author:  Bobc [ Sun Mar 18, 2007 8:17 am ]
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Beautiful stuff Don.

Author:  JohnAbercrombie [ Sun Mar 18, 2007 8:38 am ]
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[QUOTE=JJ Donohue] How stable do you think this will be?

I was most concerned about the sides and what will happen with the additional stress from bending.

[/QUOTE]
I'm no expert, but...
I've got an 'experiment' guitar under way right now that uses flatsawn back/sides.
Flatsawn sides are more likely to 'cup', and the back arch will want to change (a lot) with humidity changes, compared to quartersawn.
It can look very nice, though.
John

Author:  Mike Mahar [ Sun Mar 18, 2007 9:13 am ]
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Don, Remember that some of us make mandolins or even fiddles. Hmmm, A BRW fiddle. I wonder.

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