Official Luthiers Forum!

Is figured Bubinga easy to work? and does it sound good in acoustic guitars?

It's sure pretty!!

I did a dread in it and the only problem I had was it needing some serious sanding after I got the sides bent, but it was VERY pretty and bent like Butta!!!

I will build with again...

-Paul-

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-Paul-

Patriot Guitars

Ditto what Paul said. My experience exactly--however, not everyone has had it so easy. The really figured stuff is undeniably beautiful. And as for sound, it has made my best sounding guitar to date.
It works.

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Barry I'd have to say the highly figured stuff is anything but easy. However with some patience, perseverance and some good old common sense it is a great tonewood. Some of the best figured woods I have come across are bubinga and sapele. Steve K's curly bubinga guitar is an awesome example of figured bubinga at it's best. Don't know if we could coax that picture out of him again.

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Beautiful and unusual tone woods at a reasonable price.
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The Zootman
1109 Military Rd.
Kenmore, NY 14217
(716) 874-1498

Could this be the one?

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Yep that's the one.

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Beautiful and unusual tone woods at a reasonable price.
http://www.rctonewoods.com/RCT_Store
The Zootman
1109 Military Rd.
Kenmore, NY 14217
(716) 874-1498

   I have bent my fair share of bubinga. The waterfall and high figure woods take a special technique.
   Get some paper ( i use kraft paper) and soak that so it is well saturated. ( about 2 minutes ) I also spray the side I am bending and keep it wet for about 1 minute.
    I then set the pattern steel wet paper   wood wet paper steel and heating blanket on the very top . I then align the set in the bender drop the waist cawl to hole the snadwich ( friendly friction ) and let the heat rise to 325. Check to see the paper and wood are wet and I will want to see steam .
    I then set the lower bout first. Check my postioning and do the upper bout. Again I check the wettness as I don't want it to be dry. I then set that lowering the bend nice and easy. I like to hear it sizzle and I keep an eye on the heat. I don't want to go over 350.
    Once the bouts are set I then lower the waist cawl. Once I am against the pattern I let it hold at 325 for about 2-3 minutes. I then let it cool to below 120 and blow out the excess water.
    I now reheat it and dry it out. About 3-5 minutes above 275 below 320.
   Let cool and bend the other side.
good luck
john hall
blues creek guitars

John...do you have any heat (light bulbs) from below?

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Uuuurrrghhhh... I'm getting to hate that photo.
Lance--could you take my ugly mug outta there and just leave the guitar? That would do us all a favor.

SK

Or better yet---superimpose someone else's head on my body. Pick Robert Redford, or Hugh Grant, or perhaps Mel Gibson. Yeah, that would be great--Mel Gibson.
(Not Charlie.)

Or hey! Best of all--Orville Gibson!Steve Kinnaird38588.9758564815

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

That is a gorgeous guitar Steve.... wish i had a good pic of myself to super-impose over your face and claim it as mine...!jfrench38589.0673958333

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Instagram: @jfrenchluthier
Web: https://www.jfrenchguitars.com/

EEyow. Nice guitar Bro.
I've got some of that and now am inspired to slice it up and make something purty.

WOW Steve, I have seen the photo before and it is really something! You and John are certainly brothers. I guess the only way to find out is to bend some???
Wood that looks this beautiful is porno for a luthier!!
I have some really nice figure Mahogany from Bob that I guess I will use first. I'm buffing out 2 this week and spraying 2 more and then I will be starting 2 new guitars. I also have some killer Imbuia that's calling me!

Barry, Bro, Joshua-- Thanks for the kind remarks. Joshua, superimpose away to your heart's content. (Hey, we still need to do Clark's sometime!)

Barry--I just bent this stuff by hand. I've got one of those electric bending irons, and though this particular set was highly figured, it bent easily. Now, I did have to sand out some irregularities once it was finished, but nothing impossible. Like you said, give it a try.

_________________
From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com