Official Luthiers Forum!

Finally my work took me to St Louis again, and I made time in my schedule to visit Hibdon Hardwood. It was definately time well spent. I called for directions, then got lost and called again from about 2 blocks away. When I arrived I was met by Brian Loy and was given the tour. The place is simply amazing. I've never seen so much African Blackwood and Ziricote in my life. On one pallet there were approx 300 blackwood back and side sets. Next to it was another pallet just as tall mixed with ziricote and blackwood.
The luthiers room is upstairs and has shelf after shelf with stacks of cocobolo, mahogany, koa, honduran rosewood, granadillo, maple, and the list goes on........
They had stacks and stacks of neck blanks. The 3x4x30 fiddleback magogany caught my eye, and of course they have matching backs and sides.
In the basement they even had logs of ziricote, blackwood, and mahogany.
Their shop area looked neat as a pin. Their dust collection system is obviously more than adequate. Their resaw uses 1 1/4" carbide tooth blades, and their employees were very courteous and seemed to really know their stuff.
The office....Not a speck of sheetrock. The whole office looks like the handywork of a master craftsman with a whole building of exotic wood to play with. Come to think of it, it is the handywork of a master craftsman with a whole building full of exotic wood.
Unfortunately I didn't have a lot of cash so I only left with one back and side set, but I'll be back. Brian smiled and reminded me that they take Mastercard, but I was able to resist- - -for now. The fiddleback mahogany and watercolor Honduran Rosewood were beckoning to me.
Also Next time I'll try to remember to bring the camera.

AlA Peebels39092.8294907407

Yep
The place is wonderful. I was there in Nov.
I agree about their Ziricote and the Fiddleback. I bought a set of each.
Anyone in the St. Louis area should visit

_________________
Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

So close yet so far. Thanks Al for the peep show. Camera, always take a camera......

We are all using our Zootmaginations!

So how do you find neck blanks and stuff like that on Hibdon`s website?All I can find are backs and sides.
                James
Just found them

                     James W B39092.8629282407

_________________
James W Bolan
Nashville Tennessee

Call them for the neck blanks....they have a few left and they are gorgeous!!

_________________
Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

Their phone # is (314)621-7711

Al

How could you resist such temptations buddy? Wow, must have been like paradise in there!

Thanks for sharing the experience Al!

I wish that I could visit all of our sponsors.

Al

[QUOTE=A Peebels] I wish that I could visit all of our sponsors.

Al[/QUOTE]

I know what you mean, Al.. I am so close too and must get down that way sometime!

_________________
"Building guitars looks hard, but it's actually much harder than it looks." Tom Buck

Bump