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Im having a hard time finding places that sell lumber cheaply. I live in the jackson michigan area myself, but I'd be willing to drive a little to find a decent deal. Anyone know any good places?

Lumber is for building houses.
Tonewood is for building instruments.

Which are you asking about?

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Well, Chris's amusing jibe notwithstanding, you actually CAN sometimes find tonewood in a lumber supply place. Probably not cheap, after you cut it up into instrument pieces. "Cheap" is a subjective term. I bought a 10' curly maple board at Menards the other day, pretty cheap. I will use it for something. But, by the time I re-manufacture it into tonewood pieces, I will have a lot of time and effort (if not dollars) invested in it. Cheap to buy, but labor-intensive to turn into tone wood. See what I mean? But I do this for a hobby, so my time can be spent as I wish. Further, I have the tools to do the resawing, etc., so all I'll be out is my time. But your situation might be different. I recommend you browse the sponsors here and inquire about their second or third grades of tonewoods, which will usually make fine instruments--just not as flashy and spectacular as their premium woods.

Tonewood, lumber.... it's all the same to me.....

Hi Ryan. I'm in Ann Arbor and don't have any leads for you because I always bought my wood from OLF sponsors. But you know Lance lives almost in Jackson and he owns this forum. He would know what you have in your area if you want to PM him.

This sub forum is a relic from the past - Michigan Guild of Luthiers, which means that no one has posted in it for a very long time so folks don't see posts here. Not sure why it's still even here most of the info in it about members is way out of date too.

Check with Lance for local to you sources, I'll bet that he will know. Also the OLF sponsors tend to be about the most reliable and friendly folks that you will ever meet too. They are all a sincere pleasure to do business with and great folks too!

If you ever get to Ann Arbor since we are only 45 minutes from you look us up, we are right in the center of the downtown area.

Wow, I've never looked at this forum. It's as current as my high school library card!

Alex

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"Indecision is the key to flexibility" .... Bumper sticker

Try using the "view new posts" link. That way you won't miss a thing.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Armstrong Millworks.

Cheap? Well, they sell at market prices. Close? Maybe an hour, hour and a half with construction. If you're looking for a selection of domestic and exotic woods for guitar building though, there's really no place else like this in the area. They have a few barns stocked with more species than you could imagine, and the tools to process whatever you may need. Wish I'd bought out their stock or Brazilian 20 years ago, but you can at least still find some good mahogany there (though availability does vary a bit these days).

If you're looking for domestic woods and perhaps a bit cheaper prices, B&B Hardwoods is another great resource, with excellent staff happy to help you out.

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Eschew obfuscation, espouse elucidation.

Tonewood is lumber resawn into expensive eighth inch sheets...

+1 for Armstrong.

The last time I was there they didn't take credit cards & I assume they still don't?

Kevin Looker

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I'm not a luthier.
I'm just a guy who builds guitars in his basement.
It's better than playing golf.

Agreed! I'll add and the price is tripled.....

It's wood, what we do if we do it well makes it tonewood.

Wood is wood. Comes from trees, there is no wood without blemishes, only pieces/sections don't. Now, If you will excuse me, I shall go grab my axe and put some plaid on.

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久保
美智え

There is a hardwood seller/saw mill on Michigan ave. going out of town headed east its on the south side of the road orange sign -- for the life of me can't remember the name right now. Even had some Coco -- really.

I get much of my material from LL Johnson in Charlotte, when I lived near metro Detroit we used General Hardwood and Armstrong.

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Ken Cierp

http://www.kennethmichaelguitars.com/

+1 for LL Johnson in Charlotte.

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Never heard if them. I'll have to check then out. Learn something new every day!

Guess it doesn't matter though since you meant Charlotte MI!

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Waddy

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Sound Clips of most of my guitars