Official Luthiers Forum!

Does anybody know if Black Walnut would make a good back & side set? I have a friend that has some he would give me.

Colby,
Black walnut is a great wood, especially at that price. Bends and works easily and sounds great. It'll work for the neck too.

Coincidentally, I recently closed up a parlor guitar using The Zootman's walnut back and sides. It's a joy to work with...it responds well to planes and chisels and bends easily. It requires pore filling (I used Z-Poxy) prior to finishing and it has beautiful figuring, as does all of Bob's offerings. Look at Bob's site...he has some progress pics of my effort to date.

It has a nice tap tone ... I can't comment on its final tonal qualities yet, but I'm sure others have taken it further in the process and will be sure to comment.

My recommendation...don't look a gift horse in the mouth...take it and run...we should all have such friends!

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

Walnut, any walnut, is wonderful tonewood. Bends like plastic, sands and planes beautifully, and smells sweet.

Oh, the sound? I describe it as sweet/warm. Never bright/brash.

perfect word mario. That is what I always describe walnuts tone like.
Sweet.

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John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

I have a walnut/sitka salon guitar on the bench now. Building it for my grandson.

I just hope it sounds sweet when it is finished..

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

Thanks guys, I'm going to contact him as soon as I can to see how much I can get.

I am in favor of walnut. Makes a great blues guitar. I did a D 28 style and it sounds terrific and looks good to
John Hall

Oh Yeah! Out here on the "Left Coast", our "California Special" is black walnut/redwood top. Give it a try...you'll like it!