Where to buy wood!

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I love the making and modding section and to name a few watching @WezV @TTony @PeteC do their builds. 
This has given me the (possibly false) hope I too can build a guitar, at least a body.
 
Where are you guys buying wood from? I know G&W in Portugal. I also found Reid Timber in Scotland. I called my local wood yard and they didn’t have anything (more a builders merchant). 

Thanks 
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  • TTonyTTony Frets: 27345
    Where to buy wood depends in part on what sort of tools you've got available, and how "special" you want your piece of timber to be.

    I've gradually evolved into buying mine in plank form.  It's cheapest!

    But, for the odd blank, there's always someone selling something on eBay, and it's easy then to return it if it arrives as something completely different (or unsuitable). 

    Some of the sellers are timber yards who've spotted an opportunity to cut a plank into smaller bits, run it through their thicknesser, and suddenly a £10 piece of plank is FS at £50.  Some are more focused on luthier supplies.  You shouldn't need to go all the way to Portugal to find it, but it you are going to buy from there, do it before year-end!

    OK, you're not going to be able to "tap test" it first, but, tbh, I'm not sure that's really - really - important for electrics anyway.

    Or, if you look at some of the build threads, almost any of piece of scrap wood, Ikea table, or bunch of offcuts can be turned into a guitar body ...
    ;)
    Having trouble posting images here?  This might help.
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  • SteveRobinsonSteveRobinson Frets: 6914
    tFB Trader
    I've recently bought from G&W and been very happy with the quality of their wood.

    I've also recently bought wood from a well-known UK supplier and had to send it back as the body blank was both cupped and split. 
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  • WezVWezV Frets: 16547
    G&W do seem good for what i have had so far.



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  • PeteCPeteC Frets: 409
    Hi @benvall ;

    thanks for the name check - I'm a complete rank amateur compared with these guys ( but learning fast ( err, nicking ideas ! ) from watching their builds).     Also check out @Andyjr1515 build stuff. 
    The commercial guys understandably don't post much building ( though a few do ,  @GSPBASSES for example )  - but there have been some amazingly well documented builds - like Neil's @IvisonGuitars junior thread which was what got me hooked. 

    As for wood sources - its a bit of a broad choice.  The serious builders will get their stuff from high quality, reputable and established suppliers like David Dyke's ( others are available ).  
    Some wood can be expensive though - so its definitely worth searching around as Tony says. 

    My recent stock of Limba/Idigbo was bought in 8" x 2" 8 foot rough sawn planks from Arnold Lavers in Leeds ( well they moved it from Sheffield which is where they have a lot of hardwood stock ). Lavers might seem an unlikely choice but they stock some pretty nice hardwoods - you just have to get talking on the phone to the staff in the offices to see what they have. 

    So far my mahogany has come from reclaimed timber places, some from a wood recycling charity place in Leeds, and the other stuff from an architectural salvage place. 

    I'm still convinced that some of the mahogany neck blanks you see on eBay are just construction grade sapele dimensioned and resold as luthier stock.  
    If you're buying from any unusual sources then watch out for water content. A moisture meter is a good investment and pretty cheap. 

    Meanwhile - go for it - I don't think you have "false hope". You can do it.      
    It's an extremely rewarding thing.  I am a player really rather than a builder but my self-builds already get more playing time than my other guitars.   

    What do you fancy making ? 

    Let us know how you get on,  or if you have any questions - someone here will know the answer ( though probably not me ! ) 


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  • TTonyTTony Frets: 27345
    Should have mentioned this originally ... @rabs might be able to sort you out with something suitable.
    Having trouble posting images here?  This might help.
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  • RolandRoland Frets: 8591
    PeteC said:

    Meanwhile - go for it - I don't think you have "false hope". You can do it.      
    It's an extremely rewarding thing.  I am a player really rather than a builder but my self-builds already get more playing time than my other guitars.  
    Remember that many production line guitars are made from cheap timber by unskilled labourers. That’s why early Fenders were made from alder and ash, painted with automotive paint, and screwed together.
    Tree recycler, and guitarist with  https://www.undercoversband.com/.
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  • SteveRobinsonSteveRobinson Frets: 6914
    tFB Trader
    They still are
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  • GSPBASSESGSPBASSES Frets: 2335
    tFB Trader

    I find it hard to believe the any one in the UK has to buy their wood from Portugal, I'm sure the wood that comes from G&W is very good, but I'm also sure you can buy the same wood in the UK.

    I purchased most of my wood from David Dyke, I would think David has the largest supply of Tone Woods in the country. Followed very closely by Timber Line in Tonbridge, who have now got a specialist tone wood shop within the warehouse. I'm also sure there are many other suppliers within the UK.

    I figure the Mahogany and Maple that David Dyke sells was good enough for the late Terry Morgan then it should be good enough for anybody else.

     David has just cut up a Sycamore tree that has produced some of the most beautiful Les Paul caps I have ever seen, unfortunately it won't be ready to use for at least a year.

    Your life will improve when you realise it’s better to be alone than chase people who do not really care about you. Saying YES to happiness means learning to say NO to things and people that stress you out.

    https://www.facebook.com/grahame.pollard.39/

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  • WezVWezV Frets: 16547
    All the wood i have got from David Dyke has been great.   The main issue i have is finding time for the phone call to order it during the day.   They are not great on the email enquiries, which i can send when its convienient for me...and visiting is rarely possible.   I wish DD did online ordering. 


    Agree on timberline, very good stuff from them so far.  Nice you can now pick some pieces of wood online too.


    I have used G&W for some body blanks as the prices were too good to ignore, even with postage.   A short trip across Europe isn't that much compared to the journey the tree has been on already.  They also are getting close to being a real rival for Stew mac, so adding a few wood blanks onto an order of tools isn't that daft really.


    I just ordered some wood from exotic hardwoods uk then realised they are actually fairly local.  I haven't had a good local supplier since craft supplies closed down.   Fingers crossed its alright 


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  • All the above are great - I've had some great stuff from this guy too:


    Good if you just want a small amount of something :)
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  • All the wood I've purchased from Reid Timber has been fairly priced and of good quality. He gets some interesting bits like flamed cherry too. 


    www.theflyingacesband.com
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  • RabsRabs Frets: 2602
    tFB Trader
    TTony said:
    Should have mentioned this originally ... @rabs might be able to sort you out with something suitable.
    Yeah it depends on what you are after. I can sort some out.. Even though in two weeks I wont be working there any more..  Not that you cant buy it from the boss after I leave but I have been the one pushing instrument woods cos I understand what people are after.. He may not be so bothered. We mainly do joinery timber and picking out and bookmatching suitable pieces ect takes time.
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  • @PeteC I'm thinking of keeping the first build simple. Probably a telecaster, perhaps a single pickup with a rear routed control cavity. I really like the 62 Tele so maybe binding too. 

    I also really like @GSPBASSES Fano style SP6. I think something with a cap should be a second build. 

    I’m just outside Sevenoaks so Tonbridge is only 10 miles. 

    @MattNovak i missed you off my list, your firebird was lovely and @Roland your klein build was cool
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  • davrosdavros Frets: 1325
    I've had a couple of really nice swamp ash body blanks from Haynes guitars/ Guitar and Bass Build.
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  • RolandRoland Frets: 8591
    benvall said:
    ... @Roland your klein build was cool
    Thanks. You don’t need to use expensive wood. The body on the Klein was a piece of scrap which a local carpenter had put out for firewood, and the neck was a GSP reject. 
    Tree recycler, and guitarist with  https://www.undercoversband.com/.
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  • PeteCPeteC Frets: 409
    +1 for Neil at FeelGoodWood on eBay - Ive had a few pieces from him and they have all been excellent quality and competitively priced too.  
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  • RabsRabs Frets: 2602
    tFB Trader
    PeteC said:
    +1 for Neil at FeelGoodWood on eBay - Ive had a few pieces from him and they have all been excellent quality and competitively priced too.  
    He gets some of his wood from us  :)
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  • TTonyTTony Frets: 27345
    That's not good news @rabs ... do I need to arrange a raid before you leave???

    Having trouble posting images here?  This might help.
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  • RabsRabs Frets: 2602
    tFB Trader
    TTony said:
    That's not good news @rabs ... do I need to arrange a raid before you leave???

    Well yes if you want some of the London Plane.. But Bruce (the owner) can always sort you our directly. Also I am sure I will be visiting from time to time.. I am leaving cos I want too though so it is good news for me and may see a return to me building more.. Dont know yet.
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