VedranPU Posted November 17, 2014 Share Posted November 17, 2014 Yes or no? Anybody had any experience? Help please. TNX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scojack Posted November 17, 2014 Share Posted November 17, 2014 (edited) Don't see any reason why not. Never used myself though i'm afraid. Ian PS We haven't had a Tonewood war on here for a while ..just sayin! Ian Edited November 17, 2014 by scojack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VedranPU Posted November 17, 2014 Author Share Posted November 17, 2014 I know it is used for tops but never seen the whole solid body... The luthier suggested chestnut and now I don't know if accept or not... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Sharman Posted November 17, 2014 Share Posted November 17, 2014 (edited) I believe Manton Customs (of this parish) did a Cherry bodied bass (Sirius?). A few of us played it at the East Midlands Bass bash. Perhaps they could advise you? Edited November 17, 2014 by Chris Sharman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manton Customs Posted November 18, 2014 Share Posted November 18, 2014 (edited) Well remembered Chris, yes it was the Sirius . My experience and opinion would be similar to Ian's; I haven't worked with it before but I have seen and played a Chestnut topped (thick) guitar before, which looked quite nice. Which species are we talking though? I'd imagine it's Sweet Chestnut, which is like Oak, whereas horse is soft and less porous. I wouldn't be put off it just because it's generally not used, the opposite in fact...I'd like that it'd be more unique. I'd ask the luthier what the blanks weight is like though. Edited November 18, 2014 by Manton Customs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VedranPU Posted November 19, 2014 Author Share Posted November 19, 2014 Tnx... I'll just try to explain... I really don't know which species are we talking about... My friend, the luthier, told me that he found a beautiful chestnut plank and now is the chance to get 1 piece body for free.... My plan was to make a 2 pieces alder or ash and pay for it... It is very nice of him that he's offering this (we're friends, remember...) only I'm not sure if it is OK.. And I'll pay him anyway.... and will probably do it... I'll let you know how it is... in a year or so :-) TNXagain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 I've not used it but I've read around on it in the past. Make sure its properly dried out/seasoned heartwood. Chestnut is great for furniture but takes a long time to dry out. Fodera have used it on tops. If its sweet chestnut heartwood you might not even need to finish it due to the tannins already in the wood but it takes a finish well. Avoid the sap wood apparently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matte_black Posted December 6, 2014 Share Posted December 6, 2014 I used it a few times... but there are at least a couple of types. The "French" Chestnut is pretty light and soft, while Italian Chestnut is pretty strong, a bit softer than Ash. No idea how dense is the piece your luthier wants to use but it's definitely a nice timber. I also used it for necks a couple of times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VedranPU Posted December 13, 2014 Author Share Posted December 13, 2014 Tnx... This is the answer I wanted.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VedranPU Posted May 16, 2015 Author Share Posted May 16, 2015 Finally started... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassmachine2112 Posted May 17, 2015 Share Posted May 17, 2015 Hiho lovely piece of wood there. kinda off thread but onnit-why aren,t we using indigenous woods from UK like sycamore,it,s a maple,oak,birch,rowan,blackthorn I know some of these would need to be glued together as the boards would be narrow . I take inspiration from all the trees that are in our country,what,s wrong with Norfolk ash,it,s quiet swampy in places like the broads,willow makes cricket bats and they get a pounding,beech used for mallets cause it resists splitting. Just a thought Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted May 17, 2015 Share Posted May 17, 2015 A very valid thought too...my cherry headless was built from a tree that had been cut down and laid at the bottom of somebody's garden for about 10 years - she's a beaut.. [URL=http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/FairfaxAikman/media/Mark%20Wood%20headless%20Custom/b08989be-e9be-460e-868d-9ce0dcecce44_zpsm4xra5nb.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q639/FairfaxAikman/Mark%20Wood%20headless%20Custom/b08989be-e9be-460e-868d-9ce0dcecce44_zpsm4xra5nb.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/FairfaxAikman/media/Mark%20Wood%20headless%20Custom/2008b40d-8a72-4f9c-9d52-e0a5b6e9dfe0_zps56id3lju.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q639/FairfaxAikman/Mark%20Wood%20headless%20Custom/2008b40d-8a72-4f9c-9d52-e0a5b6e9dfe0_zps56id3lju.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Cloud Posted May 17, 2015 Share Posted May 17, 2015 Chestnut on average tends to be very much like Oak. Uncommon as it is there is no real reason why a nice piece of Chestnut would not make a nice bass guitar body imho. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manton Customs Posted May 17, 2015 Share Posted May 17, 2015 (edited) [quote name='bassmachine2112' timestamp='1431859183' post='2775581'] Hiho lovely piece of wood there. kinda off thread but onnit-why aren,t we using indigenous woods from UK like sycamore,it,s a maple,oak,birch,rowan,blackthorn I know some of these would need to be glued together as the boards would be narrow . I take inspiration from all the trees that are in our country,what,s wrong with Norfolk ash,it,s quiet swampy in places like the broads,willow makes cricket bats and they get a pounding,beech used for mallets cause it resists splitting. Just a thought [/quote] We do just that . Agree completely it's a shame that more English woods aren't used. Sycamore is a true Maple (but a fake plane, hence the latin name ) and a lovely wood to work. We use English Ash for all our Ash bodies and necks also. There are plenty of home grown alternatives which are suitable for every part of a guitar though people generally seem to stick with traditional guitar woods as it's what they are used to seeing. Here are a few: Oak Ash Elm Maple (AKA Sycamore) Walnut Cherry Lime Pear Plum Hornbeam Alder London Plane Edited May 17, 2015 by Manton Customs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VedranPU Posted May 18, 2015 Author Share Posted May 18, 2015 (edited) Just for the record... I'm from Croatia & the chestnut is from our local woods and the planks were laying, forgotten in the corner of the carpenters workshop for years... then the friend, luthier found them & took them... Lucky me... TNX to everyone...I'll post the work in progress but it will go slow... :-) Edited May 18, 2015 by VedranPU Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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