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Byron G
Guest
I just dropped 2- 65 yr old alders in my yard, was wondering if this is a good wood to save for guitar bodies, and if so, how to properly cure it...anybody?
Chris of Arabia
Desert RATT
Re: Alder for guitar bodies..
Well alder is definitely good for guitar bodies, but I can't help on the seasoning. I'd guess it needs to be cut up and dried in well ventilated and covered space.
Well alder is definitely good for guitar bodies, but I can't help on the seasoning. I'd guess it needs to be cut up and dried in well ventilated and covered space.
ItsaBass
New member
Re: Alder for guitar bodies..
It's commonly used for guitar bodies, but it isn't highly sought after. It will probably be more trouble than it's worth to mill it into lumber and properly dry it. That said, if you have the chainsaw jig already, and you have all the time and space in the world, it might be something to bother with if you plan on building a crapload of guitars in the next several years.
It's commonly used for guitar bodies, but it isn't highly sought after. It will probably be more trouble than it's worth to mill it into lumber and properly dry it. That said, if you have the chainsaw jig already, and you have all the time and space in the world, it might be something to bother with if you plan on building a crapload of guitars in the next several years.
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Frehleybure
Guest
Re: Alder for guitar bodies..
Drying the wood depends on the thickness. Thicker boards take longer. If the wood is cut to 2"thick boards. Let the wood dry a minimum 3 months. It also depends on mostly on our climate. Arizona or Florida? East coast vs West Coast? East of a large lake or large rivers? Hurricane season?
Drying the wood depends on the thickness. Thicker boards take longer. If the wood is cut to 2"thick boards. Let the wood dry a minimum 3 months. It also depends on mostly on our climate. Arizona or Florida? East coast vs West Coast? East of a large lake or large rivers? Hurricane season?
BlueTalon
New member
Re: Alder for guitar bodies..
Ditto. Not many people can say they made their own guitar from scratch.
I'd go for it, just let it lay around for a couple of years in a nice spot and then make the guitar and you'll be able to say that you made your own guitar right from selecting the right tree for it.
Ditto. Not many people can say they made their own guitar from scratch.
jake_xms3_punk
New member
Re: Alder for guitar bodies..
Alder is great for a lot of fender style guitars. definatly worth keeping and making some bodies! See if your local wood workers could dry it in their kiln for you? Might be worth asking and they'd probably do it for cheap or even free.
Alder is great for a lot of fender style guitars. definatly worth keeping and making some bodies! See if your local wood workers could dry it in their kiln for you? Might be worth asking and they'd probably do it for cheap or even free.
Falloffthebonetone
New member
Re: Alder for guitar bodies..
Love alder, definitely do it. Fender has been using it since the late 50s, and people have been copying their design for ages. Very easy to work with an finish.
Love alder, definitely do it. Fender has been using it since the late 50s, and people have been copying their design for ages. Very easy to work with an finish.
NecroPolo
New member
Re: Alder for guitar bodies..
My main axe has been an alder bodied Warmoth LPS for a decade or so. Guitars come and go but it's still the sweetest puss of all. I'm no woodsman or luthier but nothing wrong can come out of it if you carve a geetar body into your alder blank, I'd say.
My main axe has been an alder bodied Warmoth LPS for a decade or so. Guitars come and go but it's still the sweetest puss of all. I'm no woodsman or luthier but nothing wrong can come out of it if you carve a geetar body into your alder blank, I'd say.
