Sycamore as a tonewood.

[Artie]

My local WoodCraft store has a super close-out deal on quite a bit of spalted sycamore. I've never heard of using this in a guitar body. (Electric.) Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Thanks.

 

[Smilemon]

Re: Sycamore as a tonewood.

Its a very heavy wood right? My friend was going to make a bass body out of that, go for it.

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: Sycamore as a tonewood.

I believe it is similar to maple.

 

[casblah]

Re: Sycamore as a tonewood.

It's actually pretty light (density-wise), and rather easy to work with. The amp below was made from 1/4-sawn sycamore. As far as a tonewood for guitar, I don't know...might be fun to use it for a guitar body.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Sycamore as a tonewood.

My lord, that cabinet is gorgeous! So very, very, very much nicer looking that flame or quilt maple.

 

[casblah]

Re: Sycamore as a tonewood.

My lord, that cabinet is gorgeous! So very, very, very much nicer looking that flame or quilt maple.

It's about 1/2 the price of figured maple, JB.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Sycamore as a tonewood.

It's about 1/2 the price of figured maple, JB.

And about 10x as interesting looking Seriously, it looks great.

 

[casblah]

Re: Sycamore as a tonewood.

And about 10x as interesting looking Seriously, it looks great.

Well Thanks...pix don't do it justice, if you put it out in the sun, it becomes very 3-D, and prismatic. Sure would make a nice looking guitar top if nothing else. Hell Artie, give it a shot, man!!!! I think I paid about $11 / board foot. It's been awhile, but I know figured maple was up around $25/ board foot. Mind you, this was material in rough-sawn form...so that'll make it a little cheaper.

 

[Artie]

Re: Sycamore as a tonewood.

I believe it is similar to maple.

I've just been doing some reading from stuff I found online, and apparently, European Sycamore is in the Maple family, while Florida Sycamore is completely different. Its also known as Buttonwood.

It's actually pretty light (density-wise), and rather easy to work with. The amp below was made from 1/4-sawn sycamore. As far as a tonewood for guitar, I don't know...might be fun to use it for a guitar body.

Beautiful cab. That goes along with what else I've read, which is that sycamore is often used in furniture making.

Hell Artie, give it a shot, man!!!! I think I paid about $11 / board foot. It's been awhile, but I know figured maple was up around $25/ board foot. Mind you, this was material in rough-sawn form...so that'll make it a little cheaper.

This is rough sawn also. Its 5 or 6 boards, 6 to 8ft. long, around 5 to 6 inches wide and 1" to 1.5" thick for $35 for the bunch.

I think I may grab it.

 

[casblah]

Re: Sycamore as a tonewood.

Why not....@ that price, it won't break you.

 

[scottish]

Re: Sycamore as a tonewood.

def grab it. if it looks half as pretty as im imagining it will make a fantastic top on a solid mahognay body guitar

 

[ericmeyer4]

Re: Sycamore as a tonewood.

Weren't the Gibson Melody Makers (w/ the P90's) made out of Sycamore?

 

[Artie]

Re: Sycamore as a tonewood.

Why not....@ that price, it won't break you.

Well . . . I just called the store, and the person I talked to on the phone had a different story than the person I spoke to in person. Apparently, the $35 was for the top board only. The boards underneath were all individually priced. (Out of site if you didn't lift the top board up.) Not quite so good a deal now.

I'll swing by tomorrow after work and see what the real deal is.

 

[casblah]

Re: Sycamore as a tonewood.

Well . . . I just called the store, and the person I talked to on the phone had a different story than the person I spoke to in person. Apparently, the $35 was for the top board only. The boards underneath were all individually priced. (Out of site if you didn't lift the top board up.) Not quite so good a deal now.

I'll swing by tomorrow after work and see what the real deal is.

Well that changes everything. At that price...for one board, it better be god***n spectacular! Good Luck w/ that one, Artie!

 

[KeeperOS]

Re: Sycamore as a tonewood.

Oh my god, that's one gorgeous grain and pairs amazingly good with the 1/4-sawn grain.
I would definitely dig it as a guitar top/back!!!

 

[JeffB]

Re: Sycamore as a tonewood.

No clue as a tonewood, but Tokai has been using it instead of maple for it's flame veneer tops for quite some time on the lower end MIJ models.

The flame is a little too "precise" or perfect looking for my tastes, but I wouldn't turn my nose up at it.

 

[sosomething]

Re: Sycamore as a tonewood.

Don't know how Sycamore sounds, but the woodworking craftsmanship on that cabinet is really excellent. It doesn't get any cleaner.

NICE job.



ps. Is that amp running on a single KT88?

 

[aleclee]

Re: Sycamore as a tonewood.

My Aria (pictured below) is made from Sycamore. It's quite lightweight though it doesn't have that balsa feel that some light guitars have. As far as tone goes, I'd probably put it somewhere between mahogany and alder. It definitely has more "air" to the sound than mahogany but not quite as spanky as alder.

 

[Artie]

Re: Sycamore as a tonewood.

My Aria (pictured below) is made from Sycamore. It's quite lightweight though it doesn't have that balsa feel that some light guitars have. As far as tone goes, I'd probably put it somewhere between mahogany and alder. It definitely has more "air" to the sound than mahogany but not quite as spanky as alder.

Sweet axe, and nice tone description. I may buy that board after all. Even if it is just one board.

 

[bgood]

Re: Sycamore as a tonewood.

Washburn HB35S - the S is for Sycamore. Nice. Give it a try.