Crotch Wood For a Back?

[Darryl Young]

I seen a nice piece of Honduran crotch mahogany the other day. HM is very stable.....but I'm guessing crotch figure normally isn't. What are the chances you could successfully use crotch mahogany for the back of a guitar? Would body size matter (D vs 000 or 00)? Sides are a non-issue, just wondering about it's use for a back.

[hummingbird]

Crotch wood? I'm not even going there.

[David L]

From what I understand (which isn't much) crotchwood is where a branch meets the trunk and it makes some beautiful figure. I believe there are two kinds, side on (feather crotch) and head on, not sure of the stability difference in them. I have used crotchwood on several non-guitar projects with no problems however I wasn't using it in the thin dimensions as in B&S so I can't speak on it's stability in that application. I would not hesitate to roll the dice and use it as long as it looks to be solid with no voids or checks, but that's just me, crotch is famous for checks so watch for that.

David L

[Darryl Young]

This crotch was cut in the '50s and milled in the '60s so if it hasn't yet checked, it probably won't. I need to learn more about the "side on" and "head on".

[Darryl Young]

Here is what it looks like:

CrotchMahogany.JPG

[tippie53]

This is one of those it may or may not be a good piece. I agree Mahogany is more stable that other woods. When in doubt glue it up in as low an RH as you can get
john

[Kevin Sjostrand]

That is some purty wood Darryl, I say go for it. Once you have braces on it it should be fine in my modest opinion.

Kevin