Flat-sawn Bubinga

[David L]

Does anyone know anything about using flat-sawn Bubinga for b/s? I've worked with it before in a non-lutherie application. It's very hard and dense but I like the way it works and love the way it looks on the flat, some examples have figure that is second to none (just my opinion). I know it has been used for tonewood, I'm just not sure if flat-sawn material would be acceptable for a guitar. Yea or nay anybody?

Thanks,
David L

[tippie53]

It depends on the piece you are using .

[kencierp]

There's many guitars made of flat sawn materials -- its pretty rare to find a modern Brazilian Rosewood that is not made from slab cut wood -- when the 1/4 sawn wood became "rare" its was suddenly OK to use the slab wood. So, is it OK to build with riff and slab cut wood yes -- is the 1/4 sawn material a better choice -- yes. The main difference is that the 1/4 sawn material has a more predictable expansion, contraction cycle and pattern. On the other hand the slab cut is a little less split and crack prone. No matter as John points out it still depends on the billet. Most importantly, in my view is the "drying history" was it professionally dried --kiln or air? Bottom line if the moisture content is more than 7% it might not be a good idea. $.02

[kencierp]

As an example:

http://www.taylorguitars.com/Guitars/Fa ... GCe-LTD-C/