the "Norman Kinkade"
Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2014 8:29 pm
I've christened my first build Norman Kinkade, rather than "first build" or "making a start" because I expect I will be asking a lot of questions about it. "Norman" is for a Norman Blake-style OM body with a short scale 12 fret neck. "Kinkade" is for the book by Jonathan Kinkead, and a form made from the book, that I was given. I am working on two Sitka tops, one I bought that I thicknessed to Kinkade specs, and one I was given that is a little thinner. I was leery about using that but John H. said it was not out of range so I thought I may as well use it, even as sort of a guinea pig while I learn. I have a set of rosewood for the other top, but now am wondering what to use for the thinner one. I'm leaning to cherry. I can get western Prunus emarginata from a somewhat local tonewood supplier. Can anyone tell me how it compares with eastern cherry, P. serotina? (There is lots of online opinion about the latter, virtually none about the former.) My research also got me thinking about using cherry for both necks. Cherry is often compared favourably with mahogany, but most people seem to go with the more traditional wood. Any thoughts?