Where do people find solid wood stock for soundboards?

Posted by Barsymes Cratchnee on February 1, 2014 at 10:00pm

So I've seen a number of builds on the site with solid wood tops such as spruce and was wondering where people get that kind of lumber.  Buying thick stock, joining and planing?  Online site with soundboard material?  Just curious of people's sound board material preferences and where they acquire their materials.  Thanks for the help.  Currently interested in building a box with a solid spruce top and I live in Colorado.

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  • Monterey March 9, 2015 at 6:50pm
    When I built my Appalachian Mountain Dulcimer I used the tablesaw and then hand sanded Eastern White Pine. It worked OK, but the thickness wasn't as consistent as I wanted, plus it was a lot of work.
    I just bought a set of Cedar tonewood for parlour guitars 4mm thick x 7+" wide x 20.25" long for $10 US on Ebay out of British Columbia for my License Plate Guitar soundbox I'm working on. It'll be more than enough to do the soundboard and back
    http://m.ebay.ca/sch/bctonewood/m.html?
  • TN Twang March 5, 2014 at 1:02pm

    Had just read this thread when I stumbled across a reference to "Taylor Pallet Guitars." Google it for more info than you'll ever need or have a quick look at this link.  Pallet Guitars Link

    You're 2 late to buy one used at LA Guitar Sales (See extensive pictures there.), but the implication is that all prices will have at least 5 digits left of the decimal point.

    This revives my notion about re-sawing a "Bunyan" stud and gluing and planing it into a soundboard.

    TN

  • Richey Kay February 2, 2014 at 12:46am

    Hey BC - couldn't guarantee the availability in Colorado, but I get my spruce from a model aeroplane builder's supplier. They usually have nice thin sheets. Bear in mind if you use spruce you will need to factor in bracing too:

    306235416?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024I get the 5x6.5mm spruce strips from the same place.

    • Order99 > Richey Kay February 4, 2014 at 8:36pm

       Since I don't have the tools to properly thin reclaimed woods for soundboards(although a simple planer does well for necks) I visit local hobby shops in NC. As a result, nearly all of my tops have been either 1/4" Birch or thin metal resonators suspended on scrap cedar blocks.

       I'm moving to the Coast in another few days though, so once i've got the new workshop up (an 8'x8' shed just outside of the RV) I plan to find a few door manufacturers for Mahogany doorskins, as well as a few floor and tile companies for some exotic woods. I'll still have a local hobby store for the usual Birch on standby though...

  • Scott aka Farmer Ted February 1, 2014 at 10:12pm

    A great source is Ocooch Hardwoods. Check the site for their "scroll ready hardwoods", in which all pieces are 24" long, and vary in thickness & width. From maple, cherry, walnut, paduk, cedar, etc. Thickness from 1/16", 1/8", and others and widths from 4" to 12". And reasonable.

    Try this link: http://ocoochhardwoods.com/scroll_saw_lumber.php

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