determine cypress quality

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alcazaba

Posts: 28
Joined: Jun. 30 2013

determine cypress quality

I bought several sets of back and sides wood on line, and I am disappointed with the quality of the cypress set, which a bought it as special grade.
It has wide and curved grain and is already warped. It is a bit mismatch as well. I spent over thousand dollars in total. Another special graded curly maple is quite plain.

Take a look to the picture. Does this worth over hundred dollars?

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 3 2015 19:36:04

jshelton5040

Posts: 1500
Joined: Jan. 17 2005

RE: determine cypress quality (in reply to alcazaba)

quote:

ORIGINAL: alcazaba

I bought several sets of back and sides wood on line, and I am disappointed with the quality of the cypress set, which a bought it as special grade.
It has wide and curved grain and is already warped. It is a bit mismatch as well. I spent over thousand dollars in total. Another special graded curly maple is quite plain.

Take a look to the picture. Does this worth over hundred dollars?

One can't tell much about quality of wood from a picture. Who did you buy this from? Are you aware that there are several vendors offering good quality cypress are very reasonable prices? I have been very happy with cypress that I purchased from Akustik tonewoods in Turkey as well as cypress from Maderas-Barber I haven't bought from Madinter but hear they are very good and another excellent choice is Eve Armenteros.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 3 2015 22:52:36

alcazaba

Posts: 28
Joined: Jun. 30 2013

RE: determine cypress quality (in reply to alcazaba)

I bought it from madinter.

I have some experience with them, barber and now a couple more in the US where I moved in.
My main experience with cypress is with the ones I harvested directly from trees fell down by the wind in Spain. And this one I don't like it. May be I'm picky!

Thanks for the information.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 3 2015 23:50:46

Andy Culpepper

Posts: 3023
Joined: Mar. 30 2009
From: NY, USA

RE: determine cypress quality (in reply to alcazaba)

+1 to Akustik Tonewood, I get all my Cypress from them.

From your picture, the grain looks tighter than average for Med. Cypress. The wave is personal preference but I don't mind it...
It also does not look mismatched to my eye.

If it's quartersawn and stiff then I don't think you have anything to complain about

I can't say that I've ever seen a "dud" set of Spanish Cypress that I would not build with. It always seems to have a good tap tone. That's not true for all woods.

As far as the warp it's likely just adapting to a new humidity level. Stack up all the sets with stickers in between and put a weight on top. Keep it at a consistent low humidity for a while and it should behave.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 4 2015 0:22:08

alcazaba

Posts: 28
Joined: Jun. 30 2013

RE: determine cypress quality (in reply to alcazaba)

Hi Andy,
The way it warps gives me some information about runout, weak areas, etc. That's why I mentioned it.
It is quartersawn, very light though. I guess I cant complain.
In the future I'll give it a try to Akoustic.

Thanks.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 4 2015 0:44:52

Anders Eliasson

Posts: 5780
Joined: Oct. 18 2006

RE: determine cypress quality (in reply to alcazaba)

It looks like the 2nd grade that I get from madinter.
Their 1st grade is normally better. But maybe its because they know me, know that if the standard is not good enough, I´ll send the wood back.

You write:
"The way it warps gives me some information about runout, weak areas, etc. "

This i dont get. Could you please explain.

I havent bought from Akoustic woods for some years. What i got was lower quality than whats on your picture. Wider grain, more mushy looking.
I think that we the builders and also our costumers have to accept and understand that Med. Cypress is getting scarce and the quality is going dowm. It is still a lot bettre than many of the highly acclaimed rosewoods like Madagascar which has reached throw-away level the last 5 - 6 years and which cost 2 - 3 times more than cypress.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 4 2015 10:32:06

krichards

Posts: 597
Joined: Jan. 14 2007
From: York, England

RE: determine cypress quality (in reply to alcazaba)

I've always found Madinter easy to deal with. I once had a batch of Brazilian Cedar neckwood that I didn't like. They replaced it with better stuff no problem. But maybe, if I hadn't made a fuss they would have sent more poor quality in the future?

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 4 2015 10:55:30

alcazaba

Posts: 28
Joined: Jun. 30 2013

RE: determine cypress quality (in reply to Anders Eliasson)

Anders, then this should be even better than 1st grade, cause is special grade.

I'd like to send it back, but the shipment is costly from America.

I don't know if I could explain it better Anders: while i was cutting wood myself, I notice that area around knots, or big run out, would behave different that other area of the board with better grain direction, and often would bend badly, making it really difficult to join the tho halves flush. Does it make any sense?

Richards, did you need to send back the bad ones?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 4 2015 14:50:54

krichards

Posts: 597
Joined: Jan. 14 2007
From: York, England

RE: determine cypress quality (in reply to alcazaba)

quote:

Richards, did you need to send back the bad ones?

I sent back the whole batch of 20 approx. It was supposed to be 1st quality but not good enough imo.
However this was 6 years ago

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 4 2015 15:07:45

Anders Eliasson

Posts: 5780
Joined: Oct. 18 2006

RE: determine cypress quality (in reply to alcazaba)

Alcazaba, yes it makes sense.

Here we have the problem with shipments across oceans. The price for the shipment is to high.
I will advice you to contact Madinter anyway (if you havent done already) It wont cost you anything and maybe they will pay for the shipping from the US to Spain. I dont know if I believe they will, but they have always been very kind and helpfull to me.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 5 2015 11:17:02

constructordeguitarras

Posts: 1677
Joined: Jan. 29 2012
From: Seattle, Washington, USA

RE: determine cypress quality (in reply to alcazaba)

It doesn't look mis-matched to me. I would get that for around $55 from Akustikwood, shipping included.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 6 2015 5:27:26

alcazaba

Posts: 28
Joined: Jun. 30 2013

RE: determine cypress quality (in reply to alcazaba)

Is not mismatched, sorry guys, I'm not English fluent.

I gave them a call and they told me to send pictures, so I'll tell you how thing ends.

Thanks everybody.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 7 2015 14:22:59

mqbernardo

Posts: 47
Joined: Mar. 26 2012

RE: determine cypress quality (in reply to alcazaba)

That indeed doesn't look premium at all - as you say.
I have had better luck with 2nd grade stuff from eag in Valencia - which costs less than 40 eur iirc. I"d post a picture if I knew how to post pics here from an iPad.
Best cypress I have came from Maderas Barber, fwiw. Pretty much QS and silky all across. Amazing stuff. Never tried madinter cypress, though.

Good luck!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 7 2015 21:48:59

Anders Eliasson

Posts: 5780
Joined: Oct. 18 2006

RE: determine cypress quality (in reply to alcazaba)

Maderas Barber have very good cypress, I agree. But they are totally unreliable when it comes to buying online. I´ve had such bad experience with them that i would never advice anyone to buy from them unless you go there personally.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 8 2015 8:14:58

alcazaba

Posts: 28
Joined: Jun. 30 2013

RE: determine cypress quality (in reply to alcazaba)

Well, they offer me a discount in the next purchase, in two sets of them. So if I buy Special grade they'd charge 1st. And they are willing to take pictures for the high quality sets in the future, given that is that expensive for me to take them back. And the possibility to send them back, of course.

Thanks to all.

Manuel

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 8 2015 15:35:49

Anders Eliasson

Posts: 5780
Joined: Oct. 18 2006

RE: determine cypress quality (in reply to alcazaba)

Thats something but not ideal. They should´ve discounted the set you bought. And thats what i would suggest them....

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 8 2015 15:54:09