Quality cypress (Full Version)

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kominak -> Quality cypress (Apr. 7 2012 10:03:12)

Where do you guys get a real good quality Spanish cypress(Europe preferably)?
For my first build I got some supposedly A-grade cypress back/sides from Turkey, but the distance between annual rings varied from 3mm to more than 10mm and the grain wasn't very straight either.
This week I looked closely at my teacher's HSL 1F blanca and the cypress had almost spruce-like appearance - absolutely straight grained, uniform distance between annual rings(2-3mm).
Where to get it and what's considered a fair price?
It's the top-grade from Madinter or Maderas-Barber (~100Eur) good stuff?



jshelton5040 -> RE: Quality cypress (Apr. 7 2012 14:35:29)

I've bought from all three and prefer the wood from Turkey (Akustik tone woods). If I were you I'd concentrate on stiffness and weight rather than cosmetics. This holds true with top wood as well.



Jim Kirby -> RE: Quality cypress (Apr. 7 2012 20:02:29)

+1 to John's message. I bought some wood from akustikwoods in 2007 and I'm just now using it for the first time. I think it is very nice stuff both structurally and visually.
I hope to post some pictures of a Barbero copy by the end of the month. In the meantime, here is a picture of the back bindings after a preliminary sanding - we had discussed here previously how cypress self-binding looks.



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Anders Eliasson -> RE: Quality cypress (Apr. 8 2012 7:21:35)

I bought some cypres from Turkey. (Akustic wood) And I wasnt happy with it at all, so I wont buy more.
I buy the second most expensive from Madinter and I´m happy with it.



jshelton5040 -> RE: Quality cypress (Apr. 8 2012 14:29:18)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Anders Eliasson

I bought some cypres from Turkey. (Akustic wood) And I wasnt happy with it at all, so I wont buy more.


Wouldn't it be nice if one could visit the vendor and select your wood but unfortunately in most cases we have to depend on the vendor to select it for us. I've had good luck with Akustik and poor luck with the others, Anders has had a different experience. Buying wood unseen is always a gamble. I have some some very expensive Pao Ferro sets that are totally useless, a nice stack of ugly ebony fingerboards and probably 30 spruce tops with too much runout. I can't throw them out since I might think of a use for them someday so they just sit there and take up space.



aarongreen -> RE: Quality cypress (Apr. 8 2012 14:41:05)

I have 10 sets from Akustic that were purchased by my student/friend Phil and have been sitting in my shop for over a year now. It's not the prettiest cypress I've ever seen but its really good wood. I should also say it isn't the ugliest cypress I've ever seen either.

Anders, are you sure your experience wasn't with Octopus rather than Akustic? I had a similar experience with them, it was hellish and the wood sucked. It turned into an international incident with consulates contacted and this guy being a real jackass. He actually used my first email as proof that the wood was "good" Never mind the following ones that said it wasn't. Stupid me for not unloading with everything I got right out of the gate. Apparently thats the only way to deal with them. I ended up taking a bath on the wood in the end and under no circumstances would ever buy from them again.



kominak -> RE: Quality cypress (Apr. 8 2012 18:06:19)

Thanks for your replies.
I bought the wood for my 1st from Octopus, maybe that's why I wasn't thrilled about buying from Turkey again - the cypress didn't look good and caucasian spruce top was rather soft(my luthier friend said so).
The guy also sold me Santos RW bridge blank and headplatte as BRW :(
Maybe I'll try Akustik next time.

I 'm just looking for reliable source where I can get good quality (structurally and visually) - the price difference is not that important.
My first guitar took me more than a year to complete so compared to that amount of free time another 50 or 100eur doesn't mean that much.
I want to be sure that I have good quality wood so that I can concentrate on my work and enjoy the process (and I enjoy it more if the wood also looks good :) - just to explain why I care about the looks, too.
Thanks once again!



krichards -> RE: Quality cypress (Apr. 9 2012 7:02:53)

quote:

Anders, are you sure your experience wasn't with Octopus rather than Akustic?


I've had a bad experience with Octopus. Poor quality. Wouldn't use them again.



Anders Eliasson -> RE: Quality cypress (Apr. 9 2012 7:23:15)

I bought from Akustic and the wood was ok. Structurally fine, a little bit dull in the appereance but ok wood. but the quality I get from the vendors here in Spain is better..... Madinter know me and since I live in Spain, I can afford to send the wood back, so they send me good stuff. And its not just cypress. If I say light quatersawn cedar neck blanks, thats what I get.



Stephen Eden -> RE: Quality cypress (Apr. 9 2012 10:00:25)

I must have been blessed buying wood from Akustic as they have sent me some very nice wood! Super straight tight grained well quatered stuff! the last 15 sets have all been like it. Their Maple is also awsome!



octopus -> [Deleted] (Oct. 20 2018 6:40:29)

Post has been moved to the Recycle Bin at Oct. 20 2018 6:40:53



Flamingrae -> RE: Quality cypress (Oct. 20 2018 10:56:49)

quote:

30 spruce tops with too much runout. I can't throw them out since I might think of a use for them someday so they just sit there and take up space.

You could always try the Romanillos trick of using the best of two sets to make a good front? Three joints I know, but better that than sitting on it.
I've used Akustic a few times. Overall good, but the first grade cypress I had, wasn't really first grade. Nice straight grain but staining like a water mark. I've dropped a grade and their seconds are just as good for less money. I also like to try a random buy so round the order up with a second grade of what I fancy. Walnut, lacewood and maple have all been great. Quality of the fronts especially top grade has been good too. I'd use again but I may try Madinter for cypress to see what comes through.



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