cedar of Lebanon

Costs are rising and times are tough.
Please consider a donation to keep this
place going.

Welcome to one of the most active flamenco sites on the Internet. Guests can read most posts but if you want to participate click here to register.

This site is dedicated to the memory of Paco de Lucía, Ron Mitchell, Guy Williams, Linda Elvira, Philip John Lee, Craig Eros, Ben Woods, David Serva and Tom Blackshear who went ahead of us.

We receive 12,200 visitors a month from 200 countries and 1.7 million page impressions a year. To advertise on this site please contact us.

cedar of Lebanon

You are logged in as Guest

Users viewing this topic: none

Printable Version

All Forums >>Discussions >>Lutherie >>

Page: [1]

Message

<< Newer Topic Older Topic >>

bob123

Posts: 3
Joined: Jun. 6 2017

cedar of Lebanon

Hi, first post here.
Im a maker of violin family instruments and bows in the UK. Ive made one or two steel strung acoustic guitars in the past and been toying with the idea of making a flamenco guitar.
I`m looking for some advice as to suitability of Cedar of Lebanon for guitars of any kind.
Years ago i was given a load of planks of a very old tree that had been cut down in the Uk.
A lot of it has interesting firgure which i find fascinating.
Is it useful for guitar parts? top and or back/sides?
Heres a few photos of it.
This piece is actually a rack on the back of my bench but very dry and seasoned and plenty of usable material.
Thanks Robert

Images are resized automatically to a maximum width of 800px

Attachment (4)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 7 2017 9:36:37

estebanana

Posts: 9351
Joined: Oct. 16 2009

RE: cedar of Lebanon (in reply to bob123)

It would probably work, but the only way to tell is to cut a sample into something like a rib ad plane it 1.8 milli and flex it and try bending. If it is strong enough and not prone to cracking it would probably make a very biblical blanca.

Of course your flamenco name from hence forward will be El Noah.

_____________________________

https://www.stephenfaulkguitars.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 9 2017 23:34:30

Echi

Posts: 1132
Joined: Jan. 11 2013

RE: cedar of Lebanon (in reply to bob123)

Once I played a blanca made of cedar of Lebanon. That guitar was average but probably because of other reasons.

I read that Lucas Martin is very happy with this wood which supposedly makes a warmer flamenco sound.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 10 2017 6:23:59

constructordeguitarras

Posts: 1674
Joined: Jan. 29 2012
From: Seattle, Washington, USA

RE: cedar of Lebanon (in reply to bob123)

No one has said whether it should be used for backs and sides and/or soundboards. I would say definitely for backs and sides and possibly for soundboards. Please try it and share the results with us.

_____________________________

Ethan Deutsch
www.edluthier.com
www.facebook.com/ethandeutschguitars
www.youtube.com/marioamayaflamenco
I always have flamenco guitars available for sale.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 10 2017 16:48:35

benros

Posts: 144
Joined: Aug. 27 2016

RE: cedar of Lebanon (in reply to bob123)

wow, these are really crazy looking logs!
im building a blanca with lebanon cedar, but my stuff looks totally different, much more 'boring', straight grained, pretty much quartersawn. bends like cipres and tends to break
with the grain. your pieces seem to be very flat cut, so im not sure, if it is useable for rips. i wouldnt use it for tops, since its pretty similar to cypress soundwise, no soundboardwood.
greetings
ben

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 10 2017 21:17:21

estebanana

Posts: 9351
Joined: Oct. 16 2009

RE: cedar of Lebanon (in reply to constructordeguitarras)

quote:

No one has said whether it should be used for backs and sides and/or soundboards. I would say definitely for backs and sides and possibly for soundboards. Please try it and share the results with us.

Yes I agree, back & sides, I did mention make sample rib and see how it bends.

_____________________________

https://www.stephenfaulkguitars.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 11 2017 2:22:01

Leñador

Posts: 5237
Joined: Jun. 8 2012
From: Los Angeles

RE: cedar of Lebanon (in reply to bob123)

I thought this conversation sounded familiar.......
http://www.foroflamenco.com/default.asp?catApp=0

_____________________________

\m/

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 11 2017 2:48:22

bob123

Posts: 3
Joined: Jun. 6 2017

RE: cedar of Lebanon (in reply to bob123)

Hi, thanks , i thought i wasnt going to get any replies and then look again and theres 6 replies.
It does bend easily and seem quite strong .I was just unsure about its suitability for guitars and seems a waste to be just sitting around.
SO i may do a guitar build with it (only made a few guitars quite a while ago). as my main occupations is violin family instruments.
The wood is very near quarter sawn but does via off in parts of the long planks.
Heres another couple of photos of a different piece compared to a metre ruler(2" thick slab). The tree was quite substantial .
Bob

Images are resized automatically to a maximum width of 800px

Attachment (2)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 11 2017 9:43:06

bob123

Posts: 3
Joined: Jun. 6 2017

RE: cedar of Lebanon (in reply to estebanana)

I made a cello out of some of the medium strong figured wood shortly after getting the wood , just to be a bit different and it had quite a nice tone ,the top was German spruce.
I was totally unsure how to thickness the plates etc... so left the back plate a bit thicker than the usual maple.
The varnish didn`t come out like i wanted as the cedar is a slightly odd colour to begin with as opposed to usual white maple.
Bob

Images are resized automatically to a maximum width of 800px

Attachment (1)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 11 2017 13:43:42

benros

Posts: 144
Joined: Aug. 27 2016

RE: cedar of Lebanon (in reply to bob123)

hey robert,
it looks so beautiful! and is much more quartersawn as it seemed to me on the other photos. im sure, its possible to make some really good sounding and beautiful flamencas out of that!
greetings,
ben

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 11 2017 15:52:05

Peter Tsiorba

Posts: 130
Joined: Oct. 27 2009
From: Portland, Oregon Pacific Northwest

RE: cedar of Lebanon (in reply to bob123)

Robert, this is some beautiful wood there! I would build a flamenco guitar with it. Hey, if you have enough to spare, maybe we can exchange a parcel, I send some wood to you from Oregon, and vise versa?!

_____________________________

Peter Tsiorba
Classical-Flamenco-Guitars
tsiorba.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 12 2017 21:57:26