I need some advice about identifying and how to best use this piece of mahogany (I think).
About 20 years ago when I started building guitars an old guy gave me this piece of wood. He got it from a friend who years earlier worked on the William Howard Taft House in Cincinnati and claimed it was a left over scrap from a job he did there. I have no way to verify the story, but the guy who gave it to me was a honest and humble person, so I have no reason to doubt it either. Nevertheless, I like a piece of wood with a good story.
It's 2" thick and almost 18" wide. Unfortunately, the grain runs from 45 degrees rift on both sides to flat sawn in the middle.
Here's a couple of pics:
I'd like to build a concert from this wood and here is how I have it laid out:
I'm guessing I could get away with the rift sawn on the top and bottom, but not sure about using flat sawn for the sides. I could get some 45 degree rift sides, but they would only be 16.3" long. Maybe I could build with a wedge end graft to gain a little length?
For the neck I can use a piece of the flat sawn section and then rotate it 90 degrees. It would only be 2" wide so I would have to glue pieces to the sides of the headstock. I would then have a one piece heel and avoid the scarf joint where the neck meets the headstock.
Please let me know what you think of my plan and/or if you have a better option.
If you can identify what kind of wood it is I'd like to hear that too.
About 20 years ago when I started building guitars an old guy gave me this piece of wood. He got it from a friend who years earlier worked on the William Howard Taft House in Cincinnati and claimed it was a left over scrap from a job he did there. I have no way to verify the story, but the guy who gave it to me was a honest and humble person, so I have no reason to doubt it either. Nevertheless, I like a piece of wood with a good story.
It's 2" thick and almost 18" wide. Unfortunately, the grain runs from 45 degrees rift on both sides to flat sawn in the middle.
Here's a couple of pics:
I'd like to build a concert from this wood and here is how I have it laid out:
I'm guessing I could get away with the rift sawn on the top and bottom, but not sure about using flat sawn for the sides. I could get some 45 degree rift sides, but they would only be 16.3" long. Maybe I could build with a wedge end graft to gain a little length?
For the neck I can use a piece of the flat sawn section and then rotate it 90 degrees. It would only be 2" wide so I would have to glue pieces to the sides of the headstock. I would then have a one piece heel and avoid the scarf joint where the neck meets the headstock.
Please let me know what you think of my plan and/or if you have a better option.
If you can identify what kind of wood it is I'd like to hear that too.