R the F
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 1,135 
My main instrument is: bandsaw
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Post by R the F on Jul 15, 2016 7:20:18 GMT
Our apple tree has died.... It ended its days more mistletoe than tree, which might provide a clue to what's happened. A man is coming to chop it down some time next week and I'm going to keep some of the big pieces if it's not rotten. Does anyone know of its use as a tonewood? In furniture circles it's usually known as "fruitwood" so if you've heard of a guitar with fruitwood back and sides it may be relevant.
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davewhite
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Luthier
Aemulor et ambitiosior
Posts: 3,548
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Post by davewhite on Jul 15, 2016 7:57:45 GMT
Rob, Cherry and pear are used for back and sides so apple should work depending on the state of the wood in your old tree. If it looks and feels promising there's one way to find out for sure  |
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R the F
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 1,135
My main instrument is: bandsaw
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Post by R the F on Jul 15, 2016 10:07:34 GMT
Rob, Cherry and pear are used for back and sides so apple should work depending on the state of the wood in your old tree. If it looks and feels promising there's one way to find out for sure But sending it to you would be prohibitively expensive... |
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Post by earwighoney on Jul 15, 2016 10:40:43 GMT
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R the F
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 1,135
My main instrument is: bandsaw
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Post by R the F on Jul 15, 2016 10:54:29 GMT
You've certainly got your finger on the guitar-world's pulse, earwighoney! Just the sort of thing I wanted to see. I actually used part of a branch from this tree once (on some furniture) and it looked very much like these photos; much less pink and much patchier than cherry or pear. Not sure how much I like it - but I'll love it if I get some sides and backs out of it. |
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Post by earwighoney on Jul 15, 2016 11:00:22 GMT
You've certainly got your finger on the guitar-world's pulse, earwighoney ! Just the sort of thing I wanted to see. I actually used part of a branch from this tree once (on some furniture) and it looked very much like these photos; much less pink and much patchier than cherry or pear. Not sure how much I like it - but I'll love it if I get some sides and backs out of it. Pleased to be of service! If the colour isn't to your liking why not dye it? A US based builder Hans Brentrup used to make a lot of guitars with White Oak which he'd dye to a darker shade which would come out nicely. www.brentrup.com/styled/page9.html Hope the tree isn't rotten though! It could be a great source of back/sides or even necks! |
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francis
C.O.G. 
Posts: 2,482
My main instrument is: Whatever I'm building...
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Post by francis on Jul 15, 2016 12:39:43 GMT
Hope the tree is good - will need some careful drying.
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R the F
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 1,135
My main instrument is: bandsaw
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Post by R the F on Jul 15, 2016 12:55:20 GMT
Hope the tree is good - will need some careful drying. I'll be asking about that when the time comes! |
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Post by lavaman on Jul 15, 2016 13:42:12 GMT
Some old parlour guitars used fruit wood (pear) for the fingerboard so I guess apple would work.
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Post by andyhowell on Jul 15, 2016 16:46:38 GMT
Pear is quite a nice sounding tonewood - Adrian has used it a bit. I guess apple wouldn't be a million miles away.
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R the F
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 1,135
My main instrument is: bandsaw
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Post by R the F on Jul 15, 2016 17:16:59 GMT
I think you may be comparing apples with pears! I suspect it's more like cherry than pear but it is tight-grained like pear. Thanks for all your responses; I'm getting a fairly positive feeling. Let's hope the tree lives (!) up to it.
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Post by earthbalm on Jul 16, 2016 20:23:00 GMT
You've certainly got your finger on the guitar-world's pulse, earwighoney ! Just the sort of thing I wanted to see. I actually used part of a branch from this tree once (on some furniture) and it looked very much like these photos; much less pink and much patchier than cherry or pear. Not sure how much I like it - but I'll love it if I get some sides and backs out of it. Pleased to be of service! If the colour isn't to your liking why not dye it? A US based builder Hans Brentrup used to make a lot of guitars with White Oak which he'd dye to a darker shade which would come out nicely. www.brentrup.com/styled/page9.html Hope the tree isn't rotten though! It could be a great source of back/sides or even necks! That is one beautiful looking guitar. |
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Jo whoever he is.
