Suitable UK/European timber for building - Guitar Building Tricks and Tips

RE: Suitable UK/European timber for building

Dan Hawkes — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 05:03:47 +0000

@nsj 🤣🤣 You're certainly not the first to say it and I'm pretty sure won't be the last!

RE: Suitable UK/European timber for building

NSJ — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 20:05:33 +0000

@liebe not so much sacrilegious as just plain weird! 🤣

RE: Suitable UK/European timber for building

Dan Hawkes — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 05:26:08 +0000

@nsj beech? I thought it would be quite heavy, thanks for confirming.

It's possibly a sacrilegious thing to say, but I'm not a big fan of the look of spalted wood. So thinlines or heavily chambered it is!

Thanks as always!

RE: Suitable UK/European timber for building

NSJ — Sun, 12 Apr 2026 22:08:20 +0000

@liebe spalted is good, un spalted can be quite heavy but good for a semi hollow like a thinline tele or that

RE: Suitable UK/European timber for building

Dan Hawkes — Sun, 12 Apr 2026 19:55:00 +0000

Cheers @nethanpaul86.

I've picked up the chestnut body blank I mentioned, just not quite sure what I'm going to do with it yet...

I hadn't thought of beech, is that one you've tried previously?

I plan to get hold of some walnut and cherry at some point and just have a bit of a play.

RE: Suitable UK/European timber for building

nethanpaul86 — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 02:08:17 +0000

You’re on the right track with walnut, ash, sycamore/maple, and basswood—those are all solid choices and widely available in the UK/Europe. Walnut is a bit heavier but carves beautifully, ash (especially European ash) has great resonance and looks killer with grain filling, and sycamore/maple is bright and snappy. Basswood is super easy to work with and lightweight but can dent easily. You might also consider beech (strong and stable), alder (a classic for bodies), or chestnut (similar to mahogany in some ways). Would love to hear what you end up using!

RE: Suitable UK/European timber for building

Brian Walker — Tue, 24 Dec 2024 17:58:31 +0000

@nsj You should try it, especially with some soap, YEAH, wire wool and soap......its BRILLO!! 🤣 🤣

RE: Suitable UK/European timber for building

NSJ — Tue, 24 Dec 2024 15:26:57 +0000

@brie it smelled way worse! But thankfully it's all dried and sealed now. I don't know why you put wire wool on your chips though 🤣

RE: Suitable UK/European timber for building

Dan Hawkes — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 21:56:14 +0000

@brie Very handy, thanks Brian!

RE: Suitable UK/European timber for building

Dan Hawkes — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 21:56:04 +0000

@brie Very handy, thanks Brian!