View Full Version : Western red cedar for a carved top?
martinedwards
Apr-14-2008, 2:40pm
Hi gang, #I've "aquired" a big plank of WRC. #Its about 6" wide, 2" thick and 4 feet long.
I'm THINKING about a carved top instrument, maybe a mando, maybe an archtop guitar. #Obviously for the guitar i'd have to be a 4 piece top, but i'm not scared of that....
I KNOW that it's traditional to use spruce for carved mando tops and if WRC is going to be used it's more of a flat-top kind of thing, but has anyone ever seen a WRC topped F5?
Ta!!
I just finished a beautiful RCF5 with Bubinga back, sides and neck, awesome tone and punch. Go for it, cause the Western Red Cedar is a great combination tone wood for hardwoods. Works well also with Walnut and Maple too
billhay4
Apr-14-2008, 4:54pm
3 mando tops in this. WRC is a great tonewood, but I prefer the hard stuff. Give it the fingernail test and if it dents easily, I'd be wary of it. Also, look for tight grain, the tighter the better IMHO.
Bill
Jerry Haynes
Apr-14-2008, 5:04pm
I've used it a few times and have been well pleased. Softer than some of the spruces, love the smell.
Spruce
Apr-14-2008, 5:07pm
The cedar-topped Weber F5s from the past few years have really convinced me how great cedar can be in an F5....
I've played some in the past year that were as good as any F5 I've ever played....
(Disclaimer: #I mill the stuff for Weber)... #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
Ken Sager
Apr-14-2008, 5:17pm
The cedar-topped Weber F5s from the past few years have really convinced me how great cedar can be in an F5....
I've played some in the past year that were as good as any F5 I've ever played....
(Disclaimer: #I mill the stuff for Weber)... #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
No wonder they're so good! Their most recent ones are by far the best. It appears they've figured that stuff out.
Best,
KS
Spruce
Apr-14-2008, 8:53pm
Man, I played a Yellowstone at Winfield last year that just killed me....
I'll run into it again this summer and let ya all know how it's opening up, because we all know cedar doesn't do that... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
Kevin Briggs
Apr-14-2008, 9:03pm
I played a cedar-topped Weber Big Sky A style. So, here's two plugs for Webers...:
1. The cedar top was part of a great sounding mandolin with a light touch and balanced tone
2. The Weber A styles are no joke
I'll also plug for my red spruce Fern (they also got that from you, Spruce, if I'm not mistaken) http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif #The red spruce was a special request, as I had it on my custom maple Bitteroot as well, as sort of a whim thanks to my buddy Paula Jean Lewis. I can't speak for the sitka-topped Webers, as I've never really played one for more than a few minutes, but whereas the cedar Big Sky A was light, responsive and balanced, my red spruce Fern is light, responsive, balanced, and simply monstrous. I almost don't feel worthy, and then I think, "nah, Kev... you're worth it."
Here is a nice one, wrc top and maple back. Sounds great !
dave
bradeinhorn
Apr-15-2008, 4:22pm
i'd love to hear a wrc with cocobolo back and sides oval hole mando or dola.
Rick Banuelos
Apr-15-2008, 4:55pm
I personally think it's one of the loudest and darkest sounding tops someone can build with.
And Brad's mention of Cocobolo is making me drool.
Disclaimer: http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif # # We use Bruce's WRC, and I have an exceedingly high opinion of it.
sunburst
Apr-15-2008, 6:12pm
i'd love to hear a wrc with cocobolo back and sides oval hole mando or dola.
That's the type of thing what custom orders from luthiers are all about. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
I haven't tried it for a mandolin top yet, but I was just given a piece of western red cedar from a very old telegraph pole. I got 2 1/2 tops from it, but I don't know when they'll end up in mandolins. Never built a half mando before...
crazymandolinist
Apr-15-2008, 6:33pm
How about an eastern red cedar top? My area's crawling with it.
bradeinhorn
Apr-15-2008, 9:27pm
i'd love to hear a wrc with cocobolo back and sides oval hole mando or dola.
That's the type of thing what custom orders from luthiers are all about. #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
ok,
i'd love one. a-2z appointments, please.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
-B
martinedwards
Apr-16-2008, 11:05am
sounds like a resounding yes then!!
I WAS considdering a 4 piece archtop guitar, but looks like a mando.
I'll not get a look at it for about 6 months though, too much on already http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif
buckhorn
Apr-16-2008, 11:19pm
while at a home store,i found about 30 feet of red ceder, 6 in wide ,and got it all ...it was quartered and very straight grained....i will let it set for a while before using..here's some pics of a red ceder with wide grain that was made last year and has only gotten better sounding...
oldwave maker
Apr-17-2008, 12:26pm
In progress shot of a cedartop oval from a while back, the 5' long telegraph pole quarters came from violinmaker Peter White, who inherited them from the late David Birkedahl, whose grandfather was a lineman in wyoming. Ziricote fretboard and pickguard, turquoise heishi dots. More redwoody sounding that engelmannistic. For an F5 Id use some grads on the thick side.