Rock Maple Body Blanks? Where to buy / alternate tonewoods?

[Cloverfield]

Hi guys,

I've been searching locally for a thick solid body blank made from Eastern Hard Rock Maple, would it be fair to say finding one locally would be next to impossible?

It would seem even finding one in the US is not as easy as it seems.

[demonx]

I used to buy a lot of my Maple from AFT. Shame more people didn't buy from them as they went out of business. Same with my local supplier. Recently closed his doors due to the industry changing.

You can try Matthews timber in Melbourne, but any time I buy from there sight unseen I get crap sent to me, so it's probably best to go there in person.

I'm guessing this is the sort of thing you're wanting, it's quite heavy, an all maple guitar.

[Nick]

As Allan pointed out, a solid maple body in that thickness would certainly have some weight in it! You could always chamber it and then add a cap either on the front or rear (ala Rickenbacker 300 series). Not sure about Oz, but rock maple is avaiable in 50mm thick boards from specialist suppliers here in NZ so if we can get it I'd be surprised if it wasn't available over your side of the ditch. You will probably have to glue up two pieces to get the width, finding a board wide enough in 50 mm thickness would not only be hard to get but if you could, it would be expensive along with it!

[Cloverfield]

Hey thanks Allan, I might hit up Matthew's Timbre and see what they have.

The guitar in that photo is very nice btw it's kind of in line with what I am looking at doing.

I do want to make an all maple body guitar, but I'm thinking semi-hollow - so a hogged out body with a maple carve top.

Seems like finding nice maple is really tricky, I much more prefer the plain style maple like in your photo, rather than the highly flamed PRS tops that seem to be more popular.

In my eyes this one is the most beautiful.

Play this on HD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ef9R-AKlFdQ

[Cloverfield]

As Allan pointed out, a solid maple body in that thickness would certainly have some weight in it! You could always chamber it and then add a cap either on the front or rear (ala Rickenbacker 300 series). Not sure about Oz, but rock maple is avaiable in 50mm thick boards from specialist suppliers here in NZ so if we can get it I'd be surprised if it wasn't available over your side of the ditch. You will probably have to glue up two pieces to get the width, finding a board wide enough in 50 mm thickness would not only be hard to get but if you could, it would be expensive along with it!

Hey nick, yeah I am most definitely looking to have it chambered with a cap, and as you say, the body will have to be from two pieces - no problems there.

I'd also like to try the same approach with white limba (Korina) with both body and top. Of course if all these options prove to complicated I will likely just go with a mahogany body / maple top.

[J.F. Custom]

Hi Simon.

I've got a bit of Rock Maple stashed away, figured and plain. Old stock I've had for over 15 years. I can check dimensions etc for anything suitable and let you know if you're really keen.

Let me know.

Cheers,

Jeremy.

[Cloverfield]

Hi Simon.

I've got a bit of Rock Maple stashed away, figured and plain. Old stock I've had for over 15 years. I can check dimensions etc for anything suitable and let you know if you're really keen.

Let me know.

Cheers,

Jeremy.

Thanks Jeremy, I'm interested for sure. I'll shoot you an email!