Vendor Links
The following links are for
vendors that I use to source wood, hardware, and tools.
Wood:
Body blanks:
American Specialty Hardwoods -The prices are very good and the wood is too. I use basswood almost exclusively for bodies, because it's very light, easy to work, and doesn't require grain filling, so I can't make any claims about the other wood types. They have roasted basswood blanks for a bit more money than the regular blanks. They look great but they don't take stains very well. You also need to make sure you clean them thoroughly before you finish them as any dust on the wood will cause blotching. Their blanks come as two pieces (they aren't book matched) so you need to glue them together. You can get them to glue it up for you but it costs $15 more.
Keim Lumber - Really good basswood blanks for a good price. They also have a larger variety of other wood types.
Neck blanks:
American Specialty Hardwoods - I use these guys almost exclusively for neck blanks. Their prices are as good as anyone's and the wood is first rate. I usually use their 3A, quarter sawn, roasted, flame maple blanks. I find that the 3A flame looks better than higher grades because the figuring is larger and more widely spaced. Higher grades are very tight (what's known as fiddle back) and don't show up as well as 3A. They also have non-roasted blanks if you want to stain the neck to match the body.
Drop tops:
Oregon Wild Wood - They have some incredible, highly figured, spalted, distressed maple drop tops at really good prices. They also don't charge shipping. I personally like wood with a lot of character so I've been getting drop tops from them lately.
Kimball Hardwoods - Some decent drop tops at reasonable prices. The variety lately has been going down hill but still worth a look.
North Ridge Hardwoods - Really nice drop tops at pretty steep prices. They don't do very many thin tops any more so, unless you're looking for something thick for a carved top they're probably not worth the time.
Fretboard blanks:
Ocooch Hardwoods - Alright, this is a bit weird. I used Ocooch veneers for internal layers and marquetry inlays but one day I looked at their prices for 1/4" x4"x24" veneers and thought, why not make a fretboard from one of their veneers. I bought a couple of Bolivian rosewood (I know, not real rosewood) veneers and I don't think I'll go back to anything else unless I need something specific. The Bolivian rosewood is beautiful and incredibly hard.
StewMac - They have some compound radiused, pre-slotted fretboards that are very good but a bit pricey. If you don't want to spend hours on a fretboard this is the way to go.
Amazon - They have any number of fretboard blanks available, both slotted and plain. You have to be careful about what you buy. Always check the reviews. If they don't have over about 50 I'd stay away from them. I've used the LoveinDIY rosewood (East Indian) boards and they're fine. There are many others on the site, including StewMac.
Pickguard blanks:
Amazon - Yeah, Amazon again. Get used to it, you're going to be seeing a lot of it. I don't like pickguards on guitars with expensive drop tops. I mean, why pay that kind of money for a drop top just to cover it up with a pickguard. But, if you have to use a pickguard, Amazon has tons of different pickguard blanks. I've used Fleor and they're fine.
Quick Guards - If you want something really special, Quick Guards is the way to go. I did a Mardi Gras themed guitar in purple and green with a Quick Guards gold florentine pick guard and it was gorgeous. The pickguard had real 22K gold leaf in it so it wasn't cheap plus there is a good bit of lead time on orders. If you want a blank from Quick Guards, order early.
American Specialty Hardwoods -The prices are very good and the wood is too. I use basswood almost exclusively for bodies, because it's very light, easy to work, and doesn't require grain filling, so I can't make any claims about the other wood types. They have roasted basswood blanks for a bit more money than the regular blanks. They look great but they don't take stains very well. You also need to make sure you clean them thoroughly before you finish them as any dust on the wood will cause blotching. Their blanks come as two pieces (they aren't book matched) so you need to glue them together. You can get them to glue it up for you but it costs $15 more.
Keim Lumber - Really good basswood blanks for a good price. They also have a larger variety of other wood types.
Neck blanks:
American Specialty Hardwoods - I use these guys almost exclusively for neck blanks. Their prices are as good as anyone's and the wood is first rate. I usually use their 3A, quarter sawn, roasted, flame maple blanks. I find that the 3A flame looks better than higher grades because the figuring is larger and more widely spaced. Higher grades are very tight (what's known as fiddle back) and don't show up as well as 3A. They also have non-roasted blanks if you want to stain the neck to match the body.
Drop tops:
Oregon Wild Wood - They have some incredible, highly figured, spalted, distressed maple drop tops at really good prices. They also don't charge shipping. I personally like wood with a lot of character so I've been getting drop tops from them lately.
Kimball Hardwoods - Some decent drop tops at reasonable prices. The variety lately has been going down hill but still worth a look.
North Ridge Hardwoods - Really nice drop tops at pretty steep prices. They don't do very many thin tops any more so, unless you're looking for something thick for a carved top they're probably not worth the time.
Fretboard blanks:
Ocooch Hardwoods - Alright, this is a bit weird. I used Ocooch veneers for internal layers and marquetry inlays but one day I looked at their prices for 1/4" x4"x24" veneers and thought, why not make a fretboard from one of their veneers. I bought a couple of Bolivian rosewood (I know, not real rosewood) veneers and I don't think I'll go back to anything else unless I need something specific. The Bolivian rosewood is beautiful and incredibly hard.
StewMac - They have some compound radiused, pre-slotted fretboards that are very good but a bit pricey. If you don't want to spend hours on a fretboard this is the way to go.
Amazon - They have any number of fretboard blanks available, both slotted and plain. You have to be careful about what you buy. Always check the reviews. If they don't have over about 50 I'd stay away from them. I've used the LoveinDIY rosewood (East Indian) boards and they're fine. There are many others on the site, including StewMac.
Pickguard blanks:
Amazon - Yeah, Amazon again. Get used to it, you're going to be seeing a lot of it. I don't like pickguards on guitars with expensive drop tops. I mean, why pay that kind of money for a drop top just to cover it up with a pickguard. But, if you have to use a pickguard, Amazon has tons of different pickguard blanks. I've used Fleor and they're fine.
Quick Guards - If you want something really special, Quick Guards is the way to go. I did a Mardi Gras themed guitar in purple and green with a Quick Guards gold florentine pick guard and it was gorgeous. The pickguard had real 22K gold leaf in it so it wasn't cheap plus there is a good bit of lead time on orders. If you want a blank from Quick Guards, order early.