Inventory
In an attempt to make the commission process more effective and enjoyable for my long distance customers, I have listed the majority of my back/side set inventory. Each set has its upcharge listed in the title. (Please note that you don’t have to use one of these sets for your commission. I often procure back/side sets on an “as needed” basis -- however, most of my inventory represents sets that are unique, rare, and of very high quality.)
Proceed to the Back / Side Inventory
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But first, a few observations .......
Movingui
Movingui is an African tonewood and high-quality sets will have clear grain with strong ribbon figure. However, a good friend of mine in the tonewood business found this wonderful Movingui log over in France with the most unusual grain, color, and birdseye figuring. The taptone is phenomenal - retaining the immediate response of Honduran Mahogany but having the ring and sustain of Brazilian Rosewood. Without a doubt, one of the most musical woods I have ever encountered. I currently have 3 sets of this remarkable tonewood.
Desert Ironwood
This is an incredibly rare find. Like Snakewood, Desert Ironwood (Olneya Tesota) is almost never found in pieces large enough for guitar back/sides and the pieces that are large enough are almost always full of voids, checks, and cracks. Therefore, the most common use of Desert Ironwood in woodworking is for gun and knife handles and other small decorative items. These sets were milled from Ironwood that had been lying on the desert ground for decades and they are incredibly stable and stress-free. The taptone is reminiscent of Macassar Ebony. The grain and color is absolutely magnificent. Upclose, the grain pattern looks more like marble or stone than it does a hardwood.
I have 4 sets available but am only offering to build with one set at this present time. I recently dropped the price of this set to $3,000 just because I would love to see a guitar built from this remarkable wood.
Mastergrade Mango and Spalted Mango
The taptone of Mango is very reminiscent of Mahogany and Koa and is also very similar in density and texture to those two species as well. I recently came across some marvelous looking sets. The Mastergrade Mango has the most unusual colors -- deep greens, reds, pinks, and various shades of brown. The flame/curl is intense and covers every square inch of the back and sides. These are some of the most beautiful sets I have ever seen.
In addition to the Mastergrade Mango, I also recently acquired a few spalted Mango sets that are visually astounding.