Walnut For Back and Rims

[Eric Knapp]

Hello, I am looking for the back and sides for first build with the cedar top. I have this walnut board and I'd like to know if this would be a good choice.

Walnut Board

The top two-thirds are quarter sawn. The good clear area is about 9" by 42" by 1 1/4". It is very old, I've had it for decades. That pic is out in the sun. I cleaned up a bit of it with a block plane an made a mockup back.

Back Mockup

How does this look? Is it a reasonable board for a first build? I have the ability to resaw.

Here is a mockup with the images flipped.

Flipped

Thanks,

-Eric

[Bill Raymond]

Yes to walnut; your board should be fine.

[Bryan Bear]

Looks good to me. I like the orientation in the first picture for aesthetic reasons. That walnut will go well with the cedar and rosette IMHO. Walnut is also really easy to bend so it is a good choice for a first.

[Bill Raymond]

Walnut also makes a nice neck, as does cherry.

[Mark Swanson]

I use Walnut all the time! And I would use the second orientation, I like the flame and I'd put that part in the lower bout. That looks like nice stuff.

[Bryan Bear]

Mark may have changed my mind. On my little screen, I thought the figure was saw marks that hadn't been taken out yet. If it is flame, then yes, I would put it in the middle of the bookmatch but orient it upsidedown from how you show it so the most of that figure is in the lower bout end.

[Alan Carruth]

The walnut I've Tested, which is moslt American black walnut, has measurable properties very similar to those of soft maple. Walnut is said to make a 'dark' sounding guitar, while maple makes a 'bright' one; I have to wonder how much the color gest into that. Walnut bends really well, glues nicely, and is very stable. I've used a bunch of it overt the years; at present it's my favorite wood for 5-string fiddle B&S and neck.