MIMF

Is it really a good substitute for Spanish or Monterrey Cypress? If not, what wood would you use for a similar weight and "blanca" tone? Honduras Mahogany?

Personally I would suggest Southern Bald Cypress from the Gulf coast of the United States. The wood has excellent tone, very tight straight grain, and light weight. I recently built a slimline guitar from gulf cypress that weighs in at 5lb 8oz.

I have used Alaskan yellow cedar for back and sides on at a half a dozen or so guitars ( flamencos and classicals ) and find it to be a very good substitute for cypress.It is very easy to bend,very stable and is probably the cheapest substitute as well.

I give Alaskan Yellow Cedar two thumbs up for backs/sides. I've used it for Flamencos and steel string acoustics. An excellent light weight wood and still available in very close grain. It is soft, so be careful, and It can be difficult to find if you aren't on the west coast.

Alaskan yellow cedar happens to be a true cypress, not a cedar, in spite of what it is called.

Thanks, all. I will use it. I am also interested in the Bald Cypress. I 've heard it make for good boat planking. I do have some American Sycamore, but I am saving that for a steel string.

Dave Myers wrote:I have used Alaskan yellow cedar for back and sides on at a half a dozen or so guitars ( flamencos and classicals ) and find it to be a very good substitute for cypress.It is very easy to bend,very stable and is probably the cheapest substitute as well.

Hi Dave
May I ask.. how much do you wet the Alaskan yellow cedar sides when you bend them?
Thanks
Cath

I've done two guitars with yellow cedar (Cupressus nootkatensis). Source was probably Canada rather than Alaska. I don't generally soak any wood just damp it a bit with a sponge as I go along. Yellow cedar bends quite easily. The resins, at least on the stuff I have, smell even stronger that european cypress. I don't really like the smell although one of my current "players" is yc. I think some YC would make a nice top. I have been tempted to make guitar with YC for top, back, and sides but haven't tried it yet.

p.s. my yellow cedar was also very cheap.

Btw, just a plug for Alaskan Tonewoods (forum sponsor).

I've only had great service and great wood from those guys.
And their AA grade is better than most people's mastergrade for pretty cheap.