Sometimes we are asked difficult questions, sometimes easy ones…

What does the term "wood for instruments" mean?

We consider instrument wood to be a species of wood that has been tested by instrument designers and makers over the years and decades, imparting the desired characteristics to the final sound of the instrument (e.g., maple and ebony sharpen the sound and accelerate the attack, while mahogany and rosewood warm the sound and don't contour it as strongly as maple or ebony). Furthermore, the wood we offer, which is commonly and customarily referred to as "resonant" or "tonewood," is sorted and formatted by us to avoid highly irregular grain patterns, knots, cracks, and other wood defects that can impede the free flow of energy within the instrument. Sometimes, however, if the grain is very wavy, or the wood has specific defects such as "flame," "birds' eye," characteristic knots, overgrowth, etc., we also classify this wood as instrument wood, which can be used in instrument construction (e.g., as a patterned top or body overlay for an electric guitar). The instrument wood we offer, primarily intended for use in electric instruments, is kiln-dried or open-air and is ready for use in terms of physical and mechanical properties. However, we adhere to the principle, and in every case, recommend, that the wood be seasoned as long as possible before instrument making. Ideally, seasoning should last five, ten, or even more years. These days, such a seasoning period is often impossible. Fortunately, in electric instrument construction, wood seasons naturally in finished instruments, even under varnish. This is why a 10-year-old guitar sounds significantly better than a newly built one (of course, it sounds even better if it's played frequently). We believe that any wood can be used to make an instrument, and the species and selected pieces we offer are, in our opinion, suitable for this purpose, based on our experience and beliefs. We can express our opinion regarding the selection of a given wood for an instrument, and we express this opinion when offering our products/materials. The customer/buyer should verify for themselves whether they agree with our opinion or not, for example, because they have a different perspective on the subject of wood for instruments, instrument construction, or are inclined to other opinions. Of course, in terms of legality and origin, the offered wood is allowed for free circulation in Poland and European Union countries. In the event of changes to this legal status, the wood will be withdrawn from sale by us or will be provided with appropriate certifications and warnings.

In the case of acoustic instruments, such as violins, violas, cellos, double basses, classical guitars, etc., it is reasonable to adhere as closely as possible to the formal definition of resonance wood, and such wood should be used for their construction: "even-grained structure without defects, grain width in softwoods from 0.5 to 4 mm, in hardwoods over 4 mm, seasoned in appropriate conditions for 20 years (at least 5 years in the case of guitars), wood moisture content approximately 6%," to name just a few important characteristics that such wood should possess, as can be found in generally available informations. Our sales and business profile is wood for electric instruments, although ocasionally we also offer wood for "acoustics".

We hope that this brief overview has clarified our perspective on instrument wood or resonance wood / tone wood. If you have any further questions, please contact us.

Why is this wood so expensive?

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The short answer... Price is relative, and in our case, it's influenced by several factors. Take, for example, a piece of wood with specific parameters and appearance, priced at a specific price, say 500 PLN. For one person, it's extremely expensive because it's already half the budget for the entire instrument, or 10 times more than paid to neighbour who was cleaning out his garage, or it's "indecent" for ordinary wood to cost that much. For someone else, it's a unique opportunity because, for example, it happens to be that one dream piece with an otherworldly appearance, chosen by intuition. It all depends on what's important to the person choosing the wood. Whether it's the appearance, the perfectly straight grain, the irregular "wild runs", the quarter-sawn cut, the flat cut, the diagonal cut, the lack of defects, or a specific defect in the wood (ideal examples are "birds eye" maple or burl poplar - these are nothing more than a high density of defects in the wood and theoretically such wood should be avoided because it worsens the resonance properties and is technically unstable... but people use it and it works).

The wood we offer is primarily intended for instruments finished with clear or coloured transparent lacquer, allowing the wood's structure, grain, patterning, and distinctive features to be visible. In such cases, purchasing, for example, a single-piece African mahogany body for 500 PLN makes sense and is justified. If the finished instrument is to be varnished in a uniform color, such as black, one person will naturally argue that spending such a sum is pointless, as a two- or three-piece mahogany body can be purchased at a yard sale for a significantly lower price, last several years, and will likely sound just as good as a piece from our store. Others prefer a single-piece body without the slightest flaw, because they "know what they have." Objectively, we conclude that both are right, as everyone has own vision.

Returning to the question, we believe that the products and materials we offer are priced appropriately, and their prices are influenced by, among other things:

- sourcing wood of a given species, with specific physical and visual parameters, regardless of whether it is sourced and/or imported by us personally or through an intermediary

- appropriate pre-processing and waste costs

- selection and approval for the creation of an in-store offer

- measuring, weighing, describing, and labeling each piece/set of wood individually

- photographing each piece/set of wood individually from various sides

- processing photos for online use

- creating a description for each piece/set of wood individually for use in the online store

- creating a product offer for each piece/set of wood separately, along with assigning photos and descriptions (in the Wood For Guitar online store at www.woodforguitar.com, each piece/set of wood is a separate product; "what you see is what you buy - what you buy is what you see")

- storing wood in an organized rack format (including space costs, warehouse space, land taxation, ventilation and heating costs, logistics, condition control, reshuffling and control of stored goods)

- retail activity, not wholesale…

Presenting the offer to the customers in a way that allows them to make an informed decision about a potential purchase, and all the associated processes, are time-consuming and expensive. They certainly increase the product price, but they also lead to the accurate acquisition of high-quality material with the desired appearance. In summary, we believe we offer exceptional wood at the right price. And here's a note: not all exceptional wood is beautiful, although that's obviously a matter of taste.

Will this wood be the best?

There's usually no clear answer to this question. There's no such thing as the best wood, just as there's no such thing as the best car, paint, or piece of music. Every wood used in guitar and bass making has its advantages and disadvantages. Some characteristics will be wonderful for some, but a nightmare for others. We always try to provide as much information as possible about a given wood species in the product description, but this information is still general. Upon request, we can always provide our opinion on whether a particular wood species or combination is a good solution. We'll then need specific details, such as whether amateur tools or professional woodworking machines will be used, whether the neck will be glued-in or screw-jointed, whether the instrument will be varnished or simply oiled, whether the body will be 40mm or 65mm thick, etc.

Can I make a guitar myself?

Yes. Virtually anyone can make a wonderful instrument with basic tools. All it takes is the will, acquired knowledge, and a lot of humility and patience. If you're just starting this adventure and planning to make your first instrument yourself, we recommend focusing on a simpler design first. Rome wasn't built in a day. Even if your first guitar doesn't turn out as you'd like, it will undoubtedly be an exceptional instrument. It won't be easy, but it's worth the challenge.

When should I buy wood?

It's worth purchasing good-quality wood even years before building the instrument. Let it rest in a heated, dry, and ventilated place. It will surely thank its owner for the years of care. Besides, nothing lasts forever. What you can buy now won't necessarily be available in the future. It's worth keeping this in mind.

Will it be safely packaged for shipping?

It will be. No sane person packs like we do, you might say. Since we started our business, we haven't recorded a single case of wood damage during delivery, and shipments don't have an easy time in transit. Each shipment is treated with extreme individuality. Instead of pre-formatted boxes, we use five-layer, rigid, high-density cardboard sheets, which we individually form into several secure layers. The wood is always wrapped in stretch foil, which acts as a barrier against moisture penetration. After receiving the shipment, the wood should be unpacked, unwrapped, and stored in a safe place (dry, warm, and airy). We recommend not using a knife to unpack, or using it carefully and thoughtfully, as knife scratches on wood are not easy to remove... sometimes you can't, and it hurts when a scratch happens to land on a visible surface (we know from experience that if you're going to hit it, it's the most visible surface 😊).

If you want to ask anything, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

phone: +48/ 882 803 692 (8:00-16:00 CET)

e-mail: woodforguitar@gmail.com

We apologize in advance for any errors in translation from Polish to English. The official language of the woodforguitar.com store is Polish.