Guitar Wood Products

Guitar Side Laminations

The guitar side laminations are available in two different species of wood. Alaskan yellow cedar used on spruce top and maple guitars, and pear wood used on cedar. Cypress has been discontinued. The combinations of these woods with the applicable top wood as described here are how they are used on J.S. Bogdanovich guitars, you are welcome to use any combination that suits you. The guitar side laminations are .6mm thick veneer. Two veneers are used on each side, therefore a set consists of 4 pieces total. All veneer is the finest quality wood.

Alaskan yellow cedar is becoming increasingly harder to get. Sadly, soon this wood will no longer be available. We are already in the process of finding a plentiful substitute.

Guitar Side and Lining Laminations

Only the highest quality mahogany (pictured above right) is used in our lining laminations. Wood at this thickness will be difficult, if not impossible to find anywhere these days. The only way to get these laminations would be to mill them yourself from a larger piece of wood. This is wasteful at best and impossible if you don't have the equipment to do it. These guitar lining laminations are available in limited quantities (no more than two sets per order). Four bundles of lining laminations comprise a set, enough for one instrument. Each bundle consists of four pieces of ~.042" thick mahogany 5/8" wide. This width is identical to that of the classical guitar lining mold which is also available on the site, making the lamination process a breeze. This is excellent wood for laminating. If executed properly no glue lines will be visible and it will look like a solid piece of wood.

Ebonized Pear Wood Veneer

Without a doubt ebonized pear wood veneer is the best choice for purflings, headpiece veneer, parts of the rosette, or any part of the guitar where black veneer is needed for decoration. Not only does this veneer provide a rich jet black color when finished but pear wood planes in any direction leaving a smooth unblemished surface. This is a real advantage when trimming purflings and bindings, or the rosette.

Typically dyed poplar is sold for this purpose but this wood is stringy and tears easily when cut leaving voids where dust and debris can settle unnoticed until a finish is applied. The dust and debris shows up under the finish as white specs. Although this is certainly not a game breaker, this is the last thing you would like to see in your finished instrument after taking the time and care to create it.

The ebonized pear wood also shows up darker than dyed poplar, and most other dyed woods, which makes it appear jet black, giving it a very rich looking appearance. This wood is an optimal choice for veneer used for decorative purposes making it an ideal guitar wood. This veneer is virtually impossible to get in small quantities. We purchase this veneer in large batches, referred to as bundles in the veneer business, so we always have some available.