One-piece Spanish Cedar body blanks for LP? How rare, and how much would I pay?

[VonPrikler]

I am thinking about using a one-piece Spanish Cedar body blank for a LP style build. Two basic question: (1) how easy will it be to find a suitable one-piece body blank (14" wide), and (2) how much should I expect to pay for a blank like that? Thanks so much!

 

[LPBR]

I don't know about the cost there in USA (or whatever you are) but here in Brasil their cost is pretty fair. By coincidence yesterday I walked into the lumber store and bought this magnific chunk of Spanish Cedar with 40cm width x 4cm thick and 2,07 meters long (15 3/4" x 1 5/8" x 7') for as little as $55.

Normally it is easier to find it with 20cm width (around 8") but this time they had this one so I simply couldn't let it pass.

Anyway, this nice chunk will be wood enough for 3 bodies and 6 necks. Or 4 bodies and 2 necks. Or...

 

[fatdaddypreacher]

all depends on your source, really. i get mine from a friend that owns a lumberyard. i buy it by the board for 5 or 6 dollars per board foot. i bought three about 18 months ago, but last time he checked (last month) he was having a hard time finding the wide stuff. If you go to a merchandiser/retail outlet, i'd guess 60 or 80 bucks, but that's just what i'd think.

where are you located?

 

[DRF]

I was surprised to see a couple big planks at the local Windsor Plywood (Canada). IIRC it was cheaper per bft than SA mahogany, I thought it was harder to come by, its listed on the CITIES red zone (I ain't gonna look it up).

The boards I saw were easily 1pc body material but holt sh*t for crackyness.

 

[bhmcintosh]

I am thinking about using a one-piece Spanish Cedar body blank for a LP style build. Two basic question: (1) how easy will it be to find a suitable one-piece body blank (14" wide), and (2) how much should I expect to pay for a blank like that? Thanks so much!

Last time I was in Atlanta, a friend dragged me over to a singularly well stocked lumberyard, wherein I was able to snag a hunk of 6/4 spanish cedar 18" wide by 18" long for about thirty clams. Should I live so long, it'll be the backside of a walnut-topped LP. I've also found 8/4 hunks of the stuff at a lumberyard in Tampa for not much more. It was in both places less costly than similarly thick and wide hunks of various species of mahogany.

 

[nuance97]

Last time I was in Atlanta, a friend dragged me over to a singularly well stocked lumberyard, wherein I was able to snag a hunk of 6/4 spanish cedar 18" wide by 18" long for about thirty clams. Should I live so long, it'll be the backside of a walnut-topped LP. I've also found 8/4 hunks of the stuff at a lumberyard in Tampa for not much more. It was in both places less costly than similarly thick and wide hunks of various species of mahogany.

What lumber yard were you at in Atl?

 

[kfowler8]

Try BrianI. That's who I got mine from. I think it was like $70 or so. Not sure if he has any left.

 

[voices]

Last time I was in Atlanta, a friend dragged me over to a singularly well stocked lumberyard, wherein I was able to snag a hunk of 6/4 spanish cedar 18" wide by 18" long for about thirty clams. Should I live so long, it'll be the backside of a walnut-topped LP. I've also found 8/4 hunks of the stuff at a lumberyard in Tampa for not much more. It was in both places less costly than similarly thick and wide hunks of various species of mahogany.

whats the lumber yard in Tampa?

 

[Brian I]

Try BrianI. That's who I got mine from. I think it was like $70 or so. Not sure if he has any left.

Thanks for the recommendation, Kevin. I actually just ran out; I sold my last few blanks for 50 each because the board they were from had wider grain and wasn't as nice as the first board (the one your blank came from). I keep checking but I can't seem to find to find SC of the same quality as the first board.

 

[dougk]

I buy it by the unit and it's rare I get 13.5"+ wide stuff. Honestly I haven't had any one piece blanks in over a year.

I don't think you'll pay a premium anywhere for it, it's just tough to find. By all accounts it's not a huge growing tree.