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I have tried buying luthier-grade wood from suppliers in other parts of the country, but because I live in the dry southwest most of these woods have cupped quite a bit. Anymore, I only buy locally, Which means that I will never get to build with flamed maple or quilted maple, they are not available here. But I can get some beautiful woods, and buying locally means that they are already adjusted to the low humidity here.
So I would advise you to consider the humidity of where the wood is coming from vs. the humidity where you are, before making any on-line purchases.
I get my 1x2 maple sticks from the Home Depot. Most of the wood is pretty ordinary looking, but if I pick through the pile enough, I can usually find some that have a nice grain/figuring to them.
As Karmakaze mentioned, the humidity can be a factor. I have noticed with the stuff I get, that sitting in my living room over the winter has caused the wood to shrink enough that I can feel the ends of the fret wire sticking out a bit.
I go to Menards and buy the 6 foot 1x2 hard wood maple. I've also used oak from Lowes and it hasn't warped yet. You do have to be patient and only buy the perfectly straight ones with good grain. Sometimes it seems like you look at 20 before you find one you can use. The last one i bought i was disappointed as the maple had unsymetrical markings (although the grain was good) but you know, after i fretted it up and rasped the back i grew to really like it. If you're not fretting the neck you can use old kitchen/dining room table legs sawed in half lengthwise. Some of them are original growth lumber and you can't do better than that.
Time to get creative, there is hardwood around you.
The stiles on cabinets are normally 1x2 hardwood so you might be able to get a few pieces for your necks at a cabinetry shop, especially if you bring a CBG along with you to show why you want better neck wood. (Tends to lower the price.)
Shipping crates from the Orient are occasionally decent quality hardwood so check out the skip at any local home decor store that carries pottery and statues from the Far East.
Stone and tile are packed on hardwood pallets and the stringers of these can be cut down to size using appropriate caution regarding nails in the wood. Check the pallets at the home store and reserve a pallet with the manager when it empties of product. Again CBG in hand opens up the negotiation in your favor.
Basically check any importers of large or heavy items from overseas because there is a good chance to find suitable wood at any of them.
Broken antique furniture is another source of good hardwood.
Im from the UK (Borehamwood) and I just bought three 2x1 bits of hardwood for less that £5 from a local supplier http://www.timbmetdepot.com/
Perhaps I am just lucky to have them on my doorstep - but I would have thought you could get hardwood all over the place.
I first tried Wickes - but they only have soft wood
good idea - there must be hundreds of hard wood flooring places with interesting woods
Here in San Diego, there's a local hardwood specialty shop: Frost hardwoods... they specialize in supplying cabinet makers, but will sell to anybody..
I haven't been there in years as I've found maple and walnut at my local home stores, but I plan a trip there for some nice necks...
Check around, you might be surprised what you find.
John
I use a local timber supplier for my American Oak hardwood neck blanks cut to size - fish around you never know who you might find locally hidden away behind a car wash.. (-;
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