Hi, someone recommended me figured poplar as a guitar top. I can't find much information about this top, I know it's mainly used with STK, GNG and Overload, from Italian luthiers. It's different from qulted maple but quite similar, has some unique patterns instead of regular pattern on maple. I'm curious how it looked in real life, anyone experienced with this guitar top?
Anyone experienced with figured (flamed) poplar guitar top?
- Thread starter Un1corn
- Start date
cgmorrison
What?
Poplar works just fine as a top. It is softer than maple. I've had a few pieces that have been a little fuzzy after routing, but nothing that sanding won't fix. As far as how it looks in real life, most I have seen is slightly darker than maple, but still pretty light, and you'll often find pieces with shades of light brown and light green kinda mixed in.
Omzig
SS.org Regular
From the pieces i've seen for sale on the wider web it looks like it's either very rare or very over priced! Looks pretty nice but cost for cost i think you'ed get a nicer piece of maple ?
lost_horizon
SS.org Regular
Did a test dye on flamed poplar vs maple. Darker appearance and less figuring than flamed maple, didn't have the 3d look of flamed maple.
Just go to your local woodshop, get a test blank for less than $10.
Just go to your local woodshop, get a test blank for less than $10.
I can get the poplar with same price as maple, so no problem for me. Most figured poplar I found are burls, but figured poplar without burl is quite rare, at least not at guitars. Maybe it's used on furniture, but I don't know.
I would like to, but I can't find any flamed poplar here, most of them are burls which had black dots.
lost_horizon
SS.org Regular
Left flamed maple, right flamed tasmanian myrtle, middle flamed poplar
electriceye
SS.org Regular
I'm convinced that someone bought ALL that was ever available. The figure is actually much more akin to figured myrtle, IMO. I don't think it looks like figured maple at all.
I've been trying to find some of this for builds for about 3 years and I have had shit luck. The one luthier I'm convinced owns it all is a guy named Giulione Grini. Nearly every one of his guitars uses this species of poplar, but he won't help you find it (I've tried). You can find him on IG. He makes gorgeous guitars.
I wish you luck in your search. I promise that I'm going to buy any that I ever find!
I've been trying to find some of this for builds for about 3 years and I have had shit luck. The one luthier I'm convinced owns it all is a guy named Giulione Grini. Nearly every one of his guitars uses this species of poplar, but he won't help you find it (I've tried). You can find him on IG. He makes gorgeous guitars.
I wish you luck in your search. I promise that I'm going to buy any that I ever find!
Yeah, GNG guitars I looked has beautiful tops. Also there's another one called STK guitars, they use this top as well. I'm having a conversation with Matteo Dondi of Overload, he told me this top. Although Overload don't list this on their website, but it's an option.I'm convinced that someone bought ALL that was ever available. The figure is actually much more akin to figured myrtle, IMO. I don't think it looks like figured maple at all.
I've been trying to find some of this for builds for about 3 years and I have had shit luck. The one luthier I'm convinced owns it all is a guy named Giulione Grini. Nearly every one of his guitars uses this species of poplar, but he won't help you find it (I've tried). You can find him on IG. He makes gorgeous guitars.
I wish you luck in your search. I promise that I'm going to buy any that I ever find!
