Timbers

The soundboard is the most important area of any stringed instrument. The prime requirement for the timber is that it should be light in weight, stiff not spongy and the grain should be correct in all three dimensions. I choose all my soundboard material personally, the first choice for Selmer style guitars being European Spruce. I also occasionally use Cedar and Sitka Spruce and have experimented with Oregon Pine.

For back and sides the most popular timber is Indian Rosewood, but I also use Birdseye Maple, Flamed Maple, Mahogany, Imbuia (sometimes called Brazilian Walnut), Honduras Rosewood and Madagascan Rosewood. I no longer use Brazilian (Rio) Rosewood.

Necks are American Black Walnut as standard, but I also have Mahogany and also use Maple where appropriate. Fingerboards are Ebony with Rosewood also available.

Birds Eye Maple

Quilted Maple

Honduras Rosewood back and sides

Imbuia back and sides