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b-bender in a Jack Pine Body?

Guitartom_ca
August 29th, 2009, 04:05 PM
is pine to soft for a b-bender to be installed and be stable? i am thinking of getting BnW B and G benders installed in a pine body.
Thanks

Dogbear
August 29th, 2009, 05:34 PM
This link gives relative hardness for most woods. Surface hardness in the wood industry is measured by the load or force required to embed a steel ball, 0.444 inch in diameter, to a depth of one-half its diameter. IMHO, I don't think using Jack Pine would be a problem, however considering the cost of the bender, a better grade of wood body might be a better idea.

http://www.cabinetmakeronline.com/ViewArticle.aspx?id=33094

Hardwoods

Very soft (under 450 pounds)
•Aspen
•Basswood
•Eastern cottonwood

Quite soft (450-600)
•Butternut
•Yellow-poplar (tulip poplar)
•Red alder
•Spanish cedar

Softwoods

Quite soft (450-600)
•Ponderosa pine
•Red pine
•Jack pine
•Alaska yellow cedar
•Tamarack

BrianF
August 29th, 2009, 07:09 PM
I installed a PW in Get Bent's Pinecaster that he named "The Ranch Hand"

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/b-bender-forum/159012-my-new-parsons-white-bender-thank-you-brianf.html

http://homepage.mac.com/macmanager/.Pictures/rancher/rhback.JPG

Greg Seaman
September 26th, 2009, 02:25 AM
Excellent Job on the PW Bender install, Brian. The black paint is a nice touch. Looks great! I bet it works perfectly too.

Guitar Tom: I see no reason why you could not install a PW type bender in a pine body as long as it's a decent grade of pine. Obviously, it's been done (as we can see). Have you tried a Hipshot B-Bender? I like it better than a strap activated rig like Uncle Geno's (Gene White).

I own a '97 Fender Tele with a factory installed Parson's Green and a G&L Will Ray with a Hipshot. I like the Hipshot better both in sound and action. When Hipshot Benders first came out (way back in the Bronze Age), I didn't like the concept or the look. I felt that way for years until I tried one. Listening to Will Ray years ago prompted me to try one. As soon as I did, I was hooked -for life!

The Hipshot has a longer throw than the Parsons/Green resulting in a more dramatic and easier to control action. I believe the resulting effect is more pedal steel-like.

I realize that there are long throw Parsons type benders available -but the price. YIKES!! Hipshot works great for me. It's also east to install, less expensive and less invasive.
Try one on your Pine-O-Caster. Don't hack it up if you don't have to! Just my humble advice -but I'm just an early primate with an I.Q. to match. Good luck and happy bending!