Is this a good price for wood?

[DropKick74]

I'm slowly getting things around for my very first guitar build. I'm building the body from scratch and I'll probably buy the neck from warmoth or something. Yesterday I started my wood shopping. I found a place close by (20 Min) that sells wood for counter tops and the like so they have a lot of different species of woods including some of the more exotic stuff... I say this only because I was so surprised a place like this was so close by.

Any way they tell me they don't have any wood wide enough to do a single piece body which isn't a big deal to me. They DO however say they will do any type of glue up I need (Which is awesome because I don't have a planer.) So they quoted me this.

for a 2 pc alder panel 20 inches long x 14 inches wide x 1 3/4 inches thick it will cost 38 dollars plus tax.

this is cheaper then all the places I've looked on the net (which is only allparts, stewmac, and a couple others)

Does this seem like a good price to everyone here? I'm not sure how much wood costs in general so I'm trying to get a good idea. Thanks in advance.

[Maricopa]

Decent price considering they are jointing and gluing it up for you.

[DropKick74]

That's what my initial thought was too but I just wanted to be sure and check it against the experience on the forum.

thanks for the response.

[macaroonie]

Given that they are doing a one off custom job for you , no matter how simple , that seems to be a pretty decent deal. Do you have a choice of woods at that price ?

For a price comparison I bought a piece of walnut ( for work ) yeaterday. It is 2100 x 45 x 200 and off saw ie not dressed it cost me £38. I then had to do a lot of work to it cleaning it up etc

[Tom Pettingill]

Originally Posted by Maricopa

Decent price considering they are jointing and gluing it up for you.

I would agree .. very decent price.

[Ripthorn]

That's a great price. My local hardwood place does shop work at $50/hr plus the cost of the wood. You really are lucky out there in Michigan, as they have lots of great lumber places and grow some fabulous maple. We have some good stuff out here, too, though, so I shouldn't be complaining.

[OpenG Capo4]

That sounds like a good price. I'd expect to pay close to that just for the jointing/glue-up/planing.

The other thing about a countertop place is that they should be able to do all sorts of stuff with veneers too...

[DropKick74]

Awesome guys, thanks for all the response. I'm getting the wood there next week. Thanks for the confidence. I've never bought any lumber before besides at home depot so I didn't know how and what prices are like for the good stuff.

Thanks for the help

[macaroonie]

Make sure you buy two. This caper is addictive , trust me. Second one will be cheaper anyway.

[Mike Simpson]

I paid $25 for enough 8/4 alder to make a 2 piece body... $13 more for jointing and planing is a smokin deal.

[flatfive]

Originally Posted by Mike Simpson

I paid $25 for enough 8/4 alder to make a 2 piece body... $13 more for jointing and planing is a smokin deal.

It's similar for me: about $25 for the wood, the jointing they'll
do for free, and the planing or sanding after I glue it together
is $8 (their minimum shop charge).

[robt57]

And no shipping costs? What are you waiting for? ;)

[OpenG Capo4]

Originally Posted by robt57

And no shipping costs? What are you waiting for? ;)

Not to mention its a shop willing to do one blank. Most lumber shops around here all have a minimum order quota of X amount of board feet.

The local woodcraft will sell smaller quantities but they're also a bit more expensive.

[jonal335]

Wish I had a wood place like that close by - sounds good

[motor_city_tele]

Sounds like a decent price for a single body when all you have to do is pick it up.

My rule of thumb for body pricing raw materials is less than 20.00 per body.

I then have to cut to length, join, and dress the blanks.

so is 18.00 per body worth the effort to do it yourself?

for 1? nope.
for 20? absolutely.

btw - what's the name of this place?-

[JessRey]

Yeah, seems ok. Depending on where you are and what the lumber yard charges for extra services the price is gonna vary. I think the place I go to has 8/4 Alder for $4.20-4.60 per bft., Then it's a $25 fee if you want it planed or straight edged (single service fee either way). Let's do the math and see what deal is behind door number 3.

So let's say you get your wood unserviced (raw) 20"x14"x2"=3.888bdft x $4.20 = $16.33 for just your wood. Now add your planing and straigtedge @ $25.00 + $16.33 =41.33 and that's not with the joining fee. I'd say you have found you a nice little place to get a blank ready to go. Did they say what grade it was? e.g Superior, Clear, FAS, Knotty.
Good luck and be sure to share some photos once you're up and going.