Bamboo lap bodies?

Andy Greatrix · Post by **Andy Greatrix** » 1 Apr 2009 6:58 am

I was reading where Chapman sticks are using a bamboo laminate for the body on some of their instruments. Has any one tried this for a lap steel. I checked out a bamboo breadboard in the supermarket the other day. The composition is very hard and has a nice ring to it, when I tapped it. I feel it is worth looking into. Bamboo grows very fast so there is an in exhaustible supply that is eco-friendly.

Andy Greatrix · Post by **Andy Greatrix** » 1 Apr 2009 10:08 am

You will notice that I didn't put this in the humor section. I'm quite serious.

AJ Azure · Post by **AJ Azure** » 1 Apr 2009 10:23 am

bamboo is used for hardwood floors why not for guitars.

It grows very easily, like wildfire in many climates. Sign me up for a bamboo archtop.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 1 Apr 2009 10:51 am

Builder Estaban Bojorquez has made custom, one-of lap steels from bamboo.

John Drury · Post by **John Drury** » 1 Apr 2009 2:48 pm

The Mitsubishi Navy Zero framework, ribs, spars, stringers, etc., were laminated bamboo. I guess the stuff will take a beating!

Don't know about tone though.

Kevin Greenberg · Post by **Kevin Greenberg** » 1 Apr 2009 3:08 pm

Last year I saw a console steel body on Ebay built by Mel Crews I believe, that was bamboo. It Looked fantastic.

John Drury · Post by **John Drury** » 1 Apr 2009 3:56 pm

Kevin,

I saw one a while back made of bamboo, and yes, they look great! Didn't have time to plug it in, but it was sharp!

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 2 Apr 2009 6:41 am

http://www.harmony-central.com/Events/W ... ooGTR.html

Les Anderson · Post by **Les Anderson** » 2 Apr 2009 9:36 am

Professional musicians who play the high end pan flutes (such as Zamphir) use nothing but bamboo because of its resonating sound quality.

You will also find many Asian and South American stringed instrument manufacturers that use nothing but bamboo for their higher end instruments.

Maybe these people know something about sound that we don't recognize or won't accept.

Carroll Hale · Post by **Carroll Hale** » 2 Apr 2009 11:01 am

I got a big patch of bamboo growing on my farm in east texas.......enough to make lots of lapsteels....and it grows so fast......if I had the know-how and the right equipment to take the raw material and make it into boards..I would have enough for all the homemakers to make their own...anyone know how to do that...guess it would take some kind of special press.....to cut and press it into boards..........just a thought....
ch

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 2 Apr 2009 12:47 pm

Here's an article on how to laminate bamboo. I'd love to hear a resophonic guitar (aka dobro) made with bamboo laminate.

Andy Greatrix · Post by **Andy Greatrix** » 2 Apr 2009 12:57 pm

An upright bass made of bamboo might be interesting, as well.

John Swindle · Post by **John Swindle** » 2 Apr 2009 1:42 pm

Looks like somebody else thinks it's a good idea, too.

http://www.countrypickin.com

Click "New Guitars" over at the left edge. I suppose they've sold some of these, because when I looked at that website a few months ago, they were out of stock.

I think I read somewhere that bamboo can be flattened by giving it a thorough soaking in water, and then pressing it.

Twayn Williams · Post by **Twayn Williams** » 2 Apr 2009 3:18 pm

John Swindle wrote:Looks like somebody else thinks it's a good idea, too.

http://www.countrypickin.com

Click "New Guitars" over at the left edge. I suppose they've sold some of these, because when I looked at that website a few months ago, they were out of stock.

I think I read somewhere that bamboo can be flattened by giving it a thorough soaking in water, and then pressing it.

Those are good-lookin' guitars, except the D-8 has both necks on the same level. They also don't have the all-important volume/tone controls

Bamboo D-8

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 2 Apr 2009 5:04 pm

I collect yo-yos and a Company in Fla. called YoYoJam just came out with a yo-yo made from bamboo,I guess it can be turned on a lathe and is really hard,It's also not wood it's in the grass family,Pandas eat it...cool stuff. http://www.yoyojam.com/

Josh Cho · Post by **Josh Cho** » 4 Apr 2009 4:11 am

Bamboo's cool looking, a lady in my region imports it from China as hard-wood floors for homeowners--renewable resources, Green technology galore

..plus if anyone's interested, there's a forest of the stuff growing in back of my studio! The stuff grows like crazy!! New shoots come up in Spring (round now) and by mid summer are easily reaching heights of 20+ feet.

Tom Pettingill · Post by **Tom Pettingill** » 4 Apr 2009 7:47 am

Bamboo is an interesting material and can look great finished out. I have seen it in 2" thickness for stair treads and counter tops.
I'll have to keep my eyes open and grab a chunk next time I run across some of the thicker material.

Andy Greatrix · Post by **Andy Greatrix** » 5 Apr 2009 4:18 pm

I wonder what the general price range is for these fascinating instruments.
Also, what is the length from nut to bridge, the string spacing and would they make a single twelve with legs?
PS Who is they?

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 6 Apr 2009 11:29 am

You guys aren't the only ones who like Bamboo ....

http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local ... rtage.html

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 6 Apr 2009 11:49 am

Andy Greatrix wrote:I wonder what the general price range is for these fascinating instruments.
Also, what is the length from nut to bridge, the string spacing and would they make a single twelve with legs?
PS Who is they?

According to http://www.countrypickin.com/ you should "Call Jeff @ 402.729.3400 for pricing on this guitar." I'm sure Jeff Bradshaw could answer your other questions, including who "they" is.

Andy Greatrix · Post by **Andy Greatrix** » 9 Apr 2009 10:25 am

The area code of Jeff Bradshaw is 403, not 402.

PS
There are quite a few species of bamboo, so maybe only certain kinds are used for a wood-type laminate.