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Wood, Tools, & Supplies for the Guitar Builder

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Usually our customers click on one of the drop-downs on the left, such as Mostly Wood, to drill down to the item they want. Or one might enter a word in the Quick Search box. But if you know the exact Item# (SKU) of the item you want to order, enter it below and save some clicking! You can make a list of items from our catalog.

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WELCOME

Wood is the heart of a guitar,
the source of its sound and beauty.
 And as you will see as you get to know LMI,
wood is also the heart of our company.

Over many years we have developed the resources and knowledge that enable us to locate woods, prepare them, and provide them to luthiers. Fully 60% of our ware-house space is dedicated to wood storage and handling. Our selection is the largest available anywhere for the custom guitar builder, and the success of our company rides on the quality of the dozens of species of tonewood and hardwood we offer.

 

We apply equally high standards to the other materials and tools we supply. We expect our offerings to complement the talent and effort you put into each of your instruments.

Shop with Confidence

As you might guess, we are confident in our products. If we send you any item that does not meet your standards for quality, please feel free to return it—for exchange, credit, or refund. We only ask that you speak to a salesperson, that the product be unaltered and unworked, and returned within 2 weeks of receiving it. This policy does not apply to items from our service department because these items have been altered. For details please click here.

 

 

Luthiers Mercantile International, Inc.
7975 Cameron Dr. - Bldg. 1600
Windsor, CA 95492
Tel: 707-687-2020
1-800-477-4437
Fax: 707-687-2014
Email to LMI

Click Here for a list of our product categories. These are the categories you find in the boxes at the top of the page.

 

©2009 Luthiers Mercantile International, Inc.

LMI's Acoustic Guitar Kit Wizard

The unique LMI Kit Wizard helps you choose professional woods and materials compatible with your skill level and artistic vision.

Beginner or experienced custom guitar builder, you'll design what you want, build it, and save at the same time. Give it a try.

Custom Guitars at Professional LuthiierCustom Guitars for Sale

Inspired by our experience with the Healdsburg Guitar Festival, ProfessionalLuthier.com is another LMI service that makes it easier to learn about and buy a custom guitar. For the first time on the web, participants are vetted so that purchased custom guitars receive our corporate backing - allowing musicians or collectors to  buy a custom instrument with confidence.

Handmade Custom guitars at the Healdsburg Guitar FestivalHealdsburg Guitar Festival

The Healdsburg Guitar Festival has become the world's premier exposition and sale of custom acoustic guitars because it provides access to the craftsmanship and quality of the world's premier luthiers.The next Healdsburg Guitar Festival will be held in 2013.

We are pleased to announce that we are now coordinating our Festival dates with the Montreal Guitar Show, which will next be held June 29 to July 1, 2012. Please see our joint press release.

 

Cardinal Finishes

The new standard for nitrocellulose lacquer guitar finishes, Cardinal is less expensive, cures quicker and is harder and thinner than the old standby - and is crystal clear. Buff out in 7 days!.

Plate Joining Jig

New and improved! Easy storage, self contained, non-stick plate, robust construction. An essential tool.

Manchinga Back and Sides

Finally a back and side wood with spectacular spalted figure, no resultant stability issues and a reasonable price. Ecologically harvested in Peru. Ask for a photo before finalizing your order!

Robert O'Brien online guitar building classesGreat New Online Guitar Building Course

Robert O'Brien consults with LMI on technical issues, creates most of our videos, and produces the DVD's we recommend for our guitar kits. He oversees the lutherie classes in the Fine Woodworking Department at Red Rocks Community College in Colorado, where he teaches guitar building and finishing. We are exicited to announce his latest endeavor, an online guitar building course. His training, skill and comfort with lutherie and the tools involved is apparent in this well-designed, understandable, and entertaining course.

Handmade Custom guitars at the Healdsburg Guitar Festival

LMI Bending Machine

A revolutionary advance in lutherie tools that we are very proud to introduce. Greater control means unequaled bending success!

 

Handmade Custom guitars at the Healdsburg Guitar Festival

Bone Shims

A repair persons dream! Oversized to accommodate all
saddles lengths and widths, the easiest and best way to raise action on an existing saddle. This is our item BSHIM on the Nuts and Saddles page.

 

Handmade Custom guitars at the Healdsburg Guitar Festival

2nd Grade Ebony -priced to move!

We are overstocked and are unloading these
unsanded boards at an amazing price!

Gift Certificate and Gift Suggestions

Not everyone appreciates the smooth edge from a Flush Trim Router Bit, the perfect alignment of a Double Action Truss Rod, or the swirl of Highly Figured Koa. But if you know a "special" person with these afflictions, we've got the cure. And if you don't know the lingo, you can choose a gift certificate - or call us for suggestions that will please your builder.

One of a Kind

What happens to the back and side set that we mistakenly bent and profiled for an OM when the customer asked for a J200? Click here to find it for sale at substantial savings!

Manager's Specials

It's worth checking our list of specials. For example, most of our hollow forms are reduced. And AA Engelmann Spruce tops are 25% off - a great time to try some. You may be surprised by how the quality compares to AAA. Other woods at a discount also!

 

video

35 Online Video Tips

Guitar building videos from Robert O'Brien. See inexpensive vacuum tools in action, discover a "free" router bit in the Drill Press Router video, learn how easy it is to maintain and use a scraper, and much, much more!

Unsolicited Testimonials

I received my order today and I just wanted to tell you thanks. The wood is exactly what I wanted, absolutely beautiful, the packaging was great and I'm looking forward to buying more from you.
I've purchased tonewoods from other vendors and ebay before, but even the best from them doesn't compare to the quality and value of what I bought from you.
Thanks again!

D. E.

 
   
I really appreciate the extra mile you guys are going to make sure your customers are satisfied. I have a degree in business and I've studied all that stuff about how companies are doing their best to keep their customer satisfied through marketing and incentives, but I can't think of another company (in any field) that makes me as satisfied as you guys do. I'm sure there are some places that sell materials here in Japan, but even with extra cost of shipping and customs fee, I prefer to buy from LMI, because I can trust LMI's service and quality of materials. No marketing and incentives can match the solid good service and I'm a very happy LMI customer.
I. T. Japan
 
   

I just have to say thank you for the great wood and especially the great
service. I built my first guitar over this past year, a solid body
electric, and your mahogany and maple were exquisite. Even the grade "A"
flame maple looked magnificent once the guitar was finished. I was going
for economy, trying to stay below $1000, but it honestly looks like it's
worth more than what I paid. The people I talked to, also, were too kind.
It's been great, and I'm sure I'll use you again to tackle my first
acoustic.

M. K.

 
   

By the way, the pre-carved classical Spanish cedar necks that I ordered a while back are absolutely fantastic!  The workmanship on them it outstanding, they hardly need any finish sanding.  They are so good, hardly makes creating your own worth while.  I have ordered pre carved necks from other vendors and they have all required some sanding to smooth out the cuts made by the CNC/Duplicator, but not these, they are absolutely perfect.

Tracy

 
   

I ordered some wood from you,two years ago,and still can find no match!you are the best!

R.C. Brazil

 
   

I just want to thank you for your professionalism in dealing with a small time "classical" guitar maker like me. I enjoy the professional relationship that I have with you. I always get exactly what I ask for and usually more!

B. D.

 
   

thanks  a lot for the materials you choose for me. They are absolutely great! This is the way, I like ordering via internet, when I can rely on the business-partner!

H. D. Germany

 
   

I just had to thank you for some really great service. On Friday 3rd
November I sent a very small order (Schneider Gramil and 1 end mill) to you.
With the weekend in-between I didn't expect it too soon. Well, 8.00am this
morning, Monday 6th November the Fed Ex guy delivered it.
That would be great service if I was in the 48 states, but I live over the
other side of the Atlantic in England. Truly amazing service for what must
be a miniscule profit margin. Great work.

C. S. Great Britain

 
   

I just wanted to drop you a note about my recent order which arrived
yesterday.  I've alway been a bit nervous ordering wood sight unseen.
After seeing the range of variation at the GAL convention back in June, I
was particularly leary about ordering Koa without seeing it myself.
However, I ordered one of your Koa sets (low grade but cool colour).  The
lady I talked to we very helpful and picked out a great set for me (I like
it more than most of what I saw in person at the GAL convention).  She did
a great job picking out what I was after.  Thanks

J. C.

 
   
Hallo,
I'm Gianluca Gualtieri from Italy. I received my order today. Let me tell you how I'am happy about the cocobolo you choose for me: it is exactly what I hoped it would be. Many thanks.

G. G. Italy

 
   

Hi everybody from Quebec, Canada. I make three or four classical guitars every year. Sometimes I buy my wood by EBAY, sometimes from the different wood companies. For my last guitar I have used your WCM - Red Ceder-master grade, R19 – rosette, WICPREM – Indian Rosewood – premium, FPPLATINA8 – Pale, blond shellac, and SLG1B – Schaller Tuning machine. I have made my most beautiful guitar in all points of view.
The sound is deep, clear and wonderful. Indian Rosewood is the red color, and with FPPLATINA8 shellac, the guitar changes color with the different intensity of the light. Very beautiful!

I will be seeing you again for my next guitar.
Marci beaucoup.
J. B.

   
Dear guys,
In the many years I've been getting great stuff (and advice) from you, I'd come to always rely on you extreme courtesy, competence and SPEED, but this time I was shocked.
Not 30 hours after I had e-mailed my request to Windsor CA USA, I have the courier at my door in Venice ITALY EUROPE with the bag of goodies: what kind of time-warp trick are you guys working on?
I'm totally shocked, no word of praise can give justice to such an astounding efficiency, so being left speechless you'll have to make do with a simple THANK YOU.
Best

-Paolo S.

 
   
Hi,

Ok, here are the pictures of my first two steel string guitars. If
you'd like other pictures (more detail, other views, etc.), let me know.

The ones labeled "rosewood" are the first guitar which I made from your
deluxe serviced kit [not shown,ed.].

The ones labeled "mahogany" are from your special high grade quilted
mahogany. For this one, I used a pre-carved neck and radiused/slotted
fingerboard, but other than that I did all the "servicing"--bent the
sides, put in the rosette (used your walnut rosette, which looks great),
etc. Wow! As you maybe can see, I put maple binding on the fingerboard,
which really looks great. I also used maple binding on the body of the
guitar. The top is bearclaw sitka spruce--great figuring in it.

 

LMI is unbelievably great. Your service is outstanding. You always
answer my email questions quickly. I receive my shipments in two days.
All the parts and tools have been excellent.

I'm working on 6 more guitars--a cutaway, a 12-string, and an OM are the
next 3.

Thanks!

G. M.


   

This is not a question, but just a message of thanks and appreciation for being a steadfast, reliable company with good value, far superior customer service, and tremendous product.

So far, the quality of everything that I have ordered from your company has been such that you've instilled a faith in me that I have for very few other companies. It's nice to be able to trust a company in this day and age (and one that I've only dealt with over the internet, no less!).

A particular example are the maple top plates I received from you... I ordered your "lowest" grade 1/4" flame maple for an experimental project but, seriously, the piece I received far outclasses even some other vendors' top-grade stuff. Your ebony was also superior.

Thanks again.
R. M.

 
   
I have just finished my third guitar kit; two Classical and one Flamenco. I am naturally still learning a lot about woodworking, and have a lot of trouble with finishing, but these turned out to be really nice guitars.
Each one better than the last. The parts you send are great quality. The Flamenco has a sound, volume and projection that you only hear in high price concert guitars. This is not me, it is your quality and William Cumpiano's wonderful book together that make it work for me. Once I get better at finishes I will really have something. Thanks for everything and I look forward to me next kit arriving next week.
R W, Wellington, Florida
 
   
Hi,
I just received an order of two Ebony headplates, and wanted to let you know how impressed I am. I've found ordering wood without inspecting it to be a bit dubious at times, and have been disappointed on some occasions with the quality of "first grade" woods. The headplates you sent me are the type of quality I always hope for. Obtaining good quality exotic woods can be quite a trying and costly task in Australia, suppliers like your company make my life a lot easier! If the products I've just received are an indication of the quality I can expect from LMI, I will definitely be ordering more from you in the future.
R.M., Australia
 
   
Hello Chris!
This is Igor Porto, from Brazil, remember me? I'm writing to ask how are you. And to thank you for the wonderful wood you supply. I've just finished a bass with one of the AA Flame Maple tops I bought from LMI. It's awesome.
The customer completely freaked out when he received his bass.
I recently ordered some pre-cut Mother of Pearl inlays. The squares and diamonds I had ordered before. This time I ordered the torch set also. I'll inlay it on a guitar body I'm making, using one of the Zebrawood tops I bought from LMI. I should be ordering more tops in a couple of months!
Thank you very much, and have a nice day!
I P, Brazil
   
Thanks very much for repyling quickly.
After thinking about it for a couple of days, I've decided I'll go with this fingerboard anyway. But thanks for your considerate service with regard to returning it. Reminded me why I order from you guys.
R W,New Haven, CT
 
   

Hello from Germany,
  Some time ago I bought from you a beautiful set of Palo Escrito - look what came out of this set!
   This wood looks beautiful (some spiderwebing like found on good Brazilian RW) and sounds superb - very clear and strong. The top is made from superb Bearclawspruce I got from you, too.
Thank you again for the wood and all the best,
Martin, Germany

   
Thanks. The LMI chisels are the finest chisels on the market (even better than the highly touted Japanese chisels in my opinion). I am slowly building my collection and thought I needed the 6mm chisel. I went back through my records of previous orders with LMI and realized I bought that one last year. Thank you for being flexible.
Sincerely,
R W, Terry, MS

 
   
I am floored at how well you packaged my new AAA Englemann top to keep it nice and pristine. The pressboard panels not only got it here in perfect condition, but is the perfect material to cut out a few more guitar templates. Also delighted that you delivered a top with exactly the characteristics I requested. It's perfect! Heck, this top is so nice I brought a scrap piece to my office so I can play with it while I sit in on conference calls, dreaming of building another guitar!
B G, Austin, Texas
 
   
Hi Everyone! I really want to express my appreciation for your woderful service over the past several years through the growth of my company. Enclosed are some pics of my nylon electric, and several variations of my semi-hollow and hollowbody guitars. I hope you enjoy them, and i would be honored to see any of these pics in future issues of your catalog!!
My sincerest thanks once again, and take care,
M A, Emmaus, PA
   
I placed my first order by phone last week. I was amazed at how
much faster the product got to me than what was promised. And all the
merchandise was great. I was so happy I just had to buy more! I wish
everyone was as committed to customer satisfaction as LMI. Thanks so much!
JH, Nashville TN
 
   
Hello, again!
I just received my package today, and I wanted to thank all of you for the unusually good service. It´s not common practice these days, to be as service minded, kind, helpful and thorough as you have shown to be. I will
undoubtedly shop at LMI again and again in the near future.

Again, a BIG THANKS!

MB
Sweden

 
   
I must say that you guys offer great quality for the prices you give. I recently ordered bone saddles and nuts from you. They arrived in three days and there were no defects in the parts...unlike other places I have ordered from which sent me saddles with divits and large humps and holes.

Thanks for your service.
ML

 
   
The wood arrived this morning. The Engelmann top is really beautiful. Thanks a lot.
MM
Argentina

 
   
Hello,
I am on my second guitar and thinking about my third. LMI has been invaluable in this process.
Thanks,
KM
California

 
   
Just to say thanks for my order, arrived today, could not believe the
speed and efficiency of you lot. Very impressed! Will obviously be in
touch in the not too distant future.
Regards
George Guitars
England

 
   
Hi All;
I ordered some items last Friday. Salesperson was Kirk. I needed a wide ebony bridge for a Kasha style bridge. He was kind enough to check the width of the 12 string bridges and found one that met my needs. He told me that I had missed the friday shipping cutoff and my package would leave monday and that I should have it by Friday (the 16th) Received the package yesterday-!!. The bridge blank is perfect. Great service-great stuff and very fast shipping--I'm a happy guy!!
RL
Virginia
 
   
Dear LMI,
As a first time builder, I just want to say how pleased I am with the OM KIt I ordered from LMI. The quality of the woods and the fit and finish of the everything in the kit is first class. I highly recommend this kit to any builder, first time or not!
The guitar plays and sounds incredible and that starts with good materials. I'd like to thank all the staff at LMI for making my first experience a joy! I will be seeing you again for number two.
A happy customer!
PN
Pennsylvania