Crafting an Acoustic Guitar Back from 5,300-Year-Old Bog Oak

In this video, I’m building the back plate of an acoustic guitar using some truly incredible materials. The star of the show is 5,300-year-old bog oak—yes, as old as Stonehenge—used for the back plate. This ancient wood, preserved in a bog for millennia, has a depth and story that still baffles me every time I work with it. The construction I'm using creates what's known as a live back, meaning the back plate is built to vibrate and contribute to the instrument's tone. For this, I'm using cedar braces, a redwood reinforcement strip, and a decorative center strip made from highly figured koa—offcuts gifted to me by Elaine from @koatonewood. This build is close to my heart, and I’m so excited to share this part of the journey with you. Let me know what you think, and if you’re as captivated by this ancient wood as I am. Thanks for watching, and stay tuned for more behind-the-scenes progress!