I stopped by a local specialty lumber store and looked their selection of wood. They had a 1/2 inch thick hard maple board about 5 inches wide and about 8 ft long. It was tagged $10.50. I asked about getting a 3/8 wide strip off that board. He said sure. I paid $1.00 and he put the remainder of the board back in stock still marked $10.50.
Clancy