| Wood |
Cost |
Usages |
Tone |
Notes |
| Top |
Body |
Neck |
Fb |
| Northern
White Ash
(Fraxinus americana)
|
L |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
Bright and loud
(growls) with a strong clear bass and mid range.
Northern
White Ash is a great tone wood with fine definition and
grain, very strong. |
|
| Basswood
(Tilia americana)
|
L |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
Basswood
has a nice, warm tone, that lacks a strong bottom, but the mid
range is consistent. It is an excellent when used in combination with
Maple. |
Basswood
is a very light-weight wood, light in color and can have color
discolorations. Because of its softness, it is not a great
wood for clear finishes. |
| Yellow
Poplar (Liriodendron
tulipifera
|
L |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
Poplar
has a nice, warm tone similar to Basswood with slightly more
bottom, and consistent mid
range. In addition it has slightly more dynamics then
Basswood making an excellent choice for both complete bodies as
well as through-body wings. |
Poplar
is a light-weight wood, color can range from light tan to green
and can can have color
discolorations. Generally it does not make a good choice for clear finishes. |
| Bloodwood
(Brosium
paraense)
|
M |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
We
have suspended use of this wood |
| Bocote |
H |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
|
| Cherry
(Prunus serotina)
|
M |
Y |
Y |
2 |
N |
Density
is similar to Maple but without its projection and weight. It has a
consistent bottom, rich mid range and good warm upper. Very
consistent overall tonal characteristics. A fine choice when
used for a chambered body guitar. |
Very difficult to find
cherry without gum pockets.
|
| Figured
Cherry |
H |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
See
cherry |
Difficult to
find pieces without gum pockets |
| Cypress
(Cupressus lindeyi)
|
M |
Y |
2 |
N |
N |
|
|
| Ebony
(Diospyrus crassiflora
& Diospyros celebica)
|
H |
1 |
N |
1 |
Y |
|
|
| Kingwood
(Dalbergia cearensis)
|
H |
1 |
N |
1 |
Y |
The
tone is bright, similar to Hard Maple. Highs are a bit restrained
due to the oil content of the wood. |
|
| Koa
(Acacia koa) |
H |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Y |
Koa
is a nice sounding wood that favors the middle range. We
generally laminate Maple veneer to help project and focus the
woods higher tonal properties. |
Wood
is not consistent as many variation of this wood can take place. |
| Macacauba
(Platymiscium pinnatum) |
H |
N |
N |
1 |
Y |
The
tone is bright with an overall tone similar to Hard Maple, but
warmer. The highs are a bit restrained due to the oil content of
the wood. |
Very
difficult to work
this wood and we currently have a small quantity for fingerboards
only. Future availability of this wood is in question. |
| Mahogany
(Swietenia macrophylla)
|
H |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
Tone
is full and warm and nice sustain. |
Mahogany
is a medium wood with nice grain. Mahogany and Maple are an
excellent combination. |
| Hard
Maple
(Acer saccharum)
|
M |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
The
tone is very bright with very good sustain. |
|
| Figured
Maple |
H |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
See
Hard Maple |
|
| Soft
Maple
(Acer rubrum, A.
saccharinum, A. negundo, & A. machrophyllum)
|
M |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
Soft Maple is slightly softer and heavier than Hard Maple although its tone is similar with a compression of the upper-range and a fall off towards the lower range. This can cause a dulling on tone. |
|
| Honey
Mesquite
(Prosopis juliflora)
|
H |
Y |
1 |
1 |
Y |
|
|
| Ipe
(Tabebuia serratifolia) |
H |
N |
N |
N |
Y |
The
tone is bright with an overall tone similar to Hard Maple with highs are a bit restrained due to the
silicon content of
the wood. It does make and excellent fingerboard wood. |
Very
difficult to work
this wood and we currently only use it for fingerboards.
|
| African
Padauk
(Pterocarpus soyauxii)
|
H |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
The
tone is bright with an overall tone similar to Hard Maple, but
warmer. The highs are a bit restrained due to the oil content of
the wood. |
Slightly difficult to work
this wood because of its density and grain. Finishes well with
a great look and warm feel.
|
| Purpleheart
(Peltogyne pubescens)
|
M |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
The tone
is bright with an overall tone similar to Hard Maple, but warmer.
The highs are a bit restrained due to the oil
content of the wood. |
Very difficult to work
because of the density and grain. Finishes
well, with great look and dramatic color.
|
| Redwood
(Sequoia sempervirens)
|
H |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
Exceptionally
warm ton, consistent and overall balanced. Makes and
exceptional top wood & body core. |
|
| Redwood
Vavona Burl
(Sequoia sempervirens)
|
H |
Y |
N |
N |
N |
Many
of the characteristic of the woods found higher in the tree,
however with age added density of the wood changes as does some of
its attributes, the natural projection increases as well as the dynamics
making for exceptional and exciting top wood |
Downside,
if not properly handled, can shatter. Overall burls that
have substantial age can be very fragile. Tops made from
this wood are exceptional in appearance and acoustical properties,
however must be properly maintained. |
| Sycamore
(Platanus occidentalis)
|
L |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
|
|
| Tulipwood
(Dalbergia frutenscens)
|
H |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Y |
The
tone is bright and similar to Hard Maple. The highs are a bit
restrained due to the oil content of the wood. |
Very
hard to find this wood in anything with width much greater then a
fingerboard. |
| Black
Walnut
(Juglans nigra)
|
M |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
The
overall tone is similar to Hard Maple with a restrained upper range
and deeper lower. The overall tone is warm. |
Black
Walnut is a beautiful wood with exceptional figure and feel.
|
| Figured
Black Walnut |
H |
Y |
1 |
1 |
N |
See
Black Walnut |
|
| African
Zebrawood/Zebrano
(Microberlinia
brazzavillensis)
|
H |
Y |
1 |
N |
N |
Tone
is similar to Hard Maple with a slight restriction on the highs. |
Slightly
temperamental wood to work. |
