Guibourtia ehie | Tonewood Profile | “Shedua”
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Quick Facts
Scientific name: Guibourtia ehie
Trade names: Shedua, Ovangkol, Amazique.
Janka: 710 approx
Uses: Back and sides, veneer
RIYL: Rosewoods
Bling factor: Variagation and curl
Availability: Rare
CITES status: Not listed. No restrictions
Note: (RIYL) Recommended If You Like
Natural History
Shedua is an evergeen tree native to tropical west Africa (Cameroon, Gabon) where it attains heights of up 30-45 meters. The trunk attains diameters of 90cm and has straight boles despite heavy buttressed at the root. It is often found in small groups in closed rain forests. It is traditionally exploited for it’s gum which is also known as copal.
McNally Auditorium
(click for fullsize)
Cedar/ Shedua
Read more about Ciaran here.
Physical properties
General: Shedua is a durable wood which is resistent to insect attack.
Appearance: The timber varies from yellow-brown to chocolate-brown with dark striping with a white-yellow sapwood. It is can display variegated grain and curl but is known to stain if it contacts iron in moist conditions.
Working: Shedua is a fine textured wood with an interlocked grain and can take an excellent polish.
Values: The janka of Shedua is around 710 and it has a specific gravity of 0.85
As a tonewood…
It is used for back an sides for guitars, in particular by several higher-end factories like Lowden and Taylor where it has found favour for it’s affordability and tonal envelope which is said to lie between Koa and Rosewood. Ciaran McNally is a big fan saying:
“The grain is interlocked, at least on this bees wing set, which makes it difficult to bend. It is also prone to tearing. But pleasant enough in the shop as it hasn’t got a particularly overpowering smell. No issues in jointing. I was also surprised at how quickly the grain the filled during the lacquer process. In fact it filled quicker than the rosewood bindings on the guitar
Subjective tone…
I would broadly characterise the tone of Sheuda as falling between Koa and Walnut- it has more clarity than Walnut but provides more fundamental than Koa.
Availability
Good stocks of Shedua are limited.
Links/ References:
Bourgeois Guitars http://www.pantheonguitars.com/
LMI http://lmii.com
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