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Madagascan Rosewood 1. Tonewood Database

January 8, 2009 admin Tonewood Database

Dalbergia greveana| Tonewood Profile | ”Madagascan Rosewood”

Dalbegia Greveana. Madgascan Rosewood Prota

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Madagascan Rosewood sold in the US and EU market consistents of a groups of true rosewoods found in Madagascar. The timbers are all rather similar but some have a distinct geographical distribution and ecolog. I hope to cover most of the common species.

Quick Facts
Scientific name: Dalbergia greveana
Trade names: Madgascan Rosewood
Janka: 13,350 N
Uses: Back & sides, drop tops, veneer
RIYL: Rosewoods
Bling factor: Spiderwebbing not uncommon
Availability: Limits
CITES status: Not listed. No restrictions

Natural History

Dalbergia grevaena is widespread over western Madagascar where it is an endemic, deciduous tree 20m tall, 50cm in diameter occuring in dry forest and woodland up to 800 m in altitude.

The wood is used locally for construction and firewood. The Mikea people from the south-western Madagascar hold the tree sacred and use a paste made from rubbing branches on stones with water as a medicine against various ailments.

According to Prota, a not for profit foundation dedicated to gathering information on the flora of Tropical Africa, Dalbergia greveana used to represent the bulk of timber exports from western Madagascar.

Status

Compared to other true rosewood species [Dalbergia] from Madagascar, Dalbergia greveana appears to have poor natural regeneration. Prota states “Dalbergia greveana seems to be overexploited, and may soon disappear from the timber market because of stand depletion”.

Physical properties

The heartwood is purplish brown with darker stripes with a straight grain, fine, even texture.

It has a Janka rating of around 13,350 N and a specific gravity of 1.08. It has a propensity for checking and splitting and needs care when air dried. However this timber is very stable once dry.

Of note, studies of extracts from the bark has shown activity against gram-positive bacteria in vitro.

As a tonewood…

As a tonewood, Madgasacan Rosewood has been championed as a substitute to Brazilian Rosewood although it’s rarity and over-exploitation may push it towards a similar fate to Rio.

Subjective tone…

I would classify this wood as providing a dark and bell-like overtone content with a slow response.

Availability

Very limited in larger sizes.

Similar woods/ Alternatives

Dalbergia humbertii resembles Dalbergia greveana and is mainly found in the Ankarana Massif in northern Madagascar, and yields a similar quality rosewood.

Dalbergia suaresensis Baill. also resembles Dalbergia greveana, and is restricted to the area around Antsiranana in northern Madagascar. The wood has traditionally benn used in cabinet making. Both of these are classified as endangered in the IUCN Red list.

References:
Wikipedia
Prota database
US deparment of agriculture- topical timbers of the world.
Bolza, E. & Keating, W.G., 1972. African timbers: the properties, uses and characteristics of 700 species. Division of Building Research, CSIRO, Melbourne, Australia. 710 pp.
Du Puy, D.J. et al. The Leguminosae of Madagascar. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, United Kingdom, 2002.
Sanda, F. Conservation et valorisation des Dalbergia (Fabaceae) de Madagascar par micro propagation in-vitro et recherché d’activité anti-microbienne. Mémoire pour l’obtention du diplôme d’étude approfondie, Département de Biologie et Ecologie végétale, Faculté des Sciences, Université d’Antananarivo, Madagascar. 2004
Takahashi, A. Compilation of data on the mechanical properties of foreign woods (part 3) Africa. Shimane University, Matsue, Japan. 1978

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©Terence Tan

2 comments Dalbergia Grevaena, Madagascan rosewood, Madagascar rosewood, Tonewood Database

Cuban Mahogany. Tonewood Database.

December 18, 2008 admin Tonewood Database

Swietenia Mahogani | Tonewood Profile | ”Cuban Mahogany“

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Quick Facts
Scientific name: Swietenia Mahogani (vs. Honduran Mahog- S.Macrophyllia)
Trade names: Cuban Mahogany
Janka: 740
Uses: Back & sides, drop tops, necks
RIYL: Mahogany
Bling factor: Curl is uncommon.
Availability: Very limited from storm downed stock.
CITES status: listed in appendix II
Note: (RIYL) Recommended If You Like

Natural History

Cuban Mahogany is a very close relative of Honduran Mahogany but has a native range from Florida to Cuba and Jamaica. The semi-evergreen green is slightly smaller than its mainland brother [S.Macrophyllia] growing to 35m tall.

Status

Due to intensive logging, Cuban mahogany has been no longer commercially available since the 1950s. However, a few small well established plantations exist in its natural range and abroad.

Physical properties

Cuban Mahogany is a light pink when fresh oxidising to deep rich red. It is easy to work with hand or machine tools and takes a excellent polish. Compared to Honduran Mahogany, Cuban is even easier to work with. It has a closer, finer grain and carves beautifully.

It is seen in various figures, with curl, quilt and wavy grain although these are now rare.

Basic specific gravity (ovendry weight/green volume) 0.40 to 0.68; air- dry density 30 to 52 pcf.

Janka side hardness 740 lb for green material and 800 lb for dry.

As a tonewood…

Honduran mahogany has a long history as a tonewood for necks as well as tops and back & sides. With it’s easy workability and ability to take a beautiful finish, it is a popular tonewood for small and major manufacturers.

Subjective tone…

Cuban Mahogany tends to be denser than Honduran and hence has more rosewood like qualities, with a better developed midrange and low end.

Availability

Plantations occasionally yield logs wide enough for guitar sets, although old growth timber is now on the CITES appendix II and although raw timber trade is regulated, finished articles can be traded freely.

Links/ References:
Wikipedia
Kinnaird guitars http://www.kinnairdguitars.com/

©Terence Tan.

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Any infringement of copyright is entirely unintentional. Any copyright issues should be address to: writers@guitarbench.com. We will attempt to resolve these issues quickly.

4 comments cuban mahogany, profile, Tonewood Database

King Billy Pine. Tonewood profile

November 28, 2008 admin Tonewood Database

Athrotaxis selaginoides | Tonewood Profile | ”King Billy Pine”

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Quick Facts
Scientific name: Athrotaxis selaginoides
Trade names: King Billy Pine
Janka: ~1200 (no firm references)
Uses: Tops, veneer
RIYL: Ebony, Acacia
Bling factor: Grain variation common.
Availability: Rare
CITES status: Not listed. No restrictions

Note: (RIYL) Recommended If You Like

Natural History

Although not a true pine, King Billy Pine is also known as King William Pine. King Billy Pine is an extremely slow growing species that like most spruces grows in high (400-1,120m) altitudes, often snow covered during winter. It’s range is limited to the north west and south west Tasmania.

It is an evergreen coniferous tree attaining heights of 20–30 m, with a trunk up to 1.5 m diameter and claw-like leaves.

King Billy Pine gets it’s name from William Lanne, most famous as the last surviving member of the Oyster Cove clan… read more here

Status

The species is threatened, with bushfires being the major cause of decline . These are often started as controlled fires to clear logging debris after timber harvests in nearby Eucalyptus forests. Some sources indicate up to 1/3 of the species’ range has been lost due to fires in the 20th century. Logging plays a smaller role in the King Billy Pine’s decline.

In Northern Europe, it is occasionally cultivated as an ornamental and is rather successful in Scotland where it receives rainfall for good growth and is documented to produce fertile seeds.

Physical properties

The timber has a light pink hue with very close grain. It is softer than sitka spruce and has a characteristic aroma when worked. It’s physical properties is comparable to a pale red western cedar, but with greater stiffness. King billy pine has a specific gravity of 0.25.The janka is said to be around 1200 but I could not find any solid references for this figure.

As a tonewood…

It is less stiff across the grain than spruce and benefits from being left thicker on flattop construction and from a higher arch on archtops.

It is used for soundboards for guitars and violins although it excels as a mandolin top. Australian mandolin maker, Peter Coombe is a big fan:

“King Billy Pine is, in my humble opinion, one of the finest soundboard timbers that grows upon this earth. In my experience, it makes beautiful sweet clear sounding mandolins that many musicians prefer over the best spruce-topped instruments. It is not as strong as Spruce along the grain, so I use Red Spruce bracing, and carve the top a little higher than my Spruce tops.”

Subjective tone…

I would broadly characterise the tone of King Billy Pine as sweet in the midrange with a strong bass and open trebles. It has headroom similar to redwood and responds much like cedar. This is my experience of the A and F style mandolins as well as flattop guitars made from this topwood.

Availability

As a threatened species, King Billy Pine is no longer commercially harvested and is only rarely available.

Links/ References:
Cole Clark Guitars http://www.coleclarkguitars.com/
Australian Tonewoods http://www.australiantonewoods.com/

©Terence Tan.

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Any infringement of copyright is entirely unintentional. Any copyright issues should be address to: writers@guitarbench.com. We will attempt to resolve these issues quickly.

No comments King Billy Pine, profile, Tonewood Database

Gidgee. Tonewood Database.

November 15, 2008 admin Tonewood Database

Acacia cambagei| Tonewood Profile | ”Gidgee”

Gidgee

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Quick Facts
Scientific name: Acacia cambagei
Trade names: Stinking Gidgee
Janka: 1575
Uses: Fingerboards, drop tops, veneer
RIYL: Ebony, Acacia
Bling factor: Grain variation common.
Availability: Rare
CITES status: Not listed. No restrictions

Note: (RIYL) Recommended If You Like

Natural History
Gidgee describes a wide range of Acacia species but the most common is Acacia cambagei. It is also known as Stinking gidgee and is names after R.H. Cambage, a geologist with knowledgable in Australian plants.

It ranges from Queensland to New South Wales. In it’s native semi-arid and arid environment it can obtain heights of 12 metres and a trunk diameter of 30cm.

Status
This is a relatively uncommon tree in it’s native range but is not considered under threat.

Physical properties
This timber is chocolate coloured with a fine, even grain. It occurs in flammed varieties, occasionally called Ringed Gidgee. The leaves and bark of this tree produce a characteristic odour, hence the name “stinking gidgee”. is a dark chocolate brown to black, occasionally with streaks of purple.

Zebrawood has a Janka rating of 19kN and a Specific Gravity around 0.5.

As a tonewood…
The Gidgee I have seen available have been limited to decorative or fingerboard sizes. In use, it is extremely fine grained and durable. A very fine alternative to ebony.

Jeremy Fullerton says: ” ‘it’s place in instrument making is limited to solid body caps, decorative work… Possibly it’s best use however is for fingerboards. This species is an attractive goldish dark brown to very dark brown…”

Availability
Supplies are limited but steady at the time of writing.

Gidgee- the darkest board, second from the left

Links:
Jeremy Fullerton guitars: http://www.jfcustom.com.au/menu.htm
Jack Spira guitars: http://www.jackspiraguitars.com/

References:
Wikipedia
luthiers forum

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Bunya. Tonewood Database.

October 8, 2008 admin Tonewood Database

Araucaria bidwillii| Tonewood Profile | ”Bunya”

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Quick Facts
Scientific name: Araucaria Bidwillii
Trade names: Bunya
Janka: 650
Uses: Tops
RIYL: Port Orford Cedar, Cypress.
Bling factor: Can have some figure
Availability: Very Limited.
CITES status: Not listed. No restrictions

Note: (RIYL) Recommended If You Like
Bling factor rated out of a maximum of 10, based on the most highly figured sets we have seen.

Natural History
Australian Bunya is a large evergreen conifer native to south-east Queensland and New South Wales which used to be plentiful. Heights of up to 50 m have been documented.

Robin Russell added:”A. bidwillii was a sacred tree for the Aboriginal people. The vernacular name is Bunya, Bonye, Bunyi or Bunya-bunya, from various tribes or European variations of the Australian Aboriginal name for the tree. It is also often called Bunya Pine (though this is inaccurate as it is not a pine). The seeds are edible, are similar to pine nuts, and have been an important food resource for Australian Aboriginal people. They are eaten both raw and cooked. Traditionally they were also ground and made into a paste, which was eaten directly or cooked in hot coals to make bread. Groves of the trees were often under particular tribal ownership.”

Status
Although populations of Bunya have been reduced through logging, dam construction and historical clearing, large populations are protected in reserves and parks.

Physical properties
Bunya has an excellent stiffness to weight ratio and is actually 10-20% stronger than Englemann spruce. It lacks differentiation in annular rings due to it’s sub tropical and tropical habitat provides less seasonal climate variation.

Robin Russell added:”Bunya was regarded as a viable alternative to spruce for aircraft manufacture & Bunya is used as a top wood by leading Australian makers including Maton and Cole Clark.”

Rapid growth Bunya maintains these physical properties and coupled with less visible annular rings allows for plantation growth of this topwood. It has a Janka of 650 lbf and a specific gravity of 1.3.

As a tonewood…
Bunya was pioneered by Bradley Clark during his period at the Maton guitar factory. The story goes that in 1998, Clarke discovered through paper research that Bunya had the lightweight and stiff characteristics of a good topwood. (watch for our upcoming Brad Clark interview!)

Subjective tone…
Bunya topped guitars characteristically have a direct, strong sounding instruments with more midrange compared to spruce guitars.

Availability
A plantation resource in South Queensland and Northern NSW ensures a continuing supply of Bunya.

Links/ References:
Cole Clark Guitars http://www.coleclarkguitars.com/
Australian Tonewoods http://www.australiantonewoods.com/

©Terence Tan.

Pictures copyright individual holders. Fat Lady pics courtesy of Cole Clark guitars.

Any infringement of copyright or errors is entirely unintentional- although we try very hard not to make them. Any issues should be address to: writers@guitarbench.com. We will attempt to resolve these issues quickly.