Guitarbench » Tonewood Database

Tonewood Database

Announcing the Guitarbench Tonewoods Database. Each week, starting from the 28/8/8, we will feature a different tonewood – from plain old sitka spruce to wandoo, our goal is to create a comprehensive resource for those seeking knowledge on tonewoods!

How to use the database

1. Listings are alphabetical according to the most common trade name. Scientific names are also included.

2. Listings have are headed by the Species, followed by the articles available under. Articles can be profiles and any relevant feature articles, the relevance will be stated next to the listing.

3. Feel free to link or use the data. You do not need to request permission to use or quote it as long as we are linked and cited.

Reference information

1. Janka stands for the Janka Wood Hardness Rating. It is a good measure of the durability and workability of a wood species. Wikipedia best explains what the test invovles.

The test measures the “force required to embed a 11.28 millimeter (0.444 inch) steel ball into wood to half its diameter.” We give our Janka rating the United States conventional units of pounds-force (lbf) unless stated. The units of measurement differs from country to country and can cause some confusion.

We also quote all of our Janka ratings at 12.5% moisture content as green wood has a lower Janka which is not relevant for tonewoods as only dried woods are used!

3. Specific gravity is best defined as the density of a substance compared to that of water. It is most accurately defined as “the ratio of the density of a given solid or liquid substance to the density of water at a specific temperature and pressure, typically at 4°C (39°F) and 1 atma (14.7 psia) , making it a dimensionless quantity.” (wikipedia). Hence, any wood with an SG >1 is denser than water and vice versa.

2. RIYL stands for Recommended If You Like. This is our opinion on which other woods this particular species is like.

3. Bling factor. Descriptive terms used to explain.

|Index|

I have listed up the first lot of articles we are preparing

African Blackwood | Dalbergia melanoxylon
- Profile

African Padauk | Pterocarpus soyauxii
- Profile

American Sycamore | Platanus occidentalis
- Profile

Andaman Padauk | Pterocarpus dalbergoides
- Profile

Australian Beefwood | Casuarina equisetifolia
- Profile

Australian Blackwood | Acacia melanoxylon
- Profile
- Australian Tonewoods Here

Australian Tonewoods
- Article

Bastogne Walnut | Juglans x paradox Burbank
- Profile

Black Cherry | Prunnus Serotina
- Profile

Bloodwood | Brosimum rubescens
- Profile

Bubinga | Guibourtia demeusei
- Profile

Bunya | Araucaria Bidwillii
- Profile

Claro Walnut | Juglans hindsii
- Profile

Cocobolo | Dalbergia Retusa
- Profile

Cuban Mahogany | Swietenia Mahogani
- Profile

Gidgee | Acacia cambagei
- Profile

Golden Narra | Pterocarpus indicus
- Profile

H

Huon Pine | Lagarostrobos Franklinii
- Profile

Honduran Mahogany | Swietenia macrophylla
- The Tree Mahogany
- Profile

Indian Rosewood | Dalbergia sissoo/latifolia
- Profile

King Billy Pine | Athrotaxis selaginoides
- Profile

Koa | Acacia Koa
- Profile

Limba | Terminalia superba
- Profile

Madagascan Rosewood | Dalbergia grevaena
- Profile

Macassar Ebony | Diospyros celebica
- Profile

Monkeypod | Samanea saman
- Profile

Mountain Ash | Eucalyptus regnans
- Australian Tonewoods Here
- Profile

Movingui | Distemonathus Benthamianus
- Profile

Oregon Myrtle/ California Laurel | Mbellularia Californica
- Profile

Padauk | Pterocarpus
- Profile
- African Padauk (Pterocarpus soyauxii) Profile
- Andaman Padauk (Pterocarpus dalbergioides) Profile

Pearwood | Pyrus communis
- Profile

Pau Ferro | Machaerium scleroxylum
- Profile

Port Orford Cedar | Chamaecyparis Lawsoniana
- Profile

Redwood (Coastal) | Sequoia sempervirens
- Profile
- Lucky Strike Redwood

Sassafras, Blackheart | Atheromsperma moschatum
- Profile

Sitka Spruce | Picea Sitchensis
- Profile
- Legend of the Golden Spruce (Feature article on the Golden Sitka Spruce)
- Killing the Golden Spruce (book review)

Vanuatu Blackwood | Aciacia heterophylla
- Profile

Wenge | Millettia laurentii
- Profile

Western Australian Sheoak | Casuarina fraserana
- Australian TonewoodsHere
- Profile

Yew (European)| Taxus baccata
- Profile

Zebrawood | Microberlinia brazzavillensis
- Profile

Ziricote | Cordia dodecandra
- Profile

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