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
A
Australian Blackwood | Acacia melanoxylon
- Profile
- Australian Tonewoods Here
Australian Tonewoods
- Article
African Blackwood | Dalbergia melanoxylon
- Profile
American Sycamore | Platanus occidentalis
- Profile
B
Bunya | Araucaria Bidwillii
- Profile
Bastogne Walnut | Juglans x paradox Burbank
- Profile
C
Claro Walnut | Juglans hindsii
- Profile
Cocobolo | Dalbergia Retusa
- Profile
Cuban Mahogany | Swietenia Mahogani
- Profile
H
Huon Pine | Lagarostrobos Franklinii
- Profile
Honduran Mahogany | Swietenia macrophylla
- The Tree Mahogany
I
Indian Rosewood | Dalbergia sissoo/latifolia
- Profile
K
King Billy Pine | Athrotaxis selaginoides
- Profile
Koa | Acacia Koa
- Profile
M
Mountain Ash | Eucalyptus regnans
- Australian Tonewoods Here
- Profile
Madagascan Rosewood | Dalbergia grevaena
- Profile
O
Oregon Myrtle/ California Laurel | Mbellularia Californica
- Profile
P
Port Orford Cedar | Chamaecyparis Lawsoniana
- Profile
R
Redwood (Coastal) | Sequoia sempervirens
- Profile
- Lucky Strike Redwood
S
Sitka Spruce | Picea Sitchensis
- Profile (pending)
- Legend of the Golden Spruce (Feature article on the Golden Sitka Spruce)
- Killing the Golden Spruce (book review)
V
Vanuatu Blackwood | Aciacia Heterophylla
- Profile
W
Western Australian Sheoak | Casuarina fraserana
- Australian Tonewoods Here
- Profile
Y
Yew (European)| Taxus baccata
- Profile
Z
Zebrawood | Microberlinia brazzavillensis
- Profile
References:
Wikipedia
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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.
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