Swamp Ash Instrument Billet
Fraxinus profunda
This White Ash comes from the southern U.S.A. and is noteworthy for its very light weight, 2.2-3.2 lbs. per board foot. Used mainly in the musical instrument trade for light weight electric guitars, it also has very nice acoustic properties.
Item Number: IW37640
Bubinga
Guibourtia tessmannii
Called by some woodworkers African Rosewood, Bubinga is a deep, lustrous, brownish-red color with a fine, darker striping. The figure makes the wood doubly beautiful. It is very hard and heavy and takes a glassy, smooth finish.
Due to CITES regulations, we can only ship this species to customers in the United States.
Item Number: W44456
Goncalo Alves Cane Blanks
Astronium sp.
This South American wood is very fine-grained and attractively colored with black streaks and striping. Hard and heavy, it turns quite well and takes a glassy-smooth polish.
Item Number: W44455
Etimoe
Copaifera salikounda
This West African wood was more popular in the 1970's and 80's when we first imported it. But it is such a nice wood that when we were recently offered a nice log from Ghana we jumped at it and had it sawed mostly quartersawn and then kiln-dried it. The heartwood is reddish-brown with sometimes a coppery cast. On the quartersawn surface there is often light and dark striping which is very attractive under a finish. It has a fine to medium texture and is easily milled and sanded. Excellent for furniture, cabinetry, paneling, and flooring.
Item Number: W44454
East Indian Rosewood
Dalbergia latifolia
This is grown on plantations in Indonesia where it is called Sonokeling. These came from a tree large enough and old enough to look much like the old-growth lumber from India.
Due to CITES regulations, we can only ship this species to customers in the United States.
Item Number: W44453
Figured Santos Rosewood
Machaerium sp.
This wood has gained in popularity since the early 1990's when Brazilian Rosewood was designated an endangered species. Furniture manufacturers used it as a Brazilian Rosewood substitute but it stands on its own as an instrument tone wood.
Item Number: W44452
Macassar Ebony
Diospyros celebica
A classically striped Ebony from Asia. Quartersawn.
Item Number: W44451
West African Ebony Bass Guitar Finger Boards
Diospyros crassiflora
Sometimes called Gabon or Gaboon, this Ebony is sometimes jet black but oftentimes has grayish streaks that mostly disappear when finished or after the made object has been put into service. This Ebony has a marked resistance to checking that is characteristic of some of the Indian and Asian species. It has a wonderful texture and is easily carved, planed, turned, and milled. It is fairly fine-grained and takes a high polish. This Ebony usually originates in either Cameroon or Nigeria and the logs are rough hewn in the forest and oftentimes brought to the nearest road by human porters. With the disappearance of other species of black Ebony this species is fast becoming the Ebony of choice.
Item Number: IW37638
Bubinga Bowl Blanks
Guibourtia tessmannii
This is one of the lightest density commercial wood at 8-12 lbs per cubic foot. Most Balsa comes from Ecuador and at the age of 6 years may be 50-60 feet high with a diameter of 24-30 inches. It is usually harvested at around 7 years of age. Used for novelties, model airplanes, floats, surfboards, break-away furniture and interior filler for certain electric guitars. And remember that Thor Heyerdahl's raft Kon-Tiki was made from Balsa logs and carried him 5000 miles from South American to the Tuamotu Islands.
Item Number: W44450
West African Ebony Turning Squares
Diospyros crassiflora
Sometimes called Gabon or Gaboon, this Ebony is sometimes jet black but oftentimes has grayish streaks that mostly disappear when finished or after the made object has been put into service. This Ebony has a marked resistance to checking that is characteristic of some of the Indian and Asian species. It has a wonderful texture and is easily carved, planed, turned, and milled. It is fairly fine-grained and takes a high polish. This Ebony usually originates in either Cameroon or Nigeria and the logs are rough hewn in the forest and oftentimes brought to the nearest road by human porters. With the disappearance of other species of black Ebony this species is fast becoming the Ebony of choice.
Item Number: W44449
Purpleheart
Peltogyne sp.
The best colored & figured Purpleheart comes from Bolivia. It is also finer-grained than other Purpleheart species found elsewhere. Air-dried.
Item Number: W44448
Purpleheart
Peltogyne sp.
The best colored & figured Purpleheart comes from Bolivia. It is also finer-grained than other Purpleheart species found elsewhere. Air-dried.
Item Number: W44447
Chakte-viga
Guilandina sp.
Found in the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico and related to Pernambuco (Guilandina echinata). It is sought after for house posts in Mexico as it is said to be impervious to termites and other insect pests. It is a lovely light to dark orange color, is fairly hard and heavy, and is capable of taking a very high polish. Rare.
Item Number: W44446
