Official Luthiers Forum!
http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/

Help ID this wood
http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=28247
Page 1 of 1

Author:  fingerstyle1978 [ Sat Jul 17, 2010 8:20 am ]
Post subject:  Help ID this wood

Here are some photos of a nice chunk of wood that I recently purchased. Dude claims that it is BRW, but I just can't believe it. I'm just skeptical. Clearly it's some type of Dalbergia, does Granadillo get this nice of a chocolate tone though? Any feedback or even guesses are welcome. Either way I am satisfied with the purchase because it is gorgeous whatever it is. I am just skeptical.

thanks.

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Author:  segovia [ Sat Jul 17, 2010 9:08 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Help ID this wood

It looks like BRW to me

John

Author:  peterm [ Sat Jul 17, 2010 9:20 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Help ID this wood

You got yourself a nice chunk of BRW....the good stuff

Author:  fingerstyle1978 [ Sat Jul 17, 2010 9:25 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Help ID this wood

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet.

However, it's going to be sitting in my basement for a while until I feel comfortable enough to re-saw it.

Author:  Randolph [ Sat Jul 17, 2010 9:47 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Help ID this wood

Hey Joey, if you find some sides for that gorgeous piece let me know. I'm looking for a set of sides about that color. Nice find!

Author:  fingerstyle1978 [ Sat Jul 17, 2010 9:50 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Help ID this wood

I've got a matching billet for sides as well.

Author:  tim88 [ Sat Jul 17, 2010 9:55 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Help ID this wood

Dang Joey, you hit the jack pot on this one. What are the dimensions of the 2 slabs.
Care to make us drool even more and tell us what you paid?

Author:  fingerstyle1978 [ Sat Jul 17, 2010 10:05 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Help ID this wood

tim88 wrote:
Dang Joey, you hit the jack pot on this one. What are the dimensions of the 2 slabs.
Care to make us drool even more and tell us what you paid?


24" x 8" x 3"

36" x 5" x 3"

Paid....enough. Hahahaha. In this instance, I think my willingness to spend may actually pay off though.

Author:  Zach Ehley [ Sat Jul 17, 2010 10:44 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Help ID this wood

It kind of looks like blackwood to me. Either way I'm jealous.

Author:  Daniel Minard [ Sat Jul 17, 2010 10:50 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Help ID this wood

What does it smell like? Give it a little scrape & smell the fresh surface. If its Brazilian, you'll know right away.

Author:  Alexandru Marian [ Sat Jul 17, 2010 10:58 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Help ID this wood

What Daniel said, give it a scrape. BRW normally has a hard to miss characteristic strong smell (stronger than any other rosewood, only beaten by cypress and sometimes cedrella)

Author:  fingerstyle1978 [ Sat Jul 17, 2010 11:23 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Help ID this wood

Hey, thanks for the tip. Will do.

Author:  Brock Poling [ Sat Jul 17, 2010 12:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Help ID this wood

Yeah the smell will give it away.

My guess is BRW first
ABW second.

Either way, it is nice stuff. On the resawing, you might want to find a pro to help you maximize the yeild.

Author:  wbergman [ Sat Jul 17, 2010 5:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Help ID this wood

As far as the granadillo question, I bought some boards labeled granadillo that were extremely dark, along with some other boards that were more typical.

Author:  Chris aka Sniggly [ Sat Jul 17, 2010 5:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Help ID this wood

I don't know if you know what Bazooka bubblegum was....or Big League Chew (again bubblegum but in a pouch like chewing tobacco is).....but if you scrape it really good....do an area about the size of a dollar.....that's what it should smell like. It's very distinctive. All the rosewoods are distinctive in smell....but especially Brazilian.

Chris

Edit: One other thing. If the smell test just doesn't pan out wait until you cut into it. You will definitely get stronger aromas from the billet then....but you might also start to see random patches of pinks, oranges, and light brown colors. If you do it's most likely Brazilian.

Another idea is to cut off a small chunk (a corner maybe) and send it to someone you know can identify it. I'd be willing to do it and there are others on this forum that I think would do it for you. I have a pretty large stash (like others on the forum) of the stuff and can compare your sample to known Brazilian that's had it's lineage verified.

Author:  fingerstyle1978 [ Sat Jul 17, 2010 5:38 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Help ID this wood

Chris aka Sniggly wrote:
I don't know if you know what Bazooka bubblegum was....or Big League Chew (again bubblegum but in a pouch like chewing tobacco is).....but if you scrape it really good....do an area about the size of a dollar.....that's what it should smell like. It's very distinctive. All the rosewoods are distinctive in smell....but especially Brazilian.

Chris

Edit: One other thing. If the smell test just doesn't pan out wait until you cut into it. You will definitely get stronger aromas from the billet then....but you might also start to see random patches of pinks, oranges, and light brown colors. If you do it's most likely Brazilian.

Another idea is to cut off a small chunk (a corner maybe) and send it to someone you know can identify it. I'd be willing to do it and there are others on this forum that I think would do it for you. I have a pretty large stash (like others on the forum) of the stuff and can compare your sample to known Brazilian that's had it's lineage verified.


I may take you up on that or just show up at one of these get togethers. I wish I could be at the Blues Creek open, maybe next year.

Author:  Jimmy Caldwell [ Sat Jul 17, 2010 6:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Help ID this wood

Hard to say without seeing it in person, but it certainly could be BRW. Having said that it also could be Amazon Rosewood. It looks exactly like the dark ARW that Todd Taggart was selling a couple of years ago. I bought a couple of sets and to my ear, it sounds every bit as good as Brazilian. Either way, it looks like you have yourself quite a find. Congratulations.

Author:  fingerstyle1978 [ Sat Jul 17, 2010 6:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Help ID this wood

Brock Poling wrote:
Yeah the smell will give it away.

My guess is BRW first
ABW second.

Either way, it is nice stuff. On the resawing, you might want to find a pro to help you maximize the yeild.


I'm certainly considering that. I'm in no hurry to cut it up at the moment. I have a bunch of Cherry and Walnut to cut up first. Also My new bandsaw is still in the mail, as are the aftermarket blades.

Page 1 of 1 All times are UTC - 5 hours
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
http://www.phpbb.com/