Official Luthiers Forum!

Hey guys,
Ryan & I just returned from a trip to Florida. We got two huge slabs of wood that are hard to identify. We were told by the previous owner that they were old growth Mahogany. But we don't think so.
Steve @ Colonial is helping us to ID the stuff, which looks like a cross between Koa and Monkey Pod, with a little Goncalo Alves thrown in. Only, it is lighter in weight than the above mentioned woods (except perhaps the Monkey Pod). Best guess so far is that it is Guanacaste, the national tree of Costa Rica.
This tree, however, grew in El Salvador.

Pictures will follow, but the question--anyone have experience with this species? Used it for anything?

TIA,

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

You may have an easier time finding its other names; kelobra or parota. I've worked with kelobra veneer. The wood was not terribly dense (although I've heard density varies widedly in the same tree), had wide rows and large pronounced pores, and although sliced much thicker than most veneers, seemed terribly fragile to me, eager to crisply split along the row edges.

Stunning looking in a somewhat rustic way with marked golden chatoyance and sometimes a greenish-golden cast. I've seen the solid wood used in furniture and architectural woodworking in Northern Colombia. I have no knowledge of it's suitability for lutherie. Here in Florida I've heard it called 'rain tree', but that name is also applied to other ornamentals.

Without shellac seal coats it soaked up oil varnishes like a sponge.

Hey thanks, David. We were just in your neck of the woods--sorta.
Key Largo.
Florida is terribly long when you drive the whole thing!

So, ok, anyone have experience w/ kelobra...parota...rain tree?

Steve

_________________
From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

No experience. I have a set that was advertised to be kelobra that I bought early on based on a picture. It taps like cardboard.

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

I've used Parota. It was kinda like Padauk.

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Old growth, shmold growth!

That's the stuff, Jim, without a doubt.

Jim, indeed, that IS the stuff. Our wood looks exactly like that.
Still gonna send a piece off to Steve at Colonial for a more scientific ID. If for no other reason, to put the previous owner's mind at ease.
Thanks for the input guys.
As we are to build a guitar from this wood, we'll report back on the success.

Steve

_________________
From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Pics of the wood!
We were able to get the big slab out of the truck bed today.
Here's a couple shots of the size of this slab.
First up, Ryan standing next to it for comparison:




And then a shot of the grain. Outdoors, sunlight and shadow, plus the slab has a coat of epoxy on it giving it a more finished look:



Thanks for looking,

Steve

P.S.- measurements: 45" wide, 104" long, 4" thick.

_________________
From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Hi Steve,

If you want to talk Parota call Mitch here: http://www.anexotichardwood.com/slabs.html#Parota_Slabs

These guys have a great assortment of exotics. Unfortunately for me, they are on the wrong side of the continent!!! However, they always have responded to e-mails and were quite nice.

Ray

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Guitar Building = Continuous Improvement Process

Steve, the wood looks nice, but who'd want a guitar built of wood with a name that sounds like it's made of lizard poo?

Dave F.

(you know I'm kidding, right?)

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Cambrian Guitars

"There goes Mister Tic-Tac out the back with some bric-brac from the knick-knack rack"

Hey Ray, we were just looking at that site earlier.
Really amazing selection, no? I particularly lusted after the 10' long Padauk slabs. We wants them.

Dave, I DO hope you're kidding. The name might stand a bit of tweaking, and we'll work on that. But what's a real turn-off is when the wood smells like lizard poo. Fortunately, this lovely Kelobra smells rather spicy-sweet.

(I know you want some....)



Steve

_________________
From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Looks pretty nice Steve! I think you'll make a winner out of it!

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Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

Steve, that looks really nice wood, enough grain to make it interesting with out being overly complex, it'll make a nice looking guitar, any idea of density? However, you're either going to have to make a really big guitar, or get a really big saw!

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Peter, I hope so!

Colin, the plan is to go with a large saw. Well, we'll bust it up first into smaller slabs, then saw those into guitar-sized pieces.
As for density, this is actually a rather light wood.
It looks like a heavyweight, but tips the scale like a welterweight.
For those who love dark guitars that weigh nothing, this is the stuff.

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Perhaps you're in a position to corner the market on Guonocasters.,..

I'm definately interested to buy a couple of sets to add to my stash when you get it sawn up Steve - let us know when you have it done!

Cheers,
Dave F.

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Cambrian Guitars

"There goes Mister Tic-Tac out the back with some bric-brac from the knick-knack rack"

They do have a huge selection of wood and they also have this one as well...

http://woodquestions.blogspot.com/2008/ ... about.html

But don't tell anyone!

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Guitar Building = Continuous Improvement Process

Hey Meddling, "Guanocaster" is clever. In all seriousness, it would make a great electric body wood...hadn't even thought about that.
We've got plenty of one piece body blanks here. Thanks!

Dave, will do mate!

Ray, now that was just mean! Candy to a baby.

Steve

_________________
From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com