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I acquired a couple of sets of Paduak along with lots of other misc sets as part of an estate. When compared to other sets of Paduak that I have, these are considerably darker red. I'm wondering what, if any, distinguishing traits can be used to differentiate between typical African and Andaman Paduak? TIA.

Ken


Ken Jones
Mountain Song Guitars

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Mountain Song Guitars www.mountainsongguitars.com

That's interesting. I know little about Paduak but a friend of mine acquired a couple of boards of it. It looked darker and had more black in it. Very pretty. I did do a guitar with it and it looks great. One of the characteristics I here from builders is it is difficult to bend. The wood I used bent like Rosewood with no springback. Maybe it is Andaman. One characteristic it did share is it made my shop orange.

The only thing I've heard about Andaman is that it won't turn brown like African does. I read that in one of the James Krenov books but no first hand experience.

Kevin Looker

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I'm not a luthier.
I'm just a guy who builds guitars in his basement.
It's better than playing golf.

I am of very little help other than it def is typically a little more brown than the African. It usually has a bit more interest in its grain patterns, such as black streaking and such. IMO it is very lovely wood but terribly difficult to find. African doesn't compare in terms of how it looks. But this is all subjective info.

I haven't seen any Andaman in years but when I have used it in the past, it could really vary in character. All the stuff I saw was a bit lighter in color and no where near as orange. It also didn't oxidize to that horrible brown that Af. Padauk eventually does.

It does turn brown, just a more pleasing brown. Lighter in color.
L.

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Cut to size.....Beat to fit.....Paint to match.