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What is this wood?
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Author:  truckjohn [ Sat Jun 04, 2016 1:46 pm ]
Post subject:  What is this wood?
Hey all

Need an ID. I am using this back and sides set on the challenge build.
Got it on eBay about 7 years ago... Of course the seller used all sorts of delicious superlatives like the usual "Brazilian Rosewood?" But the guy had no idea that he would admit to. Allegedly it was resawed out of furniture. It's possible - one edge was routed and had a pattern on it.

Here's what I know.
It's not Brazilian.

It's very hard and dense. It has a tap tone about like plate glass.
Scent when sanding is definitely sweet but nondescript. The sawdust doesn't stain things when it gets wet. It darkened a little on thickness sanding - but it didn't want to burn or gum anything up.

Here's a good pic of it dry. Machine sanded to 80 grit.
Image

Ideas?
Author:  Haans [ Sat Jun 04, 2016 1:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What is this wood?
Looks like Hormigo to me...makes an excellent guitar.
Author:  Clinchriver [ Sat Jun 04, 2016 2:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What is this wood?
Haans wrote:
Looks like Hormigo to me...makes an excellent guitar.


Macacauba, is my guess, or Granidillo, Hormigo all related, This is Macacauba
Author:  Chris Pile [ Sat Jun 04, 2016 3:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What is this wood?
Teak.
Author:  Clay S. [ Sat Jun 04, 2016 4:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What is this wood?
If you're lucky it could be Brazilian tulipwood (Dalbergia frutescens). In any case it looks very pretty and sounds like it will make a fine guitar.
Author:  bftobin [ Sat Jun 04, 2016 9:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What is this wood?
Hard to tell from the photo, but if no open pores, it could be morado aka Bolivian rosewood.
I've got a Gianini that looks the same.

Brent
Author:  Ken Franklin [ Sun Jun 05, 2016 4:03 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What is this wood?
Could be palo escrito.
Author:  John Arnold [ Tue Jun 07, 2016 2:19 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What is this wood?
'very hard and dense' would tend to eliminate palo escrito. Macacauba would be my guess as well. Other names are coyote and curatinga rosewood. IMHO, it is underrated as a tonewood, having a great tap tone. It is pretty stable, and considering the hardness and density, relatively easy to work with.
Author:  mqbernardo [ Tue Jun 07, 2016 3:29 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What is this wood?
Don't think it's tulipwood, as colors seem a bit washed out - but colors vary a lot, as you know. I have a board that's also on the light side but it's more variegated.

Anyway, tulipwood is above 1g/cm3 and has a not too strong but very nice subtle flowery fresh smell that I think would make a nice ladies perfume. Maca is more like potatoe skin to me.
Author:  Clay S. [ Wed Jun 08, 2016 6:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What is this wood?
"Scent when sanding is definitely sweet but nondescript"

Doesn't sound like it smells like potato skins, but one person's "sweet but nondescript" may be another's "potato skin" or "subtle flowery fresh".
Identifying wood from a photo is pretty difficult, sometimes it's hard to tell when you are holding it in your hand. Trees, like people, can vary quite a bit.
Author:  Bobc [ Wed Jun 08, 2016 6:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What is this wood?
Hormigo
Author:  truckjohn [ Wed Jun 08, 2016 6:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What is this wood?
Bob....

Any chance you have a parlor size back set laying around that may match these? The flat sawn part cupped like crazy when I hit 0.100" thick... Groan.
Author:  mcgr40 [ Thu Jun 09, 2016 11:16 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What is this wood?
I have a plank of Rosita lumber that is this pinky/rose color. But I can't see the pores in the picture to know if the grain structure is similar.
Author:  truckjohn [ Thu Jun 09, 2016 9:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What is this wood?
Here's an up close pic. It's diffuse porous.

Image

Thanks
Author:  A.Hix [ Fri Jun 10, 2016 9:23 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What is this wood?
Hormigo.
Author:  Don Williams [ Fri Jun 10, 2016 10:36 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What, is this wood?
It looks like wood to me. Otherwise, a very good fake.
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