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I've acquired some wood that I am 99% sure it is Brazilian Cherry. Would you guys agree?




I've cut out 5 sets of fingerboards, bridge blanks and headplates, all off the same flitch, probably within 20 degrees to quartersawn, maybe closer. I don't know if anyone would be interested, but if so I can post on the OLF auction. If not, I can keep 'em or post on Ebay. I'm pretty sure it is Brazilian cherry, as it smells, works and feels like it.

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Brad Tucker

From the photos, I think all anyone could say is that it could be Jatoba a/k/a Braz. cherry. What are your reasons for thinking this? Anything besides the way it smells and works? I've worked with it, and its working characterisics are a clue, but other woods work similarly. I never noticed a distinctive smell. Who sold it to you and what did they say?

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

Having recently acquired a bunch of Jatoba it looks like the stuff I have.

I'm not so sure I could identify this by smell or workability but you may have more experience than I. Before selling it as such, I would definitely confirm. Perhaps an experienced wood vendor might have a reference for you to compare.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

I've worked B cherry also, and it works just like it. This came off of a piece that is a 2x12, very large tree by looking at the end of the board, which is another clue. I've got some cherry in the shop that came off a construction job and was used for stairs in a home, and this looks and works just like it (very hard, burns some when being ripped with all but the sharpest blade, etc.). This particular piece would have been used in rail cars for fancy cabinetry. Those are the clues that I have to go with.

JJ, I have noticed that pretty much all wood has some kind of smell to it (bad or good) and it's aroma is similar to the other known B Cherry I have fooled with. I definitely would like to know for sure, which may be hard to do, before I would say that it is in fact B Cherry. I figured someone here might could spot it as such right off the bat. The board itself has a check in it, in just the wrong spot to resaw it into backs, too short for bindings. I can't think of anything else to do with it, so I cut out a few sets just to see what it would look like. I don't even know if B Cherry (if it is that) would make suitable bridges or FB's but I do know that this stuff is quite dense.

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Brad Tucker

What taste like.........?

There is sort of a pinkish aspect that makes me believe it might be bubinga. Maybe it's just the picture...

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Alain Moisan
Former full time builder of Acoustics, Classicals and Flamencos.
(Now building just for fun!)

This morning, like eggs, toast and cheese grits.......

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Brad Tucker

Alan,

Here are a couple of pictures, with known Jatoba on either side of the blank for comparison. The known Jatoba is turned on edge in order to get similar orientation of the end grain of all 3

without flash


with flash


You can see why I think it is in fact Jatoba.

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Brad Tucker

How did you acquire it so as to have no source information about what it is? What the seller or other source tells you is a good place to start.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

No question in my mind that it is Brazilian Cherry (Jatoba)

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John Ressler

Howard,

Wood can sometimes come from someone who does not know. A friend gives a friend a piece of wood and tells them what it is. Years later, that friend gives it to another friend because he has no use for it, but can't remember what kind of wood it is, etc. This wood would have been used as I said above, at some point many years ago, but for whatever reason was not. The person whom I received it from did not know what it is, but did know that it was used for high-end cabinetry. He was my source, and has no clue as to what it is. I did start there. What the seller or other source tells you is in fact a good place to start; if they know what they are talking about, or aren't trying to sell you something like BRW and it's not, aquired the wood years ago and forgot what it was, etc. This guy knew was that a)it wasn't pine, b)it wasn't cypress, c)it wasn't oak, d)it wasn't walnut.

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Brad Tucker

Me either, now, John. I searched through my Braz cherry pile more after posting and found a piece that looks exactly like it. In fact it looks like it came off the same board, patina and all. You know how the stuff can vary somewhat in color from brown to pink and red.

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Brad Tucker

I've worked with this stuff too. Smells like incense. Its very dense. I think it would make good wood for marimbas. The red tends to stay without much fading.

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A higher purpose for wood.
Rich Smith
Issaquah, WA

Brad;

From the photos it does look like Jatoba , I have used it in a few instruments. . I recall it had a "sweet coffee" type smell when sanding.
compare these pics too.
This sample has a lot of black streaking and some mild figure.

N.C.

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Nehemiah Covey
www.coveysacoustics.com

From the picture you added, I have to agree also it is most certainly Jatoba.

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Alain Moisan
Former full time builder of Acoustics, Classicals and Flamencos.
(Now building just for fun!)

I think I feel a Cheech and Chong joke coming here


I have been watching a lot of the home redecorating shows..... no wait.. my wife watches them while I type on the computer.... Anyway, the Braz Cherry seems to be the "in" flooring choice right now. I have wondered if it would be worth my effort to contact a flooring guy to see about getting left over boards for things like fingerboards and the such. Pretty stuff!

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Reguards,

Ken H

My first thought was that it looks like Bubinga.

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Mike

"The Dude abides. I don't know about you but I take comfort in that. It's good knowin' he's out there. The Dude. Takin' 'er easy for all us sinners. Shoosh." The Stranger

Looks like the Jatobá I am familiar with.