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Went to my tone-wood dealer today he's unfortunately closing and I picked up 4 sets

1.) Wenge
2.) Paduk
3.) Balsamo (Myroxylon balsamum)
4.) Macacauba (Platymiscium Pinnatum) sometimes called spanish mahogany

The I'd never heard of the bottom two but thought I'd pick them up as they were in my price range he warned me he'd never heard of anyone using it and he found a veneer grade log and cut it himself it has a lovely glassy tap tone though shorter sustain than some.

My concern is bending these unknowns an tips?

Cheers Guys

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Formerly JJH

I learn more from my mistakes than my successes

John,

I will chime in here on the Macacauba, sometime called Para, sometimes called Amazon Rosewood (not true Dalbergia Spruceana) covered under the catch all granadillo...Harvested in the the central amazon river basin of Brazil...well, it is nothing like mahogany qualitatively in the wood processing stage. It taps like glass, smells beautiful and has a very beuatiful overall appearance. I have a half pallet of the stuff...I just started a guitar with it, so we can learn what it sounds like together. I am finishing up a bass guitar with it right now - just a striking wood under finish...I also know I just posted it, but for reference in the future, this is what it looks like under finish:

If you don't mind me asking, what did you pick the set up for?

Stephen

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www.ziegenfussguitars.com

At the moment I only build acoustics and at the moment OMs I may branch out onto a MJ and parlor after the next ones done

_________________
Formerly JJH

I learn more from my mistakes than my successes

No idea on Balsamo, but LMI used to have Macacauaba, so I assume it will work for an acoustic. From Their site:

Macacauba

Platymiscium pinnatum

Macacauba, also called Macawood, is a hardwood from Brazil. It is very similar in appearance to Indian rosewood except the color is more chocolate brown with brick-red highlights (no purples, as in Indian). Occasionally we see gold-brown and very dark brown streaks. In use by a number of prominent Brazilian luthiers, it is quite dense, making it a responsive and lively tonewood. A limited number of sets will have bright, contrasting sapwood centers

Here's one of the sets LMI had in '06. This is still aging in the stash. This wood has a very glassy tap, and is very pretty up close.
I'd comment on density, but I can't really remember and it's pretty well buried right now.

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

I believe balsamo is also known as "Spanish Cedar" and "Balsam"
It has an absolutely wonderful fragrance. Properties fall under the "Mahogany" catch-all. I have a couple boards that are destined for Guitar use.

Maca is really interesting stuff.... It falls under the "Granadillo" umbrella... Apparently, it's related to Pernambuco... Very hard and very dense stuff. I have a few boards... They sound very glassy when tapped... I really want to try it out.

Thanks

John

I gotta weigh in here......

I just returned from Dallas where myself and another guitar builder actually prep'd a set of Balsamo (Santos Mahogany) for use in an OM build. We both think it's has fantastic potential as a tonewood but won't receive much notice as such due to it's apparent 'non-use' in luthiery. Much respect to TruckJohn...but it's NOTHING like any Mahogany I've ever held in my hands. It's incredibly dense and is crazy stiff in all directions. The back will most certainly end up in the mid to high 80's (thou) for final thickness. In weight it reminds me more of Jatoba (Brazilian Cherry). I would equate it to good Osage Orange in stiffness. Really glassy tap on the fingernail and makes a real nice metallic hiss when you run the pads of your fingers along the grain. I have 2 more sister sets to the one my friend in Dallas is working on and I intend to hold on to them. I personally think they are a find.

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There is no difference between the man that thinks he can....and the man that thinks he cannot.

Macaccauba is a wonderful wood for an acoustical guitar. So is Paduk. I have heard that Wenge makes a good guitar, but the stuff is like working with cactus. Splintery stuff. Have pletty of bandaids ready. All can be found in well quartered material at very reasonable prices. In fact, I think Wenge loses a lot of its appeal if it is not quartersawn. I have never heard of the fourth wood. Will have to do a little research.

Ken

Yeah it was more the balsamo I was wondering about particularly the bending we'll see!

_________________
Formerly JJH

I learn more from my mistakes than my successes