Official Luthiers Forum!

I agree with Filippo that it looks like shedua. However it also kinda looks like bocote to me. But then again I'm red/green colour blind so no one else here might see the resemblance...

Jake.

Ovangkol is a heavy wood.

_________________
A person who has never made a mistake has never made anything!!!

I believe ovangkol and shedua are the same wood.

_________________
Ken Franklin
clumsy yet persistent
https://www.kenfranklinukulele.com

Yes, the same.

The board doesn't look like Ovangkol that I have (really straight grained) or shown in the Gilmer picture above (basically straight grained with flame ??) - the board in question seems to have grain going all over the place. Maybe Ovangkol does that sometimes?

(I really like the feel of Ovangkol - I've sawn 2 sets out of a plank I got from Cook Woods and have I think four sets to go, but I haven't built anything yet.)

Imbuia I don't know, so can't say.

_________________
Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

Not Peruvian walnut -- that stuff is really light and soft... Like a super-dark Butternut...

It could be a flat sawn Shedua/Ovangkol....

The "Chocolatey" is what is throwing me off... Shedua I have doesn't smell chocolaty...

Thanks

John

When I first smelled it came away with 'chocolatey'!.....Wife smelled it and said...really spicey.....now we both can't decide what it smells like.

For an update to the post....I've got a line on someone that can test the wood for species identification and will be sending out a sample to them this week!

I'll update (probably another thread) when I know.

Thanks for the all the input folks!
Chris

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

Narra also has an intensely spicy smell and can fall in the color range you show - see if Bob C still has some pictures on his site. I got a set from him recently.

_________________
Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu