| Back & Sides [Click to enlarge an example] |
| Standard Tonewoods |
 Indian Rosewood dalbergia latifolia
A much sought after tonewood; some actually prefer it to Brazilian! Has a warmth and depth to its bottom end, but with a balance across to the ringing high end. Makes great guitars, of which there are many !!
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 African Utile Mahogany entandrophragma utile
Is from the same family of Mahogany-like woods as Sapele. It is an extremely good alternative to Mahogany, having very similar tonal characteristics, which is why I use it on my standard range of guitars .
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| Custom Tonewoods |
 Honduran Mahogany swietenia macropyllia
Very sought after for its even texture and grain, Honduran Mahogany is considered by some, to be the best of the Mahoganies (after Brazilian - which is now 'controlled' see below)
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 Brazilian Mahogany swietenia macrphyllia
Very sought after - with a tonal curve like someone looking down in the mouth (the opposite of Rosewood). I only have a limited supply of this now 'controlled' wood
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 African Mahogany khaya ivorensis
Tonally, very similar to the other mahoganies. As you can see, the African Mahogany I have in stock has quite striking figuring and will make wonderful guitars!
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 Walnut juglans nigra (Black)/regia (French)/hindsii (Claro)
Walnut is between Mahogany and Rosewood in tone and timbre. Strong fundamentals plus some of the bottom end of a Rosewood, to the tone you would expect from Mahogany. Great guitars come from Walnut b&s and Cedar top.
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 Cocobolo dalbergia retusa
Much sought after by builders as the “new” Brazilian RWD. Very dense and heavy, it gives a robust, yet sweet, sound, with clarity throughout the range. Visually stunning, it finishes beautifully. RECOMMENDED!
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 Figured Jatoba hymenaea courbaril
Between Maple and Rosewood in its hardness & density, as it is tonally. Jatoba is very similar to Ovangkol in its appearance, but generally has a more pronounced figure. Fabulous looking guitars with this one!
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 Maple (aka Sycamore) acer pseudoplatanus
Sharp mids and high ends give Maple a great rhythm/ flatpick sound. Typically Maple guitars lack bottom end, but this is not necessarily the case. ( I only know people are surprised at the sound of my Maple guitars!)
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 Padauk pterocarpus soyauxii(African)
Falls between Rosewood and Mahogany. I use Padauk for my Baritone guitars, and it performs brilliantly in that lower register, which gives an idea of what it can do !
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 Tasmanian Blackwood acacia melanoxylon
Really good alternative to Rosewood, with a punchy bottom end, but the mid and high ends of a Mahogany, giving fabulous balance. I recommend you try one of these guitars, they are fabulous !
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 Koa acacia koa
Koa, like Tasmanian Blackwood, is an Acacia, and has similar characteristics. Its bottom end is (just) slightly less pronounced, with a bit more sparkle at the high end. Famed for its use in Weissenborn guitars.
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 Ovangkol guibourtia ehei
Becoming popular with some big makers, it's a visually stunning guitar wood, with a tonal range between Rosewoods and Acacias, plus great note separation. This makes for a great finger-style guitar. RECOMMENDED.
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 Black Limba terminalia superba
The same weight and texture as Mahogany, for which it is an excellent substitute, but giving a truly beautiful guitar. Looks and sounds great, particularly with a Cedar top. (Well that’s my opinion !)
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 Blackhearted Sassafras atherosperma moschatum
Tonally in the range of the Mahoganies and Walnuts, with characteristics of both. Good balance across the range, with a slightly pronounced high end. The figuring is caused by a fungus, (fortunately) not effecting the wood's structure.
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 Imbuya (aka Imbuia) phoebe parosa
A hard, dense wood producing a direct, bright tone, while still delivering plenty of bass response. A good alternative to Indian Rosewood. Highly figured Imbuya makes a really beautiful guitar.
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 African Satinwood distemonanthus tenthamianus
Also known as Movinghui, it's hard, very durable & gives a tone and sound similar to Maple but with some of the punch delivered by Acacias (Tasmanian Blackwood & Koa). A guitar wood not often seen, so stands out in the crowd !
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| [Click to enlarge an example] Tops |
| Standard Tonewoods |
 European Spruce picea abies
Considered to be the premier tonewood for tops. Strong fundamentals and complex overtones, creating great timbre & 'colour'. Takes time to open up fully, but it’s great to grow along with it! Works fantastically with almost all b&s woods.
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 Sitka Spruce picea sitchensis
Structurally stronger than European, Sitka is punchier in its sound. Lower overtones makes it less complex, but more direct in its delivery. I have found, however, that it works brilliantly with Maple b&s.
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 Western Red Cedar thuja plicata
Once used primarily for classical guitars, now popular for steel strings. Works well with Mahogany & produces great results with Walnut b&s. Dark overtones make it good for Celtic and Folk styles. Its sound is “there” from day one!
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| Custom Tonewoods |
 Douglas Fir pseudotsuga menziessii
A new wood for tops, Douglas Fir is much like Sitka in its structure and strength characteristics. I look forward to using this wood & have high hopes of some fabulous guitars using this top wood . WATCH THIS SPACE!!
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 Bearclaw Spruce picea
“Bearclaw” is the name given to the figuring sometimes found in Spruce, as it looks like a bear has “clawed” it. Usually a sign of the boards being cut fully on the quarter, and therefore a sign of quality.
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Other 'tops' that are available include:
'All Walnut' - i.e. Walnut top with Walnut back & sides
'All Mahogany' - i.e. Mahogany top, back & sides.
Contact me for details. |
Binding & Purflings
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There's an infinite number of options, here's a few to give you an idea.
Bindings - go round the edge of the guitar.
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| Standard |
 Indian Rosewood binding |
 Maple binding |
 American Black Walnut binding |
| Custom |
 Ebony binding |
 Curly Ash binding |
 Tasmanian Blackwood binding |
Purflings:
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Purflings - can go either side of the Binding - to add contrast.
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| Standard |
 BWBWB purfling |
 BWBW purfling |
 BWB purfling |
 BWB(thin) purfling |
| Custom |
 WB+B&S+BW purfling |
 Abolone purfling |
 Herringbone purfling |
 Rope purfling |
There are many other bindings and purflings available, plus different combinations of the ones show here. Contact me for details. |
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