Thread: Rosewood, ebony exotics for luthier

Love those green tape fretboards, the tap tone is amazing!

Try asking Euge on this forum. He has many Australian exotics.

Rosewood - what type there are many?

500mm long - how wide and how thick?

Originally Posted by dai sensei

Rosewood - what type there are many?

500mm long - how wide and how thick?

Rosewoods - I’m mainly interested in any of the true dalbergia rosewoods. But open ears to what you have!

Size would depend:
I can resaw the timber so thicker is better but here are rough dimensions I would use after resaw.

Fretboards - (L)500mm x(W)60mm (min thickness 7mm)

Backs - (L)500mm x(w)200mm
And matching sides - (L)750-800mm x (W)110-120mm
Both thick enough to book match 3-4mm slices

I also use 750mm long sticks for binding the instrument and smaller pieces for things sucks as bridges.

Thanks,

Matt



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Originally Posted by mjcoope

Rosewoods - I’m mainly interested in any of the true dalbergia rosewoods. But open ears to what you have!

Size would depend:
I can resaw the timber so thicker is better but here are rough dimensions I would use after resaw.

Fretboards - (L)500mm x(W)60mm (min thickness 7mm)

Backs - (L)500mm x(w)200mm
And matching sides - (L)750-800mm x (W)110-120mm
Both thick enough to book match 3-4mm slices

I also use 750mm long sticks for binding the instrument and smaller pieces for things sucks as bridges.

Thanks,

Matt

Rosewood: The only Dalbergia in Aus is the Penny Leaf (Dalbergia sissoo) that grows around Mackay, but my pieces (bowl blanks) aren't long enough for you. I also have a decent stash of Cocobolo (Dalbergia retusa), but my longest piece is only 300mm. Other Dalbergia's I have are only in pen blank sizes.

I have about 7 species of Ebony but the only ones long enough for you aren't real ebonies. Queen Ebony (Xanthostemon melanoxylon) and White Bauhinia (Lysiphyllum hookeri) also known as Queensland Ebony (but it's still green).

Most of my exotics I got from https://www.cookwoods.com/collections/wood-by-species

Thanks for all the information

I would be interested in experimenting with sissoo.
Or even these Australian ebonies for the guitar back and sides if I could get a piece large enough!


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Originally Posted by mjcoope

Or even these Australian ebonies for the guitar back and sides if I could get a piece large enough!

This is the biggest black centre I've seen in a big White Bauhinia, the largest ~300mm dia x 1m long, green (that's sap coming out the sapwood through the end sealer) and I've just split them all in half but I don't like my chances of it not cracking while drying

white Bauhinia.jpg

Originally Posted by dai sensei

This is the biggest black centre I've seen in a big White Bauhinia, the largest ~300mm dia x 1m long, green (that's sap coming out the sapwood through the end sealer) and I've just split them all in half but I don't like my chances of it not cracking while drying

white Bauhinia.jpg

I have read that this timber does like to split when drying but if it doesn’t - I Would be definitely interested in experimenting with some of that. Looks fantastic!
Thanks


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Originally Posted by mjcoope

I have read that this timber does like to split when drying but if it doesn’t - I Would be definitely interested in experimenting with some of that. Looks fantastic!

If you want it dry, call me in 10 years

Hi MJC,

As CAVA said, I can probably help you with some imported and native Australian species.
I will need to look over my stores to see if the sizes & quality meet your requirements. I may be able to PM you in next few days.
Most has been air dried for 20+ years. Please confirm if you are still interested.

Euge

Originally Posted by dai sensei

If you want it dry, call me in 10 years

Dries a lot faster when milled to rough dimensions with machining allowances. One of the benefits of being a glueaholic - cut up big bits, make them into small bits, then glue them up into bigger bits .

Originally Posted by Euge

Hi MJC,

As CAVA said, I can probably help you with some imported and native Australian species.
I will need to look over my stores to see if the sizes & quality meet your requirements. I may be able to PM you in next few days.
Most has been air dried for 20+ years. Please confirm if you are still interested.

Euge

Hey Euge,

Yes, I’m definitely interested, if you could PM what you find that would be much appreciated.

Thank you

Matt


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Hi Matt,

Thanks for your response. I need to measure what I found this arvo and PM you.
Mostly boards of Cocobolo & some Mexican 'Rosewood' and Ziricote too. Have ebony too. A bit of African blackwood which I will reluctantly need to move. A few Aussie timbers you may like too eg for fretboards. Some softer woods for sound boards somewhere too. When I send you a list I suggest you drop around and have a look for yourself. This is all very old stock. I sell occassionally to uke and guitar makers, mostly locally.

regards, Euge

Euge has the most astounding collection of amazing timbers Ive ever seen in my entire life.

Some of the pictures are beyond belief.