This wood is actually yellow and emits a pleasant odor, though called a cedar, it is a member of the cypress family
Posted in: "2019"
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Borneo Kauri (Agathis borneensis ) - AgathisRead moreUsed in the body of cheap electric solid-bodies, it has a less than sterling reputation
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Afzelia Afzelia xylocarpa , MakamongRead moreAfzelia is a relatively dense wood that ranges in color between yellow, orange, and brown. It is often compared to Koa in appearance.
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African Walnut (Locoa trichilioides)Read moreA large tree from the Congo, it is reddish brown to a golden color in the heartwood and may exhibit darker streaks.
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African Blackwood (Dalbergia Melanoxylon)Read moreAfrican Blackwood (Dalbergia Melanoxylon), it is a true rosewood Strikingly different from other rosewoods in that it is black in color, and often with sapwood showing up in the guitar pattern, African Blackwood trees are quickly becoming harder and harder to find large enough to make two-piece backs. It has a tight, but robust sound.
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Adirondack (Red) Spruce N. America (Picea Rubens)Read moreAlso known as Eastern red or Appalachian spruce, Adirondack defined guitars of the pre-WWII era. Its availability is beginning to increase slightly, as another generation of trees matures, although they’re still considerably smaller than their old growth forebears. Current supplies of Adirondack tend to lack a certain aesthetic purity of look (they tend to be wider-grained and more irregular in color and grain patterns).
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Achihua (Huberodendom swietenoides)Read moreAchihua is blonde wood with light grain flecks. The color is evenly distributed across the surface and there is evidence of occasional “silk”.
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Acacia (Also look under "Black Acacia" and "Koa")Read moreKeep in mind that there are 1300 species of Acacias, spread all over the world, and that even experts may have difficulty in telling them apart. Many do not grow large enough to be used for guitars. But for our purposes, their similarities are far greater than their differences. That does not mean they are all identical, but it may be hard to differentiate between them and make generalities that transcend the inherent differences caused by a luthier's particular build methods and the...
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How Gut Strings Are MadeRead moreA step-by-step guide to the process of making gut strings for bowed instruments. Warning - contains images of animal intestines.
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The Backstrip: It’s Function and Material ConsiderationsRead moreI talk about the role of the backstrip in reinforcing the centerseam of the back plate on an acoustic guitar.
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Bending Figured or Difficult Woods with Inconsistent GrainRead moreI talk about and demonstrate techniques for bending woods with a heavy figure or difficult woods with an inconsistent or unpredictable grain orientation. I use the 5 troubleshooting factors: Thickness, Moisture, Heat, Pressure and Grain Orientation to show how I look at the task of bending guitar sides.
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Improving your Guitar Building Process by Doing Things the Hard WayRead moreImproving your Guitar Building Process by Doing Things the Hard Way

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