Wood is a crucial component in the construction of a guitar, and the type of wood used can greatly affect the instrument's tone and appearance. Our guitars are made from a variety of unique and high-quality woods, each with its own unique characteristics. From the vibrant purple of Purpleheart to the jet black of Gaboon Ebony, the wood used in our guitars is carefully selected to provide the best possible sound and aesthetic. In this article, we will be highlighting some of the unique woods that we use in our guitar construction, including their scientific names, characteristics, and where they are sourced from. These woods are not only beautiful but also provide the perfect tonal qualities for our guitars. Whether you're a musician looking for a specific sound or a collector looking for a beautiful instrument, our guitars are made with the finest woods available.
Aspen Burl
Aspen Burl (Populus tremuloides): Aspen burl is a wood that stands out for its unique and highly figured grain patterns, making each piece one-of-a-kind. This quality makes it highly prized for decorative and artistic applications such as in furniture and musical instruments, particularly electric guitars. The wood is rare and can be challenging to find large pieces of burl. Aspen burl is found in North America, particularly in the western United States.
Siberian Elm
Siberian Elm (Ulmus pumila): Siberian Elm is a wood that is known for its strength and durability, making it a great choice for electric guitars. The wood has a light to medium brown color with a straight, fine grain, giving it a classic look. Siberian Elm is not commonly found, making it a rare wood, it is found in Russia and China.
Mahogany
Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla): Mahogany is a wood that is known for its rich, reddish-brown color and straight, fine grain, making it a premium wood for electric guitars. The wood has a beautiful appearance and is durable, making it a great choice for guitar makers. Mahogany is found in Central and South America, Africa, and the Caribbean, as well as in the USA.
Black Limba
Black Limba (Terminalia superba): Black Limba is a wood that is known for its unique black color and highly figured grain patterns, giving it a distinctive look that makes it highly sought-after for decorative and artistic applications such as in furniture and musical instruments, particularly electric guitars. The wood is found in West Africa.
Black Walnut
Black Walnut (Juglans nigra): Black Walnut is a wood that is known for its dark, rich color and straight, fine grain, making it a premium wood for electric guitars. The wood has an attractive appearance and is durable, making it a great choice for guitar makers. Black Walnut is found in North America, and it's a good fact that this species of Walnut trees is native to North America and is considered a symbol of strength and durability
PurpleHeart
Purpleheart (Peltogyne spp): Purpleheart is a type of wood known for its vibrant purple color that darkens over time to a deep purple-brown. The wood is known for its high density and durability, as well as its resistance to decay and rot. It has a straight, fine grain and is highly sought after for decorative and artistic applications such as in furniture and musical instruments. Purpleheart is native to Central and South America, and its color and durability make it a valuable and highly sought after wood, particularly for guitar fingerboards and bridges.
Gaboon Ebony
Gaboon Ebony (Diospyros crassiflora): Gaboon Ebony is a type of wood that is known for its jet black color and high density. It is considered a premium wood due to its attractive appearance and durability. Gaboon Ebony is highly sought after for decorative and artistic applications such as in furniture and musical instruments, it's also used in carving and turning. The wood is found in Central and Western Africa and is considered a rare and valuable wood. It is often used for guitar fingerboards and bridges due to its smooth feel and durability.
Cocobolo
Cocobolo (Dalbergia retusa): Cocobolo is a type of wood that is known for its vibrant coloration, which ranges from orange to deep red, with dark black contrasting streaks. It is considered a premium wood due to its attractive appearance and durability. Cocobolo is highly sought after for decorative and artistic applications such as in furniture, musical instruments and luxury goods. The wood is found in Central America, specifically in Mexico and Costa Rica. It is considered a rare and valuable wood due to its limited availability and high demand. Its unique coloration and durability make it a popular choice for guitar backs, sides and bridges.
Kingwood
Kingwood (Dalbergia cearensis): Kingwood is a type of wood known for its vibrant purple, violet, and red coloration, with dark black contrasting streaks. It is considered a premium wood due to its attractive appearance and durability. Kingwood is highly sought after for decorative and artistic applications such as in furniture, musical instruments and luxury goods. The wood is found in Brazil and it is considered a rare and valuable wood due to its limited availability and high demand. The wood is known for its stability, fine texture and beautiful figure. It is often used in high-end guitars for its unique coloration and durability.
Katalox
Katalox (Swartzia cubensis): Katalox is a type of wood that is known for its dark, chocolate brown color and high density. It is considered a premium wood due to its attractive appearance and durability. Katalox is highly sought after for decorative and artistic applications such as in furniture and musical instruments. The wood is found in Central America, specifically in Mexico and Belize, and it is considered a rare and valuable wood due to its limited availability and high demand. The wood is known for its stability, fine texture and beautiful figure. It is often used in high-end guitars for its unique coloration and durability.
Pink Ivory
Pink Ivory (Berchemia zeyheri): Pink Ivory is a type of wood known for its vibrant pink color, which can range from pale pink to deep red. It is considered a premium wood due to its attractive appearance and durability. Pink Ivory is highly sought after for decorative and artistic applications such as in furniture, musical instruments and luxury goods. The wood is found in Southern Africa and is considered a rare and valuable wood due to its limited availability and high demand. The wood is known for its stability, fine texture and beautiful figure. Due to its rarity and unique coloration, Pink Ivory is often used in high-end, custom made guitars.
Spalted Maple
Spalted Maple (Acer saccharum): Spalted Maple is a type of wood that is known for its unique, irregular black lines and patterns that form due to the wood being in the early stages of decay. The wood is considered a premium wood due to its attractive appearance and durability, even though it is spalted. Spalted Maple is highly sought after for decorative and artistic applications such as in furniture and musical instruments. Spalted Maple is native to North America and its unique patterning and durability make it a valuable and highly sought after wood. The wood is known for its stability, fine texture and beautiful figure.
Zebrawood
Zebrawood (Microberlinia brazzavillensis): Zebrawood is a type of wood known for its unique, zebra-like pattern of dark brown or black stripes on a light yellow or white background. It is considered a premium wood due to its attractive appearance and durability. Zebrawood is highly sought after for decorative and artistic applications such as in furniture, musical instruments, and luxury goods. The wood is found in West Africa, specifically in Gabon, Congo, and the Ivory Coast, and it is considered a rare and valuable wood due to its limited availability and high demand. The wood is known for its stability, fine texture and beautiful figure.
Bubinga
Bubinga (Guibourtia tessmannii): Bubinga is a type of wood known for its vibrant pink to red coloration, with dark black contrasting streaks. It is considered a premium wood due to its attractive appearance and durability. Bubinga is highly sought after for decorative and artistic applications such as in furniture, musical instruments and luxury goods. The wood is found in Central and West Africa and is considered a rare and valuable wood due to its limited availability and high demand. The wood is known for its stability, fine texture and beautiful figure. It is often used as a substitute for Rosewood and Mahogany.
Myrtlewood
Myrtlewood (Umbellularia californica): Myrtlewood is a type of wood known for its range of colors, which can range from a pale yellow to a deep red or brown. It is known for its high density, durability and resistance to decay and rot. The wood has a straight, fine grain and is highly sought after for decorative and artistic applications such as in furniture and musical instruments. Myrtlewood is native to the Pacific coast of North America, specifically in California and Oregon, and its color and durability make it a valuable and highly sought after wood. The wood has a beautiful figure and a nice aroma, it's also used for turning, carving and veneers.
Pale Moon Ebony
Pale Moon Ebony (Diospyros crassiflora): Pale Moon Ebony is a type of wood that is known for its light coloration, ranging from creamy white to light grey with dark black contrasting streaks. It is considered a premium wood due to its unique and attractive appearance and durability. Pale Moon Ebony is highly sought after for decorative and artistic applications such as in furniture and musical instruments. The wood is found in Central and Western Africa, and it is considered a rare and valuable wood due to its limited availability and high demand. The wood is known for its stability, fine texture and beautiful figure.
Eastern Red Cedar
Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana): Eastern Red Cedar is a type of wood known for its reddish-pink color and distinct, aromatic scent. The wood is relatively lightweight and soft, making it easy to work with. It is often used in outdoor furniture, decks, and fencing because of its natural resistance to rot and decay. Eastern Red Cedar is native to the Eastern United States and is considered a valuable wood due to its attractive appearance and durability. The wood is also known for its natural resistance to insects and decay making it a good choice for cedar chests, closets, and other storage containers. It's also popular in construction of pencils, aromatherapy products and even as a natural deodorizer.
Redwood
Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens): Redwood is a type of wood known for its deep red color and high natural resistance to decay and rot. It is considered a premium wood due to its attractive appearance and durability. Redwood is highly sought after for decorative and artistic applications such as in furniture, musical instruments, and outdoor structures. The wood is found along the coast of California and Oregon, and is considered a rare and valuable wood due to its limited availability and high demand. The wood is known for its stability, fine texture and beautiful figure, and is often used in high-end guitar construction.
Koa
Koa (Acacia koa): Koa is a type of wood known for its striking figured grain patterns, which can range from straight to curly and even quilted. It is considered a premium wood due to its attractive appearance and durability. Koa is highly sought after for decorative and artistic applications such as in furniture, musical instruments, and luxury goods. The wood is found in the Hawaiian Islands and is considered a rare and valuable wood due to its limited availability and high demand. The wood is known for its stability, fine texture, and beautiful figure. It's used in guitars, ukuleles, and other musical instruments because of its tonal qualities and beauty.
Tulipwood
Tulipwood (Dalbergia decipularis): Tulipwood is a type of wood known for its vibrant pink and yellow coloration, with dark black contrasting streaks. It is considered a premium wood due to its attractive appearance and durability. Tulipwood is highly sought after for decorative and artistic applications such as in furniture, musical instruments and luxury goods. The wood is found in Central America, specifically in Mexico, and it is considered a rare and valuable wood due to its limited availability and high demand. The wood is known for its stability, fine texture and beautiful figure.
Texas Ebony
Texas Ebony (Ebenopsis ebano): Texas Ebony is a type of wood known for its dark, rich coloration that ranges from chocolate brown to deep black. It is known for its high density, durability, and resistance to decay and rot. The wood is highly sought after for decorative and artistic applications such as in furniture and musical instruments. Texas Ebony is native to the southern United States, specifically Texas and Arizona, and is considered a rare and valuable wood due to its limited availability and high demand. The wood is known for its stability, fine texture and beautiful figure.
Red Gum Eucalyptus
Red Gum Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus camaldulensis): Red Gum Eucalyptus is a type of wood known for its vibrant red color, which can range from pale pink to deep red. It is known for its high density and durability, as well as its resistance to decay and rot. The wood is known for its straight, fine grain and is highly sought after for decorative and artistic applications such as in furniture and musical instruments. Red Gum Eucalyptus is native to Australia and its color and durability make it a valuable and highly sought after wood. It is also known for its stability, fine texture and beautiful figure.