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Wood Specifications
Reprinted by permission of
Exotic Woods Company
1. Grade `A' Ebony has at least one face black and the other
face may or may not have a few brown streaks.
2. The following items may or may not be quartersawn;
a. Birdseye Maple and Curly Maple
b. Honduras Mahogany
c. Madagascar Rosewood
3. A. Rosewood fingerboards, peghead overlays, bridgeblanks,
and backs and sides sets are quartersawn.
B. German Maple and Koa backs sides are quartersawn.
C. Sitka Spruce, Cedar and German Spruce tops are quartersawn.
4. The Difference Between Rosewood `3A' and `2A' for guitar
backs and sides sets is with the straightness of the grain. `3A'
grain is quite straight, while `2A' may be slightly curved or
may go off a little. `2A' sets may also have some solid pin knots
and waviness in grain.
Alder:
We get it from the Pacific Northwest. The prices are a little
high and the quality is lower today.
Ash;Lightweight:
It can be used with a clear finish and has good texture. It is
used in a lot of expensive guitars. It grows mostly Southeastern
USA.
Basswood:
For a solid color guitar it is one of the better woods. It is
used by many well known large manufacturers. It comes from Northern
U.S.A. and Canada.
Bois de Rose: It is the Prettiest Rosewood we have ever seen.
It is a little more expensive than East Indian, but a lot more
rare; we are trying to introduce it to provide more variety of
Rosewoods.
It grows only in Madagascar.
Bubinga:
This African Import is a very heavy Rosewood, but some customers
like it for solid body guitars.
Cedar; Red:
Guitar tops of Red Cedar are the Best Buy today. Material is
very fine with good prices in the market.
Cherry:
We use mostly Curly Cherry from upstate New York. Curly Cherry
is not as curly as Curly Maple.
Cocobolo:
We get it from Mexico and have sold it mostly for Laminate Body
Tops.
Koa: It comes from Hawaii. The good Curly Koa is very hard
to get.
Lacewood:
It is a nice wood for Laminate Bodies, with good figure.
Mahogany; Honduras:
Nice and Lightweight, this wood is good for bodies, laminates
and necks.
Maple; Curly:
Most of our Curly Maple comes from upstate New York, Michigan
and Canada.
Maple; German:
Not much Maple is left in Germany. The prices for
what is available have been going up with every shipment; we
have tried to keep the quality up as much as possible.
Maple; Soft:
A little more expensive than Basswood and Poplar, and also a
little heavier.
Oak; Fishtail:
This dark brown wood is heavy, so it is only good
for Laminate Tops.
Poplar: Same as Basswood, as far as its application is concerned,
and in the same price range.
Pau Ferro:
Also known as Bolivian Rosewood or Morado. It is a heavy, brownish-orange
wood with dark black stripes.
Rosewood; Brazilian:
The quality of this wood has gone down over
many years and prices have gone up. Very few pieces are instrument
grade. Our Brazilian Backs and Sides Sets, even though not up
topar with East Indian Sets, are the best available at this time.
The quality of bridge blanks and the few fingerboards is good.
Rosewood; East Indian:
It is preferred for musical instruments. It
is not the Indonesian Plantation Rosewood, which happens to be
the same species, but with different color and much wider grain.
Rosewood; Madagascar:
It appears to be similar to East Indian Rosewood in texture,
and color. It is a wood which has not been imported earlier.
Satinwood:
Our Genuine Satinwood is from Sri- Lanka. We do notbelieve that
there is any other kind to compete with it. It is of golden color
and shiny texture.
Spruce; German:
The problem is the same as with German Maple.
Spruce; Sitka:
It used to be very easily available, at reasonable
prices.This is not the case anymore.
Zebrawood:
Same as Bubinga in application. It also comes from West and Central
Africa
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