Your most unique or unusual wood use?

YogiTom · Apr 18, 2019

Curious to hear from the luthiers on here about the more unusual woods that get used in your shop, be it for tops, backs, sides, necks, headstock, wood inlay, bracing, binding, etc?

I got on this train of thought looking at reclaimed and urban forestry slabs of woods from the islands, thinking to myself "that's pretty...would it make a good soundboard, though?"

The more unusual or unlikely the wood, the better.

John Colter · Apr 18, 2019

I'm not very adventurous with my choices of timber, but I did once make a bridge out of a piece of box wood I found in a hedgerow. It was for an instrument with an unsophisticated, artisan appearance, so I left the bark attached to one side.

It looked - erm - different.

John Colter

Pete Howlett · Apr 18, 2019

Figured horse chestnut - made a super sounding ukulele.

Timbuck · Apr 18, 2019

Pete Howlett said:
Figured horse chestnut - made a super sounding ukulele.

What " Conker Wood "

mikeyb2 · Apr 18, 2019

I did build a banjo from B & Q balustrade hardwood they were selling off at £12 a pack. I never found out what wood it was but it made a nice mellow sounding old time banjo.

sequoia · Apr 18, 2019

Not terribly exotic, but I did get a wild looking piece of koa that had come from an old factory they were tearing down in Honolulu. I mostly remember how hard it was. Like iron. Very hard to work with but gave a very percussive and lovely sound.

Beau Hannam Ukuleles · Apr 18, 2019

In the coming weeks, you may hear of a unique wood i'll be using for a very special project.
More to come

in the meantime, here is some Sabicu.

YogiTom · Apr 18, 2019

Beau Hannam Ukuleles said:
In the coming weeks, you may hear of a unique wood i'll be using for a very special project.
More to come

in the meantime, here is some Sabicu.

View attachment 117102

Gorgeous. Thanks for sharing.

Looking forward to this hush-hush project! Please don’t keep us all in suspense for too long.

jcalkin · Apr 18, 2019

Java Bishop wood. I've used more than 30 varieties of wood for instruments.

YogiTom · Apr 18, 2019

jcalkin said:
Java Bishop wood. I've used more than 30 varieties of wood for instruments.

View attachment 117104 View attachment 117105
View attachment 117106

Love it! How does it sound?

YogiTom · Apr 18, 2019

Has anyone used lychee or avocado woods?

Also, slight diversion from my original question, but is there a reason more common trees to northern latitudes like pine, birch and oak aren’t typically used as tonewoods?

jcalkin · Apr 18, 2019

YogiTom said:
Love it! How does it sound?

All wood sounds the same for backs & sides until you get to the truly hard stuff, say harder than regular Indian rosewood. The only wood that has ever disappointed me is white pine for tops.

jcalkin · Apr 18, 2019

YogiTom said:
Has anyone used lychee or avocado woods?

Also, slight diversion from my original question, but is there a reason more common trees to northern latitudes like pine, birch and oak aren’t typically used as tonewoods?

No reason other than tradition. Wood is wood.

Beau Hannam Ukuleles · Apr 19, 2019

YogiTom said:
Gorgeous. Thanks for sharing.

Looking forward to this hush-hush project! Please don’t keep us all in suspense for too long.

It will involve a former US President signing the label

, but that's all i'll say for now until it's all official.

Cornerstone · Apr 19, 2019

Here's one I'm currently working on. Tasmanian Tiger Myrtle.

Moore Bettah Ukuleles · Apr 19, 2019

The Tree mahogany, Pale Moon Ebony, Ulu (Breadfruit)

Lopaka96707 · Apr 19, 2019

Just out of curiosity has anyone used monkeypod for a uke? I have a few pieces that I was thinking of using..

Moore Bettah Ukuleles · Apr 19, 2019

Lopaka96707 said:
Just out of curiosity has anyone used monkeypod for a uke? I have a few pieces that I was thinking of using..

Jeffery Yong, the guitar builder has used monkeypod with with very good success. I saw some sets being offered by StewMac lately so it must be gaining in popularity.

Lopaka96707 · Apr 19, 2019

Would you happen to recall if they were they just back and sides or did it include the soundboard?

Michael Smith · Apr 19, 2019

I'm very fond of Montery Cypress for top wood. A common, I believe native tree that grows along the US mainland west coast. Wonderful clear tone every bit as good as the best spruces. Golden in color with rich brown streaks. For some reason they plant it around older graveyards.

Your most unique or unusual wood use?

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