Click on pictures to enlarge.
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Australian Blackwood (Acacia Melanoxylon) The mainstay of many Australian makers,
myself included. Very similar to Koa, some logs highly figured.
Dry density aprox 640kg/m3
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Queensland Silky Oak (Cardwellia sublimis) Lightweight and fairly soft, Silky oak is figured by very prominent rays which to my eye, are best when cut just off the quarter. Gives a warm mahogany like sound. A stable timber but not strong and takes dents easily. Dry density aprox 550kg/m3
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Rose mahogany, NSW Rosewood (Dysoxylum fraseranum) Now scarce, this aromatic timber is a bit harder and heavier than mahogany with a similar fine interlocking grain. The deep cherry colour is very even as is the grain. Makes beautiful guitars when I can get it. Dry density aprox 720kg/m3
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Mountain Ash, aka Victorian Ash,. (Eucalyptus regnans) I think Vic Ash is one of my
favourite Australian tonewoods, along with Blackwood and W A Sheoak. I
like to use Blackwood and Vic Ash partly because they grow locally to me
and I like the idea of using wood from my area. Mainly I like them
because they work really well as tonewoods. Unlike Blackwood, Ash are massive trees, that can live to a great age. Dry density aprox 680kg/m3 |
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Western Australian Sheoak (Casuarina fraserani) A bit lighter than the eastern casuarinas although still very substantial. Very large ray figure, typical of the sheoaks and rich colour. It has a hard surface and I find it makes fine instruments. Can be used for fretboards but I prefer Bull oak (Casuarina luehmannii) for this purpose Dry density aprox 720kg/m3 (bull oak 1050kg/m3)
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Super hard Acacias for fretboards include