Lighly Figured Hard Maple 4 piece Guitar Neck Set
Acer saccharum
The heartwood is white or cream to light brown or reddish brown. Because of the generally small size of available logs, most sawmills produce flatsawn boards which will show a broken curl on the surface and a fiddleback curl on the quartersawn edge. Hard and heavy, 45 lbs/cu ft. Easy to work and takes a smooth polish. U.S.A.
Item Number: IW37464
Bird's-eye Maple 3 piece Guitar Neck Set
Acer saccharum
The heartwood is white or cream to light brown or reddish brown. Figured somewhat like that of burl with many small eyes separate from each other. Hard and heavy, 45 lbs/cu ft. Easy to work and takes a smooth polish. U.S.A.
Item Number: IW37463
Bubinga 4 piece Guitar Neck Sets
Guibourtia tessmannii
This is one of the lightest density commercial wood at 8-12 lbs per cubic foot. Most Balsa comes from Ecuador and at the age of 6 years may be 50-60 feet high with a diameter of 24-30 inches. It is usually harvested at around 7 years of age. Used for novelties, model airplanes, floats, surfboards, break-away furniture and interior filler for certain electric guitars. And remember that Thor Heyerdahl's raft Kon-Tiki was made from Balsa logs and carried him 5000 miles from South American to the Tuamotu Islands.
Item Number: IW37462
White Limba 2 piece Guitar Neck Sets
Terminalia superba
Also known in the guitar trade as Korina. This is a fairly lightweight, light-colored wood from West Africa with excellent tonal qualities. Occasional logs have a dark colored heart which produces what we call Black Limba.
Item Number: IW37461
Limba Instrument Billets
Terminalia superba
This wood is found in the equatorial forests of West Africa. Limba has wonderful tonal properties and is suitable for both solid-body guitars and acoustic guitars. Easy to work and takes a nice polish.
Item Number: IW37460
Spanish Cedar Guitar Neck Blanks
Cedrela sp.
Also called Cigar Box Cedar because of its aromatic scent and its wide use in tobacco humidors. It resembles the wood of South American Mahogany to which it is related. Heartwood color varies from a light pinkish brown to reddish brown. It is fairly light in weight.
Due to CITES regulations, we can only ship this species to customers in the United States.
Item Number: IW37459
West African Ebony Guitar Neck Stringer Billets
Diospyros crassiflora
Sometimes called Gabon or Gaboon, this Ebony is sometimes jet black but oftentimes has grayish streaks that mostly disappear when finished or after the made object has been put into service. This Ebony has a marked resistance to checking that is characteristic of some of the Indian and Asian species. It has a wonderful texture and is easily carved, planed, turned, and milled. It is fairly fine-grained and takes a high polish. This Ebony usually originates in either Cameroon or Nigeria and the logs are rough hewn in the forest and oftentimes brought to the nearest road by human porters. With the disappearance of other species of black Ebony this species is fast becoming the Ebony of choice.
Flatsawn.
Item Number: IW37458
American Holly
Ilex opaca
Holly is the whitest wood commercially available. Our stock was cut during the winter and quickly dried in a vacuum kiln to prevent discoloration. The result is very white wood without gray or bluish staining. The wood is fine-grained and is excellent for turnery, inlays, musical instrument edge bandings, etc. The grade is common and better which means that there can be some defects, mainly knots.
Item Number: W44211
African Padouk Cane Blank/Turning Square
Pterocarpus soyauxii
This brick-red colored West African hardwood was once one of the more common imported hardwoods but has become increasingly scarce in the last couple of years. It is easy to work, takes a nice polish and is dimensionally stable.
Item Number: W44210
Ziricote Cane Blanks
Cordia dodecandra
Ziricote is another timber we get from the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. It is a lovely wood with a very pronounced ray fleck on radial surfaces sometimes producing a "landscape" effect much like picture jasper.
Item Number: W44207
Black Mesquite Cane Blanks
Prosopis nigra
A very few pieces of Mesquite are figured with what we call frog's-hair curl, a small, tight curl with as many as 12-15 curls per inch. A very stable wood. Air-dried.
B has some bugholes across one corner.
Item Number: W44206
Lightly Figured Purpleheart Cane Blanks
Peltogyne sp.
The best colored & figured Purpleheart comes from Bolivia. It is also finer-grained than other Purpleheart species found elsewhere. Air-dried.
Item Number: W44205
Zebrawood Cane Blanks
Microberlinia brazzavillensis
This striped wood develops a beautiful golden patina as it ages.
Item Number: W44204
Zebrawood Cane Blanks
Microberlinia brazzavillensis
This striped wood develops a beautiful golden patina as it ages.
Item Number: W44203
Douglas Fir Burl
Pseudotsuga taxifolia
Douglas Fir tends to be stiffer than either Spruce or Cedar.Air-dried.
Item Number: W44175
Huon Pine
Dacrydium Franklinii
Huon pine is the most valuable of the Tasmanian Pines. The heartwood is pale straw-colored with a fine, even texture, a bit greasy to the touch. It is aromatic due to an essential oil, methyl eugenol.
This is an extremely rare billet. An internet search found no sources within the United States and only a few small pieces available within Tasmania.
We're selling this for a friend of ours who is a wood collector.
Item Number: W44174
Purpleheart Turning Squares/Pool Cue Blanks
Peltogyne sp.
The best colored & figured Purpleheart comes from Bolivia. It is also finer-grained than other Purpleheart species found elsewhere. Air-dried.
Item Number: W44172
Purpleheart Turning Squares/Pool Cue Blanks
Peltogyne sp.
The best colored & figured Purpleheart comes from Bolivia. It is also finer-grained than other Purpleheart species found elsewhere. Air-dried.
Item Number: W44171
Purpleheart Turning Squares/Pool Cue Blanks
Peltogyne sp.
The best colored & figured Purpleheart comes from Bolivia. It is also finer-grained than other Purpleheart species found elsewhere. Air-dried.
Item Number: W44170
European Sycamore Turning Squares
Acer pseudoplatanus
This European Maple is native to central Europe and west Asia. It is a tough, white or cream colored, fine-grained timber. It reminds me of vanilla ice cream because it is so even-colored. It works well in any grain direction. It is used for musical instruments, furniture, cabinetry, and because it is non-staining it is used for kitchen utensils, wooden spoons, rolling pins, and cutting boards. The figure is fiddleback on the quartersawn surface and more of a broken curl on the flatsawn surface. Select, quartersawn material is used for violin backs and sides and necks. Dry.
Item Number: W44169
Snakewood Quarter Log Sectons
Piratinera guianensis
This lumber is from Guatemala but the tree is found in Mexico, and all through Central and South America. The heartwood is pink to brick red with the sapwood lighter in color. Weight ranges from 35 to 50 lbs./cubic foot. It has a medium texture, is easy to work and is strong and durable. It has long been used for flooring, furniture, and ship building.
These have some heart defects including cracks and small voids.
Item Number: W44168
Bird's-eye Maple
Acer saccharum
The heartwood is white or cream to light brown or reddish brown. Figured somewhat like that of burl with many small eyes separate from each other. Hard and heavy, 45 lbs/cu ft. Easy to work and takes a smooth polish. U.S.A.
Item Number: W44199
Curly White Oak
Quercus alba
This Oak is from the Eastern U.S.A. We have units of this beautiful curly Oak in 4/4, 5/4, and 6/4 thicknesses and mostly quartersawn. Please inquire for quantity pricing.
Item Number: W44198
Curly White Oak
Quercus alba
This Oak is from the Eastern U.S.A. We have units of this beautiful curly Oak in 4/4, 5/4, and 6/4 thicknesses and mostly quartersawn. Please inquire for quantity pricing.
Item Number: W44197
Brazilian Satinwood/Yellowheart
Euxylophora paraensis
Also called Pau Amarello and Yellowheart, the heartwood is a bright yellow color deepening slightly with age. Fairly hard and heavy, easy to work, and capable of taking a high polish.
Item Number: W44196
West African Ebony
Diospyros crassiflora
Sometimes called Gabon or Gaboon, this Ebony is sometimes jet black but oftentimes has grayish streaks that mostly disappear when finished or after the made object has been put into service. This Ebony has a marked resistance to checking that is characteristic of some of the Indian and Asian species. It has a wonderful texture and is easily carved, planed, turned, and milled. It is fairly fine-grained and takes a high polish. This Ebony usually originates in either Cameroon or Nigeria and the logs are rough hewn in the forest and oftentimes brought to the nearest road by human porters. With the disappearance of other species of black Ebony this species is fast becoming the Ebony of choice.
Item Number: W44195
Figured Bubinga
Guibourtia tessmannii
Called by some woodworkers African Rosewood, Bubinga is a deep, lustrous, brownish-red color with a fine, darker striping. The figure makes the wood doubly beautiful. It is very hard and heavy and takes a glassy, smooth finish.
Due to CITES regulations, we can only ship this species to customers in the United States.
Item Number: W44194
Figured Genuine Mahogany Bookmatched Sets
Swietenia macrophylla
Also called Acajou, Tropical American Mahogany, and Honduras Mahogany. This medium to large tree occurs throughout Central and South America. Related to Cuban Mahogany (Swietenia mahogani) and Pacific Coast Mahogany (Swietenia humilis). It produces one of the classic furniture and cabinetmaking woods. The heartwood varies from a light reddish-brown to a rich, dark red. Generally straight grained and exceptionally stable, it is easy to machine, hand plane, sand and finish. Occasional logs produce several figures, curly, quilted, and the rare plum pudding figure which looks like large drips running down the board. Used in fine furniture and joinery, boat building, and in the guitar industry for acoustic sets and necks.
Due to CITES regulations, we can only ship this species to customers in the United States.
Item Number: W44193
Figured Genuine Mahogany
Swietenia macrophylla
Also called Acajou, Tropical American Mahogany, and Honduras Mahogany. This medium to large tree occurs throughout Central and South America. Related to Cuban Mahogany (Swietenia mahogani) and Pacific Coast Mahogany (Swietenia humilis). It produces one of the classic furniture and cabinetmaking woods. The heartwood varies from a light reddish-brown to a rich, dark red. Generally straight grained and exceptionally stable, it is easy to machine, hand plane, sand and finish. Occasional logs produce several figures, curly, quilted, and the rare plum pudding figure which looks like large drips running down the board. Used in fine furniture and joinery, boat building, and in the guitar industry for acoustic sets and necks.
Due to CITES regulations, we can only ship this species to customers in the United States.
Item Number: W44192
Figured Genuine Mahogany
Swietenia macrophylla
Also called Acajou, Tropical American Mahogany, and Honduras Mahogany. This medium to large tree occurs throughout Central and South America. Related to Cuban Mahogany (Swietenia mahogani) and Pacific Coast Mahogany (Swietenia humilis). It produces one of the classic furniture and cabinetmaking woods. The heartwood varies from a light reddish-brown to a rich, dark red. Generally straight grained and exceptionally stable, it is easy to machine, hand plane, sand and finish. Occasional logs produce several figures, curly, quilted, and the rare plum pudding figure which looks like large drips running down the board. Used in fine furniture and joinery, boat building, and in the guitar industry for acoustic sets and necks.
Due to CITES regulations, we can only ship this species to customers in the United States.
Item Number: W44191
Figured Genuine Mahogany
Swietenia macrophylla
Also called Acajou, Tropical American Mahogany, and Honduras Mahogany. This medium to large tree occurs throughout Central and South America. Related to Cuban Mahogany (Swietenia mahogani) and Pacific Coast Mahogany (Swietenia humilis). It produces one of the classic furniture and cabinetmaking woods. The heartwood varies from a light reddish-brown to a rich, dark red. Generally straight grained and exceptionally stable, it is easy to machine, hand plane, sand and finish. Occasional logs produce several figures, curly, quilted, and the rare plum pudding figure which looks like large drips running down the board. Used in fine furniture and joinery, boat building, and in the guitar industry for acoustic sets and necks.
Due to CITES regulations, we can only ship this species to customers in the United States.
Item Number: W44190
Figured Genuine Mahogany
Swietenia macrophylla
Also called Acajou, Tropical American Mahogany, and Honduras Mahogany. This medium to large tree occurs throughout Central and South America. Related to Cuban Mahogany (Swietenia mahogani) and Pacific Coast Mahogany (Swietenia humilis). It produces one of the classic furniture and cabinetmaking woods. The heartwood varies from a light reddish-brown to a rich, dark red. Generally straight grained and exceptionally stable, it is easy to machine, hand plane, sand and finish. Occasional logs produce several figures, curly, quilted, and the rare plum pudding figure which looks like large drips running down the board. Used in fine furniture and joinery, boat building, and in the guitar industry for acoustic sets and necks.
Due to CITES regulations, we can only ship this species to customers in the United States.
Item Number: W44189
Castello Boxwood
Calycophyllum multiflorum
Castello Boxwood, though not a true Buxus species, still has a very fine texture and a lovely light canary yellow color. This is truly a dream wood to mill.It is an excellent turnery wood, capable of very fine detail. Also very popular for making scale timbers and other parts for model ships. Air-dried.
A is quartersawn on the narrow face and figured.
B & C are quartersawn.
D has some figure.
E has some figure on the narrow face.
Item Number: W44188
Honduras Rosewood
Dalbergia stevensonii
A true rosewood, most of our stock comes from Belize. Smelling like stored apples, it is a lovely wood to turn and takes a fantastic polish. Getting scarce on the world market.
Due to CITES regulations, we can only ship this species to customers in the United States.
Item Number: W44186
Figured Claro Walnut
Juglans hindsii
A tree found in Southern Oregon and Northern California with the best material coming from the San Joaquin Valley. Lighter in color than Eastern Black Walnut (Juglans regia) it is often found with curly and quilted figure. Burly stumps are also a valuable source of wood for veneers, gunstocks, and wood turning blanks.
Item Number: W44185
Canarywood
Centrolobium paraense
Similar To Macassar Ebony, this striped Ebony species is also fine textured, hard and heavy and takes a high glossy finish. This is from a parcel that was cut in the Philippines in the 1980's-it is no longer available on the open market. Suitable for inlays, knife and tool handles, musical instrument parts, and turnery. Well air-dried.
Item Number: W44184
Purpleheart
Peltogyne sp.
The best colored & figured Purpleheart comes from Bolivia. It is also finer-grained than other Purpleheart species found elsewhere. Air-dried.
Item Number: W44183
Macassar Ebony
Diospyros celebica
A classically striped Ebony from Asia. Quartersawn.
Item Number: W44182
Macassar Ebony
Diospyros celebica
A classically striped Ebony from Asia. Quartersawn.
Item Number: W44181
Katalox
Swartzia cubensis
This is a large tree 2-4' diameter, by up to 120' tall from Mexico & Central America. The wood is very dense and fairly fine-grained. Because of its hardness it can be difficult to work but it takes a fine polish. Its dark color leads some to call it Mexican Ebano and very dark pieces can be used as a substitute for true black Ebony, especially in laminations and inlays. Straight-grained wood can be used for musical instrument fingerboards and bridge blanks.
Item Number: W44180
Bulgarian Mulberry
Morus nigra
Found in Asia and Europe this is medium sized tree with a stout trunk. It is probably best known for its leaves on which silkworms feed. The heartwood is yellow to reddish-yellow becoming a rich golden brown. Excellent for chair and furniture work.
Item Number: W44179
Figured Brazilian Satinwood/Yellowheart
Euxylophora paraensis
Also called Pau Amarello and Yellowheart, the heartwood is a bright yellow color deepening slightly with age. Fairly hard and heavy, easy to work, and capable of taking a high polish.
Item Number: W44178
African Blackwood Billets
Dalbergia melanoxylon
The heartwood is purplish to brownish-black with dark gray streaks giving an overall impression of being black. Lustrous with an attractive inner chatoyance. Very hard, heavy, close-grained, and virtually free from pores. Its stability and lovely tonal qualities make it an excellent instrument wood.
Due to CITES regulations, we can only ship this species to customers in the United States.
These African Blackwood billets are cut from logs in Africa in 2023. To prevent cracking while in transit to the US, they were completely dipped in hot paraffin wax before being palletized and shipped.
Since they cannot season fully encased in wax, we remove the wax and apply several coats of clear shellac. This seals the wood and protects it from spikes in temperature or drops in humidity but has some porosity which allows the wood to dry and season. We recommend you keep it wrapped in the shrink wrap we applied before shipping. It is best stored in a cool climate (65-70° F) and with relative humidity around 35%.
When you are milling this wood, keep watch and if it starts developing small air checks, put a coat of shellac or paste wax on it. These large, mostly clear boards are incredibly rare in African Blackwood so please take pains to prevent degradation.
A is straight grained on both faces and quite a nice billet.
Item Number: W44201