I can only seem to find these in veneer form. Having an absolute devil of a time sourcing this stuff. Any leads-and I mean any-would be helpful. P.S. If you have any, I will pay generously.
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Anybody Know Where Sen Wood Blanks Can Be Obtained?
- Thread starter bernard_wally
- Start date
Japanese ash? I haven't seen it in blanks nor billets domestically. Would another type of ash do?
Same here, same here! It's amazing the exotic woods you can find, but, still, not Sen. Only looking for this right now. Trying to rebuild an old guitar that was made of same.
I don't know about sourcing, but it looks a lot like light / European ash.
Got any friends in Japan? 
I do, but he's not really in a position to purchase lumber and ship it around the world. 
What he did tell me is that "Tamo Ash" is more commonly sold as "Japanese Ash", which is another name for "Sen". (whew!) Sen is a plainer wood than Tamo Ash, which really does look like ash. So I guess he's saying to ensure you really want Sen, and not Tamo Ash. He said Sen looks more like basswood, Tamo Ash looks more like western Ash. He also recommended trying Australian lumber suppliers.
Side note, no idea what time it is in Japan right now, but props to him for immediately responding on Facebook Msgr.
I do, but he's not really in a position to purchase lumber and ship it around the world. What he did tell me is that "Tamo Ash" is more commonly sold as "Japanese Ash", which is another name for "Sen". (whew!) Sen is a plainer wood than Tamo Ash, which really does look like ash. So I guess he's saying to ensure you really want Sen, and not Tamo Ash. He said Sen looks more like basswood, Tamo Ash looks more like western Ash. He also recommended trying Australian lumber suppliers. Side note, no idea what time it is in Japan right now, but props to him for immediately responding on Facebook Msgr.
Wow, how about that for a quick and very helpful response! Tremendous. Thank you, my man. I've been coming across Tamo in my searches, and was questioning it-this puts that to rest. Going to message some Australian folks now. Near on 3 A.M. for your friend right now. Thanks to you both.Got any friends in Japan?
Side note, no idea what time it is in Japan right now, but props to him for immediately responding on Facebook Msgr.
We're truly a global village at this point...
Already got replies from 6 or so Australian suppliers and nay is the word! Onto the next 6. Ha! I'll get it.
fwiw, googling shows that the tree grows to a max diameter of 1 to 2 foot which (after bark and heart wood) is only suitable for peeling into veneer and maybe making chair legs. If you were thinking of body blanks, lams, tops, etc...? this is probably why you're having a hard time. it's also extremely rare, exclusively sold as veneer, and is a CITES A3 wood.
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Hello,
I have a large, perfectly quilted billet of Tamo ash. you could make a large solid bass body out of it. I might be convinced to sell it for the right price...
I have a perfectly quilted large billet large of Tamo ash. Bass Guitar body billet size.
You're responding to a 5+ year old topic to someone who hasn't been on this forum in about that long.
