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"wenge sounding" us woods?

#43
FBB Custom said:
I got an email from Mike Tobias and he seems to feel like he has not found a good substitute for wenge, tone-wise at least. So I am thinking his reasons for using more ash do not have to do with its wenge-esque resonance.

Interesting guitar, Adron. I can't imagine it was fun bending the sides for that sucker. I will drop them an email and see if they have any insight.

Black locust sounds interesting but I imagine finding any examples in instrumentbuilding will be hard to come by.
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I've got some black locust drying now, its really dense and hard.
 
#45
The thing I don't get is why he thinks his experienced with Wenge based Warwicks is going to lend much insight to what will go on with this bass. Thinking that you are going to get similar character in a Piezo based bass vs. a magnetic based bass would seem to be wishful thinking.
 
#46
Larry Davis said:
News to me...I just ordered 4,000 board feet from an importer I use who has over 27,000BF in his warehouse!!!! Where are you guys getting this info..source other than an emotional based group? I'd like to read it...links please? I'm thinking there's a market move underfoot to justify the increasing prices of wenge...with higher costs to come shortly...thus I'm stocking up while the price is decent.
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News to me as well. When the prices skyrocketed for Zebrano it was during the wars in Africa and the regions that were large exporters. To my knowledge those warring factions are still fighting. That was 10 years ago and my company stopped carrying a large inventory for that reason.

I believe that the same economics are at play with all African woods.
 
#47
Well, the people who designate species as vulnerable are generally not the people who are cutting it. Especially in places like the Congo. I'm sure their opinions on how well the forests can support the demand differ. The reality is that it's available, legally, but someone is worried about its long-term viability. So, at this point, it's up to the consumer to decide.

To the question of why my guy wants wenge, there is no short supply of people on the internet that argue that wood is "where tone starts". If piezos are sold as a more organic, natural reproduction of the bass' resonance, it seems like a natural conclusion to go after wenge. In the end, it was the "where tone starts" people who ended up driving him to drink, so to speak. After a tirade from a wood dealer (who shall remain unnamed) on what woods should be used in the construction of guitars (of which there were three), he decided to shoot towards a combination of mesquite, salvaged kauri pine, and persimmon. He will have a 3-band EQ and I hope he will be able to dial in the sounds he needs.

As for Mike Tobias and ash, I don't want to put words in his mouth. He was kind enough to answer an unsolicited email and tell me that he has not found a good substitute, tone-wise, for wenge. Personally, I have used ash in necks and being able to cherrypick lumber bins for $3/bf wood may or may not have had anything to do with it. ;)
 
#51
NEWS FLASH!!!!!

I just heard that Alder is being placed on the endangered species list because it grown in ever decreasing wetlands here in the PacNW. :eek: Stock up now before all the Alder trees are gone!!!




remember - you heard it here first

:hiding:

all the best,

R
 
#56
Well that was an interesting link Erik. ;)

And in an interesting side note since this thread has mutated so much. A good friend of mine spent over 2 years in South Africa and I asked him to check locally for some standard stuff like Zebrano and Wenge. He asked around and there is virtually no locally idigenous woods available. Around that area apparently they only grow a new pine strain that grows fast and tall, it's taken over all the domestic forests. I understand the need for cheap woods for building but that could explain another reason for the lack of our favored woods.

Dirk
 
#57
Dirk Diggler said:
... A good friend of mine spent over 2 years in South Africa and I asked him to check locally ... He asked around and there is virtually no locally idigenous woods available. Around that area apparently they only grow a new pine strain that grows fast and tall, it's taken over all the domestic forests.
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Sounds like the rest of the ecosystem that goes with / lived in those "indigenous woods" is probably gone, too. :hmm: :bawl:
 
#59
erikbojerik said:
That wouldn't be the (non-domestic) ancient kauri from NZ would it?
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It would be but it will be from salvaged logs. He is about using wood that is responsibly harvested/renewable. A domestic alternative to wenge is just one of the directions he considered.

Tim, $3 is probably not realistic since the low string on your bass is probably going to cost 5 times that. I'll try to control costs so you don't have to issue bonds to finance the bass.
 

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