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I heard a loud crash in the yard a few years ago and this flowering tree, which had some malady I suppose.... just narrowly missed our home as it crashed to the ground.
My Lady commented how heavy it was when they {her and my roomate} tried to move it -
"its a Laburnum you know..."

"hmmmph is it?"
was my reply.
Well I curiously had a look on the net to see what info there was about this tree..
Well it was described as poor mans ebony and it used to be died black in substitute of ebony, on account of its similar hardness and grain, closely matched ebony.
"I want it!!"
I told her, and it stayed behind the garden shed for a couple years - a week ago I had it hauled out and it was soaked - I wanted to dry it out,
   Well the best those creepy crawlies and fungus and rot demons could do was rot off a small cambium layer about 1/4" thick on the outside of the tree -
actually doing me a favor in the process, seeing as I would have had to peel it otherwise..
Well I took the chainsaw to the end of it, capturing a small piece of the end... I noticed the chainsaw was chewing out yellow shavings!!
took it in the house and ran some slices through the bandsaw to see what I was dealing with and
"Lo and Behold"
to my surprise, the most beautiful coloured wood was hiding in that small piece!!!
I sanded it flat and ran some isopropyl alcohol over it my goodness it was a really truly beautiful golden colour!!! Like a mango sort of but more of a true golden luster!!
The tree isnt large enough to do a guitar unless it was done in 4 piece back... but my gosh it will make nice appointment perhaps,some binding.....mabye a ukulele or something
Its as hard as ROCK too! killed my sandpaper!!
Keep your eye out for some laburnum - its a real treat and I felt truly blessed to have some amazing wood "literally" fall into my lap.
Cheers
Charlie
Oh some pictures???? Sure
Sadly I couldnt capture the brilliance of the golden colour with this crappy cam - youll get an idea - Id love to see an entire guitar made of this!

Hmmmm! I see bindings and rosettes.  It looks a lot like Koa.

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Traditionally in Furniture making Laburnam was used in the form of Oyster veneer. The trunk and branches were slices at about a 45deg angle and the reulting ovals used as decorative veneer. It would make good rosette and headplates I would guess.

Colin

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Its true Colin - you always know your stuff!!!
...the end cuts on the branches and grain of the main trunk are spectacular! There is sort of a dark/light golden alternation in the growth rings..
But as shown even quartered its quite beautiful to look at -
I really have to try and get a shot in full sun to demonstrate the colour properly!
Fantastic!
Cheers
Charliewood

Heres a better shot I think... I think this will make wonderful binding against darker woods EIR and Walnut spring to mind..

Cheers
Charliewood

Sweet score Charlie. That girl of yours sure is a keeper

That sure would look awesome as b/s and I wouldn't hesitate to go for a 4 piece back if you have to

If you do decide to cut it up into bindings let me know if you want to sell or trade for some curly maple, I have a bunch of it.

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seems it might make excellent fretboards as well.

[QUOTE=crazymanmichael] seems it might make excellent fretboards as well.[/QUOTE]
Its certainly hard enough for fretboards no doubt!
Rod you certainly may have some bindings when I cut it up...Id love some flame maple in return -
HEY this aint the swap meet!
Cheers
Charliewood

Oh and BTW, although the remaining two still standing stems of this tree {even larger in diameter than this one} are still quit healthy yet... I have a feeling they just might come down in a windstorm before I leave this rental property
Come to think of it that big ole Holly tree in the backyard is looking a little sad lately too!
Cheers
Charliewood

your funny charlie.

Hey don't forget about bridge blanks too. I may just have to fork over some $ for fb and bridge blanks.

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"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

[QUOTE=charliewood] But as shown even quartered its quite beautiful to look at - [/QUOTE]
Oh yeah!!! Nice find Charlie!