Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi Guys

I was wondering if any one has used African walnut to make guitars, it looks stunning, anyone got any experience of it ?

Hi Russ,

I'm not familiar with that nickname. Are there other names for this wood? Do you have a pic or two?
It sounds intriguing!

Steve

_________________
From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Russell,

Is this the stuff?

African Walnut

_________________
Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010

African Walnut

Trade names can be tricky

Not sure that link is working today, so here's the copied info from the USFS site. Several species under that trade name.


African walnut Coula edulis Baill. Olacaceae Liberia
African walnut Lovoa trichilioides Harms Lovoa klaineana Pierre Meliaceae Central Africa
African walnut Lovoa trichilioides Harms Lovoa klaineana Pierre Meliaceae Ghana
African walnut Lovoa trichilioides Harms Lovoa klaineana Pierre Meliaceae Nigeria
African walnut Mansonia altissima (A.Chev.) A.Chev. Sterculiaceae West Africa
African walnut Schotia brachypetala Sond. Leguminosae-Caes. Zimbabwe
Larry Davis38722.4756944444

Hi Steve and Dave

I think the Latin name is "Lovoa trichilioides" Similiar to your pics dave except it was sort of choclate brown with Black Lines going through it.

Hi Steve

I found a referance on the internet that it might be known as Congowood it the USA.

Also known as Tigerwood in the US according to a Google search.

_________________
Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010

Short answer: No.

Colin

_________________
I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

I believe it is not actually a walnut, and belongs to the Mahogany Family Colin

Yes Russell, Swietenia and Lovoa are both members of the Meliaceae family so on that basis it will undoubtedly be great wood.

Colin

_________________
I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Russ--

I've got two Tigerwood backs here, but haven't worked 'em yet. They are quite attractive, and seem like they will perform like Mahogany. At least that's my impression. What--do you have a bit of this lying around in your shop? Are you looking to give it to someone to test-drive for you??   

Steve

_________________
From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

I have used it once - the stuff I got was very plain and light brown coloured like the picture at the bottom of the page in that link.

I agree the texture was similar to mahogany, perhaps a little more open-grained. My impression was that it wasn't a very dense wood. It bent OK, sanded OK, was a bit nondescript really but that didn't matter to me because the guitar was going to be painted a solid colour anyway.

_________________
Pete
http://www.petewoodmanguitars.com

Thanks Guys

Steve, I tell you why I ask, one of my suppliers has been offered some, and asked me if I knew anything about its tonal properties, I said "I had never used it, but I would ask on the forum"

Sorry Larry

I just saw your post, I somehow missed it earlier, thank you for that, you are right trade names can be tough

Hope you didn't think I was rude and ignoring your post, I must have posted at about the same time.

Oh...Lovoa trichilioides...why didnt you say so?

I agree with Colin...if its related to Mahogany than it will be fine...I never met a Mahogany I didnt like

[QUOTE=RussellR] Thanks Guys

Steve, I tell you why I ask, one of my suppliers has been offered some, and asked me if I knew anything about its tonal properties, I said "I had never used it, but I would ask on the forum"

[/QUOTE]

OK, Russ, then tell him that the concensus was that the wood was quite poor tonally, that hardly anyone liked the appearance and that no one really wanted to use it due to past failed attempts. BUT that you would be willing to "take it off his hands" for a pittance.
(And then by all means send me some!)   

Steve

_________________
From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com