Official Luthiers Forum!

Have any of you distinguished gentlemen ever used
wenge as a material for back/sides.What kind of
results did you get in terms of tonal qualitties...is it
rosewood like maybe...or different.

I'm currently building a Baritone with Wenge. It's far from being completed so I can't comment on the tone, however, I do remember that some very distinguished builders really like it. That's if you don't mind all the splinters (it will throw some at you just for looking at it funny) and the fact that it cracks without much provocation.

I'f I'm not mistaken, Ervin Somogyi said it was one of the most underated tone woods out there. Tony Karol has also used it with success.

It is very dense and I like the tap tone of my plates. Plus, it's still very cheap compared to a lot of stuff out there.

I like the chocolate and black grain. It should look very good under finish.

_________________
I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

Yeah, if it didn't crack and splinter so easily, and have those huge hard-to-fill pores, it would be a great tonewood.

_________________
Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

You also have to be careful sanding it, since the light wood is much softer than the dark.

_________________
Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

Ah yes, the craters...

_________________
I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

The sound is great...the look when finished is awesome...to work with...the only problem is the splinters...it is one of the worst in that the splinters are fine and long.

Raj,

I built one Classical with it and it looked great. Some complain that the wood is too mono a color but for me that means that it makes it ideal for almost any binding/purfling combination as the contrast is maximized. There is a subtlety to the wood in that the lighter wood is chocolate while the darker wood is near black.

I have not tried any of the modern pore fillers such as Zpoxy or other clear filer but because I only do french polish have always pumice/rottenstone as part of the filing/finishing process. Once the pores are filled it does sand to a very nice surface but because as Howard mentioned the lighter wood is much softer, always use a hard felt or maple sanding block or scraper to keep surfaces even.

The good part about Wenge is that it is still in plentiful supply so it is affordable and easier to come by. I have seen Bass fingerboards of it but only used it for sides/back.

I pick it up in the rack, then set it back down, so I can pick the splinters out of my hands.

Then, I forget why I picked it up in the first place.

Petros built a few and liked the wood initially. Haven't a clue if he still uses it.

I've kind of scratched Wenge and Mexican Bocote off my list.

_________________
http://www.dickeyguitars.com

Thanks for the input chaps,
I have just pruchased a eouro spruce/wenge guitar
(awaiting delivery),it has some very unusual design
details,and some very interesting visual design
aesthetic...especially the neck.When it arrives I'll try
and post some pics.

^ that guitar isn't coming from Oakland is it?

I agree with everyone here...Wenge's beautiful, but will leave you with as much guitar in your hands as splinters as actually goes into the guitar case when you're done! I have a Wenge OM Herringbone on my site if you want to see how it looks under one of Tony Ferguson's excellent finishes!

_________________
http://www.presnallguitars.com

Bruce, why scratch bocote off your list. I have a couple of nice looking sets. I've turned it, and it is more oily and less splitty than its cousin ziricote, which should make it pretty workable.

What I've been learning re these other tonewoods, is that while I personally like to try a new wood, and there are many woods that can make a great-sounding guitar, if you plan on selling them, stick with the ones that are already established in the market.

_________________
Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

Lex:...no the guitars coming from Scotland.The
buider is a guy called Thornton Caldwell,his
instruments have a strong Celtic/Pictish
theme..check out his necks...way out there!!

^ What a coincidence. I have a friend in Oakland who's selling a guitar this weekend with wenge back/sides and a very interesting neck inlay.

Caldwell's neck is very cool looking. I wonder how stable it will be over time with those laminations effectively shortening the grain.... that's one place in my opinion you want as long grain as possible.