Official Luthiers Forum!

I am new to this forum and would like to know the opinion of others on the use of Pau Ferro for guitars. It is very closely related to Brazilian Rosewood and since Dalbergia Nigra has so many restrictions and is becoming outrageous in price...will Pau Ferro come into play as an alternative source ?

Jeff

Pau Ferro is, as far as I know, not related to D. Nigra closely at ALL. It's not even a rosewood. Very different look and pore structure (ie, no visible ones) as well. Can't really comment on the tap vs. Brazillian, since I don't have any BRW sets to compare it to, but the Pau Ferro feels, sounds and looks like it'll make a beautiful and nice sounding guitar. Plenty of folks use it and seem to like it.

Commonly misidentified as Bolivian Rosewood, it's not a rosewood at all. Morado is another name for it. Still one of my favorite tonewoods. Bends like a dream, no pores to fill and the light/dark contrast is simply wonderful in my opinion.
I wouldn't say it's a replacement to Brazilian. Very different. It won't have the clear bell like tap as Brazilian but more in the line of East Indian.
If you are looking for the best replacement for Brazilian, try Madagascar Rosewood or Zircote. Those I have found to be very close.
Pau Ferro does however make a wonderful sounding guitar, just not the same ring as Brizilian.

I have built one guitar with Pau Fero and agree with Paul in all respects. It seemed to me very much like Indian Rosewood in its tonal response, nearly poreless, more brown and gold rather than purpleish Good wood

John

Thanks for your opinions. When I said it was similar to Dalbergia..I was referring to appearance mainly. I have located a good stash of it and it is acceptional looking. Has a lot of the spider webbing, black streaks and the light contrasts from the sapwood. I am contemplating whether it is wise to invest in it for resale. Thanks again, Jeff

One more thought: be very careful when resawing/working with it. It can be quite toxic if you have allergies to it. Even if not, it is a sensitiser so maybe you won't have problems this time, but next time they might be twice as bad. Use procaution just in case.

Paul is absolutely right about the allergic considerations. I used this wood for bridge, fingerboard, & peghead a few months ago. I had severe itching & hive-like reaction topically from it that lasted for two weeks. Any sanding of the Pau Ferro would start the reaction. Luckily, I didn't have a respiratory reaction to breathing the sanding dust.

Pau Ferro looks terrific, works easily, finishes like a dream ... BUT I'll never be able to use it again without a plastic suit.

Before you spend any sizable amount of money on getting some or promising a customer that Pau Ferro back & sides for their dream guitar, buy a bridge blank & sand it by hand a few times to be sure you're not gonna regret it.

Skip

Seja bem vindo ao OLF. Esse forum e muito bom mesmo e voce vai aprender
pacas aqui. Ja vi muitos violoes no Brasil feitos de Pau Ferro. Sao lindos e
a madeira serve para usar na construcao de violao sim. Antonio Tessarin, um
luthier no interior do estado de Sao Paulo ja fez varios violoes com Pau
Ferro e gostou do resultado. Tem uma outra madeira chamada Jacaranda do
Para. Ja ouviu falar? E conhecida como Dalberghia Spruciana e funciona bem
tambem para fazer violao. Aquele abraco!


Welcome to the OLF! This is forum is very good and you will learn a lot here. I have seen many guitars in Brazil made of Pau Ferro. They are beautiful and this wood works well for building guitars. Antonio Tessarin, a luthier from the interior of the state of Sao Paulo has made several guitars from Pau Ferro and like the results. There is another wood called Jacaranda da Para. Have you ever heard of it? It is known as Dalberghia Spruciana and also works well for building a guitar. take care!