Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi.
has anyone ever used this for soundboard material.I'm comissioning a guitar,and this is avaiable as an upgrade...a really really really expensive ($1500) upgrade..can anyone help.Is it really that magnificent?
Many Thanks.

I am no expert but that sounds like a lot. Hinoki = Port Oxford Cedar?

Welcome to the OLF!

I had never hear of Hinoki so I looked it up and from what I can find so far (Google searches) it says that we call it in the US Port Orford Cedar. There are a number of builders that have used POC before and perhaps they will weigh in here and assist you.

I can tell you that POC is available from the usual suspect tonewood dealers and it is not on a price par with say Adirondack spruce.

I also found a reference that indicated that "true" Hinoki only grows in Japan so I may be mistaken with the POC reference but that is what my searches are returning.

hi again,
on looking..it seems that Port Orford has a different botanical name (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana), to hinoki...you're right $1500 seems outraggeousl expensive..thats why I neede to get in touch with the experts.....you guys out there in the luthiery world.

It is in a group of false cypress trees that Port Orford Cedar falls into, but I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that makes them any more similar than say "spruce" trees(if even that). Price means little, other than availability may be very limited, it may be in high demand for other uses, popular due to current "buzz" or market opinion, or people are willing to pay a lot(for whatever reason).

You need to talk to the builder and get input on this option(how they use the wood may be more important than general properties). The wood may have some "features" that may make it attractive, such as Port Orford(as an example) is extreamly split resistant, very resistant to decay. Maybe the wood has visual charitoristics that are appealing. Then you can weigh that $1500 dollar upgrade, in terms of value to you. It may be an expensive upgrade that takes the guitar in a direction you don't even want to take it (which may be the case with any "upgrade"). In some cases Western Red Cedar is better suited than Red Spruce (is one better-No, does one costs much more-Yes, will one fit your goals much better than the other-yes).

Rich

Hinoki is a religious wood in Japan used for temples and ceremonies. That might be the reason for the price. It might be very difficult for someone to tell the difference between that and Port Orford cedar though. I think Larry Davis might have had some at Gallery Hardwoods. Not sure.

_________________
Ken Franklin
clumsy yet persistent
https://www.kenfranklinukulele.com

The builder (Boaz Elkayam),offered me this upgrade,telling me that he built a ukelele from this wood,and was completly blown away with the tone describing the wood as having a definite 'magic' to it.Whilst acknowledging that other tonewoods he had as options were all 'diamonds'..this tonewood was a 'pink diamond'.I know of his reputation as a superb builder but had never heard of this tonewood..I was (am) really impressed with him so I will in all probability 'go for it'..but I'm so surprised that I cannot for the life of me find any info on the internet about its usage as a tonewood.
Perhaps i'll chicken out at the last minute and go for one of his spruce options.......mmmm

I have built several guitars out of Mastergrade Port Orford Cedar. It is a great tonewood but I have personally come to value other tonewoods more.


However, that particular tonewood might work wonderfully with how Boaz builds - in the end, I would trust both your own gut feelings and those of your luthier.

Being far, far from an expert... I would not go for that steep an upgrade $ without knowing more about what you can expect from the wood. And not to knock the builder, but if he has limited experience with that wood, I wouldn't bite. Great builder, no doubt, but that is a lot to pay in a wood premium. Let us know what you do and how it turns out. Maybe it is a great under appreciated or unknown wood.

Donovan

If indeed Port Orford Cedar, than definitely a great soundboard material. Warm like cedar but much more dynamic range with the punch of a good spruce! And a fantastic aroma too!
But not worth $1500 for sure. $200 -$300 upgrade at most....

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Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

My sincere thanks for your advice and i nput guys...thanks