Official Luthiers Forum!

Owned and operated by Lance Kragenbrink
It is currently Sat Nov 23, 2024 7:50 pm


All times are UTC - 5 hours





Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 4 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Oct 17, 2007 10:29 am 
Offline
Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 10:27 am
Posts: 2
Location: Australia
G'day all,
 
A friend of myne has said that he has a few big pieces and a stump of a Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia Glyplostrobaides) tree at his house, and asked if I wanted any for luthery work. I've been trying to work out if the wood is any good for a soundboard, and was wondering if anyone knows anything about it. I've done some searching on the net, and can only find that Californian Redwood is commonly used as a soundboard material, but no specific info about the use of Dawn Redwood.
 
The two different Redwood species seem a fair bit different. The Dawn Redwood is very very light (density of about 260 kg/m3 or 16 lb/ft3) and has a Modulus of Elasticity of 5500 Mpa or 798000 psi. It appears like a very tight grained pine but lighter, with quarter sawn grain spacing of about 10 grains per inch.
 
Does anyone have any ideas or experience with this timber as a tonewood?
 
Thanks,
Matt


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Oct 17, 2007 12:06 pm 
Offline
Cocobolo
Cocobolo
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jun 15, 2005 9:39 am
Posts: 130
Location: United States
Welcome Matt,

Don't know anything about it as a tonewood, but it's one of my favorite trees. Here's the story of the one I walked by every day while attending the University of Oregon:

UO Dawn Redwood

I suspect it could work out nicely as a tonewood. If there is any chance of buying or trading for a piece to try as tonewood, I would LOVE the opportunity!

Cheers,
-Dave


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Oct 17, 2007 2:10 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Thu May 12, 2005 5:46 am
Posts: 2968
Location: United States
Aren't dawn redwoods kinda small in diameter?

_________________
Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Oct 17, 2007 4:46 pm 
Offline
Cocobolo
Cocobolo
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jun 15, 2005 9:39 am
Posts: 130
Location: United States
Yeah Jim, I think they tend to be skinny, especially since they have only been reintroduced to the rest of the world in the last 60 years or so. By my math the tree here at the University, being 10 feet in circumference and 55 years old, should have growth rings at an average of about 2.89 per inch. Not great, even if it's not a good measure of tonewood quality. Regardless, I'd be interested in trying it out, if for no other reason, just for sentimentality.

-Dave


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 4 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 54 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
phpBB customization services by 2by2host.com