Official Luthiers Forum!

I have seen several guitars on here that really appeal to me and they all had the same kind of wood. I believe that Hesh made one of these guitars, but I may be wrong. The best I can do is discribe the wood and see if you all can post pictures and discriptions of the wood to help me find some of it?

The wood is medium colored and has large bands of the light colored wood strongly divided by black lines. It almost appears that the back of the guitar is made out of about 8 to 10 different pieces of wood because of these strong black lines running the length of the wood. This may be some special zircote, but the pictures of zircote I can find on our sponsor's web pages dont look anything like what I am looking for.

Is this enough to go on?  Help please!

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Reguards,

Ken H

What I am looking for is looking more and more like this zircote from hibdon hardwood, but the guitars I have seen posted on here look quite a bit more stunning than this. maybe it is just the finish that makes the wood pop? or is there some other kind of wood that is real similar to this?

_________________
Reguards,

Ken H

Ziricote, Cocobolo, and Macassar Ebony can all have the qualities you describe. I think some of the more dramatic pieces of Ziricote have the most interesting dark lines, but Cocobolo has a wonderful orange/purple hue to the sections between the dark lines, and I prefer that. Cocobolo is also less prone to cracking than Ziricote (most woods are less prone to cracking than Ziricote).

Sample pictures.

Cocobolo:



Ziricote:



Sorry, I couldn't quickly find a shot of Macassar Ebony that had the right kind of lines, but it's out there.

Could it be Cocobolo?

Lances Cocobolo Guitar:

http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/useruploads/LanceK/
2007-08-13_173613_P1010049_Large.jpg

It isnt that one Hesh... the wood I am looking for looks really strong like Zircote (or is it ziricote?)

Kelby, the zircote you posted looks like it, only what I am looking for is much lighter in tone.

I have looked at the cocobolo, and I am definitely going to build at least one of the 3 guitars out of that wood, but I want some of this zoot with the strong black lines in it. All of the pictures of the ziricote I can find right now is way too dark though. the wood (and guitars) that I am so drawn to that have been posted on the forum are much lighter than what I am seeing. I *KNOW* I have seen this wood posted in the last couple of weeks as a HB guitar, but for the life of me I cant find the picture by doing a search. This is what is making me think it is something similar to zircote.

_________________
Reguards,

Ken H

jebarri, that isnt it either. Seems like the last picture I saw of this stuff was with a guitar that had a soundhole in it.... maybe not though. All I know is that it looks alot like zircote but is much lighter in color.

_________________
Reguards,

Ken H

Ken, it is probably Ziricote, as Ziricote does come in lighter shades. Here's another example of a lighter piece:



I don't know how hard it will be to find exactly what you want, but I'm sure the vendors here can help.

I haven't worked with Ziricote before, but given all the horror stories about cracking problems when bending it, and given that you have a short turnaround on these guitars, you may want to invest in some of that SuperSoft II stuff people are talking about (and maybe make a non-cutaway guitar with the Ziricote!).

Keep us posted!

Doh! I just realized --- could it be spalted maple?

Here's some mac ebony from Allied



But I think I know what your after but can't think of the name right now. BobC had quite a bit of that stuff what ever it is about a year back but I missed out. It is not zebrano but is like it but more contrast, I think it was MichaelP that built a beauty with it around this time last year and suggested It had some of the best tonal properties he had used....what is that wood??? Hesh, I thought you had a set to but you may have moved it on the swap meet?? Where's my medicine??who are you??? and what the heck is this sticky toy monkey doing sitting in my lap??

Cheers Kim

I'll have to do some more searching onthe forum. it's 2am and I've got to be up at 7.

The ziricote is looking strongly like what I am looking for, but as I said before the pictures of the guitar(s) I have seen built with this wood that I am looking for are MUCH lighter in color which makes the black streaks stand out even more.

It is definitely not the spaulted maple and not the mac ebony unless someone had some of that with wider stripes in it.

I'm stumped !

_________________
Reguards,

Ken H

It's OK, I found my medication....the wood I was thinking of was Black Limba or Korina, BobC had some really nice stuff last year, lots of definition, any left Bob??

Got an image for us Chris??

Black Limba

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Beautiful and unusual tone woods at a reasonable price.
http://www.rctonewoods.com/RCT_Store
The Zootman
1109 Military Rd.
Kenmore, NY 14217
(716) 874-1498

Nope, thats not it either..... they do look similar.....

Thanks everybody for helping me with this !  We will find it sooner or later!

_________________
Reguards,

Ken H

I'm wondering if it's the Malaysian Blackwood/Asian Ebony that he's thinking about, they can be pretty striking.

Greg

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Gwaltney Guitars

Here is a piece of Malaysian Blackwood/Asian Ebony that Peter used...is this what you are looking for.



Greg

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Gwaltney Guitars

Munn ebony? or the special black and white ebony that BobC had? Doc Andy Z posted a guitar he made with that a few months back...

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

Sanded Ziricote?

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Beautiful and unusual tone woods at a reasonable price.
http://www.rctonewoods.com/RCT_Store
The Zootman
1109 Military Rd.
Kenmore, NY 14217
(716) 874-1498

[QUOTE=GregG]Here is a piece of Malaysian Blackwood/Asian Ebony that Peter used...is this what you are looking for.



Greg[/QUOTE]

 

THATS IT !!!!!

Thanks!!! Now I know what to look for ! WOOOOO HOOOO Thanks everybody (and especially Greg)!!! I knew it looked similar to ziricote, but was lighter in color. This is exactly what I am looking for !

well done !!

_________________
Reguards,

Ken H

Heres a couple of Black Limba guitars?