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Brazillian RW question
http://www-.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10102&t=9919		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  D Stewart [ Wed Dec 20, 2006 7:44 am ]
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Ok, for you wood experts, I have a question. I have a local hardwood supplier (my candy store)that sells some lumber - smallish boards - of BRW, but it is said to be D. Spruciana(sp?) I bought a little for turning pens etc. on the lathe, but wondered about how well it substitutes for D. Nigra. Any insight? The stuff is very nice, chocolate browns with black ink lines and spider webbing. Looks like BRW to me. I don't think it has the BRW smell when worked but what do I know.
Author:  Don Williams [ Wed Dec 20, 2006 7:48 am ]
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Not sure what you're asking...?
If you have pieces big enough for bridges or fretboards, it will substitute nicely.
I have a plank of D.Nigra very much like that.
If you can get pieces big enough for back & side sets, you're in the money.
Author:  D Stewart [ Wed Dec 20, 2006 9:14 am ]
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Thanks Don, I just did not really know how it differs from D. Nigra. It sure looks like a good substitute. I also wondered if someone knew if it was proper to call the D. Spruciana (sp?) brazillian rosewood also. Is their a better name that would avoid the species confusion?
Author:  Colin S [ Wed Dec 20, 2006 9:26 am ]
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Donovan, go look at this site of the USDA. they discuss the separation of the two species. A number of other references (I googled it) refer to D.spruceana as Amazonas rosewood.


Colin


Separation of D.nigra and D. spruceanaColin S39071.7275231481
Author:  Homeboy [ Wed Dec 20, 2006 9:29 am ]
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I have seen this wood Dalbergia spruceana refered to as Amzon Rosewood as well in the past.
Looks like a great wood to use for many things, and the link form colin said that it is denser than Brazilian rosewood. Go for it buddy.

Homeboy
Author:  D Stewart [ Wed Dec 20, 2006 10:06 am ]
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Thanks Colin and Homeboy. That was a very helpful link for the technical breakdown. It you have to determine the density to tell them apart, then I think it should work nicely for my needs. They sure seem to have more similarity than difference. I will try to get some guitar size pieces and give it a try. For now I have enough to make at least a couple of bridges.
Author:  Don Williams [ Wed Dec 20, 2006 10:19 am ]
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I have seen some Amazon Rosewood that is every bit as good as d. nigra. The person who had some got it from LMI when they had some a few years ago. It was killer wood. At the time he was building with it, he worked for Julius Borges. You can imagine how well that guitar came out.
Author:  Hank Mauel [ Wed Dec 20, 2006 11:21 am ]
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Indeed, LMI has it....d. spruceana.
See http://www.lmii.com/CartTwo/thirdproducts.asp?CategoryName=+ Backs+and+Sides&NameProdHeader=Amazon+Rosewood

It's referred to as Amazon rosewood and looks very nice. See if their photo compares to your wood.
Author:  David R White [ Wed Dec 20, 2006 12:09 pm ]
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Donovan, to answer one of your questions I don't think it is right to call this Brazilian Rosewood, which is Dalbergia Nigra. It sounds like a fine wood to build with but it's not BRW and the price should reflect that.
Author:  Robbie O'Brien [ Thu Dec 21, 2006 2:49 am ]
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I saw this wood years ago. In Brazil it is called Jacaranda do Para because it comes from the state of Para. I tried to find this wood in Brazil but south of Rio virtually no one has heard of it. Also, there are many names for the same species of wood in Brazil and this complicates matters. I have never worked with this wood so I can't tell you anything about it's qualities for guitar building. I did hear a story once of a container of it going to Europe from Brazil to be used for guitar building. The folks didn't like it. I guess they were used to working with the true Brazilian Rosewood. I do think it is a wood definitely worth trying though.
Author:  Don Williams [ Thu Dec 21, 2006 3:53 am ]
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[QUOTE=drwhite] Donovan, to answer one of your questions I don't think it is right to call this Brazilian Rosewood, which is Dalbergia Nigra. It sounds like a fine wood to build with but it's not BRW and the price should reflect that. [/QUOTE]

Oh but it IS Brazilian Rosewood. It's from Brazil, and it's a true rosewood...


I've been told that many species were used interchangeably many decades ago - some of which are so close you can hardly tell the difference. I've even heard of Kingwood being used interchangeably with d.nigra in the early 1900's and prior. Back then, those woods were plentiful, and the trees were larger. The 20th century took a heavy toll on a lot of species, both flora and fauna...Don Williams39072.4965393519
Author:  WarrenG [ Thu Dec 21, 2006 4:06 am ]
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[QUOTE=Don Williams]The 20th century took a heavy toll on a lot of species, both flora and fauna...[/QUOTE]

Now, now, don't go pointing the finger at the "century". The people on the other hand...

<somber>

We suck.
Author:  vachterm [ Thu Dec 21, 2006 8:00 am ]
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this wood is commonly available for sale as a tonewood in Argentina.
they call it "jacaranda de Brazil".
while the D.Nigra is "jacaranda de Bahaia".
i have seen it, tapped it, played guitars made with it, and bent a couple of sides and it looks and sounds very promising...of course the fact that it was about 50$ for a master-grade set made it all more appealing.
when im back home from University ill post a pic of a kasha style guitar made of D.spurceana my "Maestro" in argentina has currently completed.

Udi.

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