Official Luthiers Forum!

Has anybody used this back and side timber that Lmii is calling "Narra"? They get it from the Solomon Islands where it's known as Solomon Rosewood, I've used some for bindings on my last, but it was called New Guinea Rosewood by the people who were selling it. It looks like EIR, but mahogany colored EIR, and grows in northern Australia as well as on the pacific islands north of Australia.

I built my last under fluorescent lights, and didn't notice how this stuff shimmered under natural light 'til I was done and took it outside to take some pics. It's a bit harder and denser than mahogany, as well as being widely available and inexpensive in this neck of the woods. Thinking of trying it on my next.

The wood is a cousin to Padauk, and has similar properties. My brother has used it w/ success. Maybe he'll chime in.

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

It's been used by major asian manufacturers for some time as a substitute for mahogany (including necks).

Carlton

I have not built with Narra (Pterocarupus Indicus), but I think it's got great potential.

The material I have is relatively lightweight but very stiff and rings like a bell. Occasionally it has a bees-wing figure and ranges in color from gold to orangish-red.

The bright-red African Padauk (Pterocarpus Soyauxii) is denser and already a popular wood with some builders. I have seen other species called Andaman Padauk and Burmese Padauk, but these are not commonly available.

I have built several small parlor sized classicals from Narra and it can be very nice. It has a nice tone and in SE Asia it is used for tonebars for a xylophone like instrument that I have seen in Laos, Malaysia and Indonesia.

When quartersawn it can have a roey, beeswing look and while it is open pored like Paduak has the advantage in that when it is well sanded has a nice sheen to the grain (like Myrtle when the light hits it). I have had a couple sets that split along the grain over time. It is a very stable wood but when quartered the grains per inch can be large which can make it more split prone if not stored in a properly humidified environment.

It has sometimes been sold by wood dealers as golden padauk since it is in the same family. When it is burl form it is known as Amboyna Burl.

I have not built any necks with it but it is definitely stable enough for it...something to try.

Narra is a great wood. Stable, dense, very low impedence. (taps like brazilian, similar metallic clank) It is tough to bend, like Padouk, but worth the effort. I have a set that has very nice bees wing superimposed on the ribbon like patterns present in wood with interlocking grain. Underused and underappreciated, it could step in acoustically for Braziian any time it is called on.

Thanks for the info everyone,

I thought it might be ok for back and sides, didn't realise it'd be great. It certainly looks pretty enough. That's good news indeed, over here the stuff is really inexpensive, I think I paid about $AU20 for the plank I cut the bindings for my first guitar from. That was a plank 4/4 x 7 1/2" x 40" for about $US15. I guess it's time to get back to the lumber yard and stock up.

Paul
Why is it so cheap there? It isn't a native of Australia is it? Must grow close by, like Indonesia. Get some great looking planks if you can, plenty of bees wing and well quartered, cut it into sets and sell it to us Narra deprived Yanks.

John

John
I was of the understanding that it grows in the far north of Australia, but I might be wrong - wouldn't be the first time.

It does grow in New Guinea to the north and the Solomon Islands to the north east of oz. It is sold here as either New Guinea Rosewood, or Solomon Rosewood. But is not sold as a tone wood (not much of a market here for that anyway). I was very surprised when I saw the price ($153) for a back & side set in the latest LMI catalog. I guess they charge whatever the market will bear.

It occured to me that I might supply some back & sides sets to you guys - once I get my new bandsaw and can start resawing. Spruce is very expensive here ($150 for an AAA sitka top), and Narra is very expensive over there. Sounds like an opportunity to me.

[QUOTE=PaulB]

It occured to me that I might supply some back & sides sets to you guys - once I get my new bandsaw and can start resawing. Spruce is very expensive here ($150 for an AAA sitka top), and Narra is very expensive over there. Sounds like an opportunity to me.
[/QUOTE]

Indeed! I know at least two guys that will swap spruce for narra. Let us know what you find at your lumberyard.

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

[QUOTE=PaulB]
It occured to me that I might supply some back & sides sets to you guys - once I get my new bandsaw and can start resawing. Spruce is very expensive here ($150 for an AAA sitka top), and Narra is very expensive over there. Sounds like an opportunity to me.
[/QUOTE]

Indeed. I'd probably be up for some. That is, if Italian Spruce tickles your fancy at all, anyway...

[QUOTE=Mattia Valente]
Indeed. I'd probably be up for some. That is, if Italian Spruce tickles your fancy at all, anyway...[/QUOTE]

Tickles it plenty Mattia.

I've got two suppliers nearby who sell Narra, and the annual Sydney working with wood show is on in two weeks - Plenty of opportunity to find the good stuff, I 'll see what I can find and let you all know.

How about good 'ol East Texas spruce?
Picea LoneStarii.... Great stuff, got lots of it.

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Er, never heard of that one. Is it related to Picea Nowyourjusttakingthepissii?PaulB38489.007037037

[QUOTE=Steve Kinnaird] How about good 'ol East Texas spruce?
Picea LoneStarii.... Great stuff, got lots of it.

Steve[/QUOTE]

Planning on 6 piece top?

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Don Atwood
Arlington, VA

Our trees are big enough for one piece tops!

Don, you should remember this stuff.

_________________
From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

wow! One piece tops! I would like a piece or two of that!

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Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"

Here ya go Paul
My bro and I are standing beside a small specimen of Georgia spruce. We are discussing whose turn it is to chop down the next tree. I see some one piece tops in there.
John Kinnaird38489.8687268519

Wow, that thing is huge. I'd say that one tree could supply every forum member (and not just this forum) with one piece soundboards for life.

I thought spruce only grew in the northern US and Canada - learn something new every day

Paul--don't let my bro fool you. Indeed spruce doesn't grow in Georgia. That shot was taken in MY backyard. We were having trouble with this particular tree...it wanted to lean badly. You will notice the strained looks on our faces trying to hold it up.

SK

_________________
From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Ah Paul
Actually you are right about spruce. It mostly grows in the north west with the exception of Adirondack spruce which mostly grows in the north east. This picture is actually from the Ho rainforest near the coast of Washington state.
In this picture my brother and I were wondering about how to sneak this tree back home. Rental cars and carry on luggage present transportation delimas.