View Full Version : Alternative woods
peter.coombe
Jul-23-2008, 7:36pm
This is my latest. #Almost all native Aussie wood (Ebony headstock veneer is not native). #King Billy Pine top, Tasmanian Blackwood back, sides and neck, Gidgee fingerboard and bindings, Tasmanian Myrtle pickguard. #Wonderful sounding mandolin, clear and sweet and very even tone. #Proof that Spruce/Myrtle is not the only viable wood combination.
peter.coombe
Jul-23-2008, 7:41pm
Try again
http://www.petercoombe.com/Goldfinch_images/Frontside400.jpg
Jake Wildwood
Jul-23-2008, 7:51pm
Nice!
Beautiful! Love the understatement. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
JEStanek
Jul-24-2008, 6:05am
Peter, that looks wonderful. Would you please post a photo of the Tasmanian Blackwood back? Thanks!
Jamie
Lovely! Is that a De Meglio-esque string tensioner I see below the bridge?
I'll second the request for a photo of the back, please!
Fliss
JEStanek
Jul-24-2008, 7:44am
Fliss,
That's a Weber Brekke bridge and below that is a Weber wood nymph. See more at Sound To Earth dot com (http://www.soundtoearth.com/products.htm).
Jamie
F5GRun
Jul-24-2008, 9:00am
Awesome...lets see the back side!
red7flag
Jul-24-2008, 9:18am
That is a great looking instrument. Nice styling. Would love to hear it. Peter would you mind adding a picture of the sides and back pls.
Tony
Fliss
Jul-24-2008, 11:01am
Fliss,
That's a Weber Brekke bridge and below that is a Weber wood nymph. #See more at Sound To Earth dot com (http://www.soundtoearth.com/products.htm).
Jamie
Cool, thanks for the info, I hadn't seen one of those before
Fliss
peter.coombe
Jul-25-2008, 12:09am
Correct, it is one of my modified Brekke bridges and a Weber wood nymph.
Blackwood back
http://www.petercoombe.com/highres/Mandolin116b.JPG
peter.coombe
Jul-25-2008, 12:10am
Side view
http://www.petercoombe.com/highres/Mandolin116s.JPG
Marshall Stapleton
Jul-25-2008, 2:20am
nice instrument - lovely wood back looks similar to koa,what is it like to work with?
Marshall
Skip Kelley
Jul-25-2008, 6:01am
Peter, That is one fine looking mandolin!
Dan Voight
Jul-25-2008, 11:18am
Love it
red7flag
Jul-25-2008, 1:43pm
The back and sides remind me of Oregon Myrtle. Fabulous look. Where is that one for sale?
Tony
peter.coombe
Jul-25-2008, 8:53pm
I shipped it (somewhat reluctantly) to it's new owner a couple of weeks ago so is not for sale. Blackwood is very similar to Koa, I would not be able to tell the two woods apart. Koa does tend to be as bit darker on average, but there is a lot of overlap. The figured Blackwood is not easy to work with. The darker pieces are very hard and I need to use abrasives rather than a blade because tear out is a big problem. Some of the most beautiful pieces are a real pig. That piece is about medium hard, not too hard and not the most difficult to work with. Large pores, so takes longer to finish. Blackwood is nothing like Oregon Myrtle, I saw some Oregon Myrtle when we were in the USA in 1999 so know the Oregon Myrtle which is more like Tasmanian Myrtle. Blackwood has a clear sweet tone, tending towards bright, i.e. similar to Koa.
Woody Turner
Jul-25-2008, 9:18pm
Blackwood acacia (Acacia melanoxylon)trees from Australia were introduced into the western U.S. long ago and can still be found in California (esp. Bay area), Hawaii, and the Pacific Northwest. Some woodworkers salvage the beautiful wood when local trees come down or buy it as lumber shipped from Tasmania. Those smitten by this material can readily find it on the Web.