Alembic Guitars Club

Connecting => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: Philip-M-Bass on May 24, 2018, 01:29:31 PM

Title: World’s Most Expensive Wood !!
Post by: Philip-M-Bass on May 24, 2018, 01:29:31 PM: This is an article from last year ,

quite costly !!

Ebony – $ 10,000 Per Kilogram. ...
Sandalwood – $ 20,000 Per Kilogram. ...
Pink Ivory – $ 7-8 Per Board Feet. ...
Lignum Vitae – $ 5 Per Pound. ...
Purple Heart – $ 11.99 Per Board Feet.
Dalbergia – $ 14-16 Per Board Feet.
Bubinga – $ 18.99 Per Board Feet.
Bocote – $ 32.99 Per Board Feet.

see more-

https://lazypenguins.com/worlds-most-expensive-wood-in-the-world/

Click the links for each one !!
Title: Re: World’s Most Expensive Wood !!
Post by: Philip-M-Bass on May 24, 2018, 01:57:32 PM: While we are on the subject

Here are a a few that could be considered for the next Anniversary Bass !
Title: Re: World’s Most Expensive Wood !!
Post by: Zut8083 on May 24, 2018, 01:59:57 PM: Neat! What great wood!
Title: Re: World’s Most Expensive Wood !!
Post by: Philip-M-Bass on May 24, 2018, 02:04:53 PM: Thank you Sir, You are most kind !!
Title: Re: World’s Most Expensive Wood !!
Post by: tx196059 on May 24, 2018, 02:19:14 PM: Very interesting coloring and patterns. I agree, that would make a great bass!
Title: Re: World’s Most Expensive Wood !!
Post by: Philip-M-Bass on May 24, 2018, 02:50:16 PM: A few more to wrap one's mind around !
Title: Re: World’s Most Expensive Wood !!
Post by: StephenR on May 24, 2018, 04:07:27 PM: Where did the pictures of the bright purple and red woods come from and what type are they, I didn't see them with the article.

I have seen a number of examples of instruments built with overly busy grain and figure where the intensity of the look of the wood detracted from, and competed with, the lines of the body shape. Alembic usually does a great job of making sure the wood selected for the tops compliments the body shape without overwhelming it.
Title: Re: World’s Most Expensive Wood !!
Post by: Philip-M-Bass on May 24, 2018, 04:21:27 PM: Thank you Stephen,

Yes , the photo's were not part of the article,

These are snaps that I have saved over time & thought I might share them with the group !

If you need the actual species , I will attempt to track down the original source's ,

I started a thread some time ago called "amazing wood data base", so I have been saving stuff for a long time !

You are quite correct about "busy grain & figure" , but. honestly, some of these examples were too good not to share !!
Title: Re: World’s Most Expensive Wood !!
Post by: jwright9 on May 24, 2018, 04:40:36 PM: Wow! That giant table sure is something special!!
Title: Re: World’s Most Expensive Wood !!
Post by: Philip-M-Bass on May 24, 2018, 04:47:04 PM: Thank you Jwright ,

That long board is Oregon Black Walnut !!
Title: Re: World’s Most Expensive Wood !!
Post by: Philip-M-Bass on May 24, 2018, 04:58:07 PM: Stephen,

The red is Western Big Leaf Maple burl, doubledyed,

The purple is Carpathian Elm burl, with multiple dyes,

These pieces have been professionally acrylic stabilized !

Double dye stabilizing,

It imparts color throughout the entire piece of wood rather than just the top layer,

plus it stabilizes the wood at the same time eliminating wood movement

and adding structural integrity to wood that is brittle, cracked, or soft.
Title: Re: World’s Most Expensive Wood !!
Post by: StephenR on May 24, 2018, 06:13:55 PM: Thanks for the species info. I suspected the colors were not natural. Now that slab of Oregon Black Walnut impresses with just it's naked glory, no added color needed there. Thanks for all the cool photos...
Title: Re: World’s Most Expensive Wood !!
Post by: Philip-M-Bass on May 24, 2018, 06:20:05 PM: Thanks Stephen ,

I will post a few more soon !!
Title: Re: World’s Most Expensive Wood !!
Post by: edwin on May 24, 2018, 07:53:17 PM: Sandalwood is quite expensive, partially due to its scent. Another related tree derived scent is oude from the agarwood or aloeswood tree, which is infected with a fungus. The purest oil goes for $50,000 a kilo. It's considered by some to be the smell of God. it's pretty good.
Title: Re: World’s Most Expensive Wood !!
Post by: Philip-M-Bass on May 25, 2018, 07:46:52 AM: Thanks Edwin,

Love that, the smell of God, Yea, it's pretty good !!

There are a number of different species Known as "IronWood"

here are a few examples,

http://www.radharcknives.com/woods.htm
Title: Re: World’s Most Expensive Wood !!
Post by: 5a quilt top on May 25, 2018, 08:12:06 AM: Whew...when i saw the header, I thought this was going to be another Harvey Weinstein discussion...

What a pleasant surprise!

Beautiful specimens. The longer I play, the more I realize it really is all about the wood. A truly exceptional instrument will look as good as it sounds so the the quality of the wood used to make it is critical to both.
Title: Re: World’s Most Expensive Wood !!
Post by: cozmik_cowboy on May 25, 2018, 09:02:23 AM: I keep looking at the second pic in the second post and thinking "I don't care what it sounds like - I want an acoustic made from that!

Peter (who would be OK with it on an Alembic as well)
Title: Re: World’s Most Expensive Wood !!
Post by: Philip-M-Bass on May 25, 2018, 09:03:17 AM: Thank you David ,

I will most definitely leave Harvey Weinstein out of the discussion !!

You are absolutely right , wood is selected for it's tone quality, & frequency response !

higher in sound power level,

in level variation and in level drop with increasing frequencies above 1 kHz,

here is Bubinga from central Africa -
Title: Re: World’s Most Expensive Wood !!
Post by: jwright9 on May 25, 2018, 09:10:11 AM: WOW! Gorgeous!
Title: Re: World’s Most Expensive Wood !!
Post by: Philip-M-Bass on May 25, 2018, 09:11:17 AM: Thanks again Jwright,

I will post a few more,
Title: Re: World’s Most Expensive Wood !!
Post by: Philip-M-Bass on May 25, 2018, 09:12:24 AM: Hey Peter,

Here is the original listing for the one you mentioned ,

https://www.ebay.com/itm/PREMIUM-ACRYLIC-STABILIZED-DOUBLEDYED-MAPLE-BURL-5-5-16x1-9-16x7-16-KNIFE-SCALES-/131374960598?hash=item1e968ecfd6&nma=true&si=jJTQMqix7lhwHWwsGW9kfRK18TU%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
Title: Re: World’s Most Expensive Wood !!
Post by: Philip-M-Bass on May 25, 2018, 09:17:29 AM: I really can picture a nice "balance K" series bass in this wood-

Western figured Big Leaf maple burl ! Multiple dyes !
Title: Re: World’s Most Expensive Wood !!
Post by: dead_head on May 25, 2018, 12:32:25 PM: I love all the beautiful pics. I especially like the first pic in this thread. It looks like some kind of gnarly tree-wizard, or something...
Title: Re: World’s Most Expensive Wood !!
Post by: jwright9 on May 25, 2018, 01:04:03 PM: I saw the tree wizard too! Very cool.
Title: Re: World’s Most Expensive Wood !!
Post by: Philip-M-Bass on May 25, 2018, 01:06:43 PM: Thank you Rob, & Jwright,

I am fairly certain that wood is Dalbergia – $ 14-16 Per Board Feet,

Yes indeed, we will call it Wizard Wood !!!

known commonly as North Indian rosewood,

is a fast-growing, hardy deciduous rosewood tree native to the Indian Subcontinent and Southern Iran.
Title: Re: World’s Most Expensive Wood !!
Post by: Philip-M-Bass on May 25, 2018, 01:53:34 PM: Here are a few more,

1. Honduran Mahogany ,

2. Brazillian Rosewood,

3. from larravee guitars - Rosewood (species not specified) !
Title: Re: World’s Most Expensive Wood !!
Post by: edwin on May 25, 2018, 09:13:23 PM: These are amazing photos!
Title: Re: World’s Most Expensive Wood !!
Post by: cozmik_cowboy on May 26, 2018, 04:37:29 AM: Is there a "Wood Bank" section at Larrivée's site? I sure can't find it (and if it has more porn like that I must find it!). If not where is that pic from?

Peter (who not only loves yummy grain, but has never played a Larrivée that wasn't absolutely magical)
Title: Re: World’s Most Expensive Wood !!
Post by: pauldo on May 26, 2018, 04:44:18 AM: Nature surely is a wonderous artist. Such beauty.
Title: Re: World’s Most Expensive Wood !!
Post by: Philip-M-Bass on May 26, 2018, 06:14:26 AM: a few more,

1. Zirocote (Central and tropical South America)

2. Honduran Rosewood

3. African Mahogany
Title: Re: World’s Most Expensive Wood !!
Post by: Philip-M-Bass on May 27, 2018, 08:26:11 AM: Real nice,

1. Turkish walnut

2. Desert Iron Wood Burl

3. African Blood Wood
Title: Re: World’s Most Expensive Wood !!
Post by: jwright9 on May 27, 2018, 08:33:29 AM: Oooh. I love bloodwood.

Here is one of my basses that has a Bloodwood top and back.
It is a Hilton Reverse Scroll 5.

(https://images.reverb.com/image/upload/s--VEQQ7Q_Z--/a_exif,c_limit,e_unsharp_mask:80,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_south,h_1600,q_80,w_1600/v1526396462/cppptjb8rm4khvzoveku.jpg)

(https://images.reverb.com/image/upload/s---xIrIjwF--/a_exif,c_limit,e_unsharp_mask:80,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_south,h_1600,q_80,w_1600/v1526396452/rg2h10n3j0nau5wbckto.jpg)

(https://images.reverb.com/image/upload/s--0QkN-6er--/a_exif,c_limit,e_unsharp_mask:80,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_south,h_1600,q_80,w_1600/v1526396523/vuwlwh6rdkofuz8ofrod.jpg)
Title: Re: World’s Most Expensive Wood !!
Post by: Philip-M-Bass on May 27, 2018, 09:29:45 AM: Amazing !!!!!
Title: Re: World’s Most Expensive Wood !!
Post by: cozmik_cowboy on May 27, 2018, 11:01:47 AM: Oh. My. Word!!!
That desert ironwood burl is the stuff of dreams!

Peter
Title: Re: World’s Most Expensive Wood !!
Post by: dead_head on May 27, 2018, 11:40:10 AM: Yes, the stuff of dreams. A huge blow-up of that desert ironwood burl print would make a great backdrop for a Grateful Dead stage... 8)
Title: Re: World’s Most Expensive Wood !!
Post by: Philip-M-Bass on May 27, 2018, 12:50:00 PM: Thank you Gentleman !!

Actually Peter , I found the Larrivee page you wanted-

Click the photo's to enlarge !!

https://www.larrivee.com/archives-artifacts/wood
Title: Re: World’s Most Expensive Wood !!
Post by: cozmik_cowboy on May 27, 2018, 01:19:20 PM: Thanks! That one got bookmarked (man, there's some wood there with figuring on a level with Rippled Satin (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=7974.0))!!

Peter