Author Topic: TULIP wood top tone? (Read 153 times)

roberto · « **on:** August 28, 2008, 08:43:01 AM »

Dear forum,
Any body have or know the tonal spectrum of a tulip wood top laminated mahogany Alembic?
Is it a premium wood or standard wood?
Thanks
Robert

mica · « **Reply #1 on:** August 28, 2008, 10:10:05 AM »

Tulipwood is a premium wood. As a member of the Rosewood family, it sounds pretty much like Rosewood, Coco Bolo, etc.

I have Tulipwood in stock that is wide enough only for an Essence bass. It's generally available in only narrow widths. I buy wide stuff when I can find it with nice figure, which is usually only ever 2-3 years.

Other woods are marketed as Tulipwood that are not Rosewood. Commercial names get confusing. There's a tree in the US called Tulip Tree and it's wood is sometimes sold as Tulipwood but it's not the wood I'm talking about.

keith_h · « **Reply #2 on:** August 28, 2008, 11:21:08 AM »

Mica,
Would the other wood be Tulip Poplar by any chance? I have plenty of those in my yard. It's a soft hardwood that I don't think would make for a very good guitar wood nor is it good for a long lasting fire. It is great for resisting termites and is seen in a number of older houses for flooring.

Keith

funkyjazzjunky · « **Reply #3 on:** August 28, 2008, 01:53:40 PM »

Ah, I wondered why Tulipwood is a 'premium' wood. I though is was the same as Poplar (Tulip Poplar)

David Houck · « **Reply #4 on:** August 31, 2008, 08:14:53 AM »

Keith; looks like Tulip Tree and Tulip Polar are the same tree.

funkyjazzjunky · « **Reply #5 on:** September 05, 2008, 12:22:45 PM »

Here is a link that clears up the issue:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulipwood

It seems that Tulip Poplar is not Poplar at all.