Author Topic: Pernambuco neck laminates (Read 507 times)

tdukes · « **on:** July 09, 2009, 02:14:33 PM »

I see that PRS is using pernumbuca for necks on the Paul's 28 guitars. This upset my violin playing daughter who thought the wood should be made into violin bows.

Has Alembic ever used this in a neck? I didn't see it come up on a board search. Does anyone have any idea how this wood would sound?

Todd.

tdukes · « **Reply #1 on:** July 09, 2009, 02:39:08 PM »

Maybe that should be spelled 'pernambuco'

Todd.

mario_farufyno · « **Reply #2 on:** July 19, 2009, 06:31:58 AM »

Funny, Pernambuco is a northeastern brazilian state, but I didn't knew it as a name for a tree.

Here we know the wood used in Bows as Pau-Brasil (brazil wood), the very first product Portugal explored in this land. It was called like that because its red color (used to tint clothes back then) that reminded a red hot brazier. And this is how Brazil got its name.

Its cientific name is Caesalpinia echinata and is related to the Caesalpinia ferrea, also known as Pau-ferro (ironwood?). This wood (pau ferro) is often used as substitute to Rosewood in fingerboards. But I don't know if we are talking about the same wood...

David Houck · « **Reply #3 on:** July 19, 2009, 09:01:17 AM »

According to Wiki, Brazilwood, or Pau-Brasil, is also known as Pernambuco. A quick cruise through Google doesn't show any references to Pernambuco's use as a tone wood in electric guitars and basses, except for the $36,000 Paul's 28, though it does appear to be occasionally found in acoustic and classical guitars.

tdukes · « **Reply #4 on:** July 19, 2009, 10:49:56 AM »

I also found this guitar

A search on ebay finds tons of bows made from the stuff. I was able to play Paul's 28 #0 which Paul made for himself. I was in a loud room and only played it unplugged so it really didn't make an impression on me.

I wonder how it would be as a neck laminate on a Series II guitar.

Todd.

mario_farufyno · « **Reply #5 on:** July 21, 2009, 05:18:18 AM »

Thanks, Dave!

Wow,Tod, what nice guitar you've found...

mica · « **Reply #6 on:** July 21, 2009, 06:30:39 PM »

We made an Excel bass with Pau Ferro neck laminates for Jeff a few years ago. It's the only one I recall, but that doesn't mean it's the only one.

dfung60 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 23, 2009, 10:23:18 AM »

I remember reading somewhere that the dust from working pernambuco is particularly toxic.

All the exotic rosewoods and ebonies that are used in guitars because of the high internal oil content are known to cause respiratory and allergy problems from the dust kicked up from working on it. It seems like there are way too many stories of luthiers who were unable to continue their craft because they developed allergies from breathing exotic wood dust - I'm pretty sure that Bo'zo who made acoustics for Leo Kottke stopped building guitars because of rosewood allergies.

David Fung

adriaan · « **Reply #8 on:** July 24, 2009, 01:54:15 AM »

The FTC thread for Jeff's custom Excel says its neck laminates are Pau Ferro. A quick glance through Wikipedia suggests the two are not the same. Hm ...

mica · « **Reply #9 on:** July 24, 2009, 09:37:59 AM »

You're right - as my post said, the laminates were Pau Ferro in Jeff's bass.

We have not made an instrument with Pernambuco laminates to my knowledge.

mario_farufyno · « **Reply #10 on:** July 24, 2009, 10:05:31 AM »

Yes, Adriaan. As I wrote earlier they are just related, although not the same.

Caesalpinia echinata is the Pernambuco (Brazilwood)

Caesalpinia ferrea is the Pau Ferro

Both Caesalpinia, but not the same wood (and probably not the exact same tone).

(Message edited by Mario Farufyno on July 24, 2009)

altgrendel · « **Reply #11 on:** July 28, 2009, 05:15:52 AM »

Either way, I would think that it would mellow out the tone of the bass a bit. Could be interesting and besides, it's a beautiful wood.

According to the last part of that wikipedia article, it's an endangered tree and might be banned from export.

(Message edited by AltGrendel on July 28, 2009)

mario_farufyno · « **Reply #12 on:** August 14, 2009, 07:01:45 PM »

As Mahogany...

mario_farufyno · « **Reply #13 on:** August 14, 2009, 07:14:49 PM »

Pernanbuco was our first product explored here by Portugal, so it really gone rare. But, as Pau-Brasil (Pernanbuco) is our national symbol-tree, we've been doing some efforts in Brazil to plant it around recently. It is a wood you can find now at urban parks at Sao Paulo or Rio, but it stills endangered since it should be grown in areas that are now very populated (it did not belong to amazon or other dense forest areas we have), but we hope to preserve it better from now on.