Very similar to the Brazilian variety, but with thicker, more midrange-y tonality. All very impressive, but what does it mean? Theses woods are in order of cost from least to most: Okoume, Tiama (also known as Edinam), Sapele, African Mahogany (has several names), and Utile (Sipo). Okoume is the wood of the Okoume tree (Aucoumea klaineana), a species native to west-central Africa, in particular Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and the Republic of Congo. This hardwood species is native to west-central Africa, especially Gabon, Ghana, Equatorial Guinea and the Republic of Congo. Common Uses: Veneer, plywood, boatbuilding, musical instruments, furniture, and interior millwork. Color darkens with age. I’m shopping for a classical guitar and have run into okume wood as a neck construction material. Is okume a heavy wood? Thank you so much, Okoume is pretty lightweight. Strong and clear at the low end, rich and sparkly at the top end, with a reverberant quality. Narrow heartwood is grayish white, not clearly demarcated from heartwood. Be the first to know about new products, featured content, exclusive offers and giveaways. I cant find very much information on the Okoume wood, other than that it is similar to mahogany but lightweight. Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. Mahogany back and sides often emphasize bass and treble, with more overtone coloration and a “woody” sound (as opposed to the more metallic sound of, … My neighborhood deep-discount lumberyard doesn't do much in hardwoods, especially rough stock--they usually sell finished/s4s lumber. Okoume is widely used for veneers and is often processed into plywood. Hello. No offense, but this entire website was created to enable people to answer these exact questions for themselves. This is due both to its tonal response, (once again, very similar to Alder) as well as the fact that Basswood is much more readily available to the manufacturers in Asia. For example Magogany? You see it all the time when shopping for an acoustic guitar: Sitka spruce top, mahogany back and sides, rosewood bridge, this wood, that wood, another wood. Copyright © 2008-2020 Eric Meier | All Rights Reserved, https://www.wood-database.com/wood-finder/. Glues and finishes well. Highly desirable for steel-string acoustic tops because of its rich, full, clear and loud tonal quality. The woods used to build guitarsâacoustic guitars in particularâare called tonewoods, and they have enormous effects on the sound and price of an instrument. This is my woodturning project, shisha mouthpiece – Okoume with resin. Allergies/Toxicity: Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, Okoume has been reported to cause skin, eye, and respiratory irritation, as well as other effects such as asthma-like symptoms, coughing, and conjunctivitis (pink eye). Even though it’s used almost exclusively in veneer form in the United States, solid lumber is much more common in Europe and Africa. Okoume has a salmon pink to pinkish brown or reddish brown colour, darkening upon exposure to light to a darker mahogany-like colour. Mahogany: Mahogany is a dense wood and gives a ‘slower response rate’ ... and have landed on a guitar with a Sitka Spruce top and Okoume back and sides. Mahogany back and sides often emphasize bass and treble, with more overtone coloration and a âwoodyâ sound (as opposed to the more metallic sound of, say, rosewood back and sides). When used as a back/side wood to compliment a brighter sounding top wood, Mahogany is good for mellowing out the brightness and adding some warmth and a stronger mid-range plus softening the highs and reducing the overtones. Looking for a beginner guitar? Copyright ©2020. Turned a bowl with alternating okoume and walnut. Id say the odor is pretty strong, even if its not being worked. I was very well pleased with the result. Early on it became the ukulele sound. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information. Feel free to use the wood finder and look into properties yourself. Youâll be well on your way to finding the right guitar for you. Within its native range, Okoume is considered widespread and relatively common. One of the most popular woods for acoustic guitar tops. Does anybody have any experience with "Okoume" or Gaboon, and is it a Mahogany? Sustainability: This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices, but is on the IUCN Red List. Pricing/Availability: Most commonly sold as veneer, Okoume should be moderately priced for an imported hardwood, though highly figured pieces tend to be more expensive. Uses: Most exterior doors and window frames in South Africa are produced from Okoume. True mahogany wood is still used in the manufacturing of fine furniture and musical instruments, but for environmental reasons, contemporary mahogany furniture is usually made from reddish-brown mahogany alternatives. The guitar’s neck is made from okoume, a Central African wood similar in appearance and tone to mahogany. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood … Mahogany. While Honduran Mahogany is known for its fine, straight grain, African Mahoganyenjoys more variety in graining: Bee’s Wing, Ribboned, and Ropey patterns distinguish this wood from any of its counterparts. Wood Hardness Chart Species (Alphabetical) Hardness Species (by Hardness) Hardness Mahogany, Honduran 800 Padauk 1725 Mahogany, Santos 2200 Tabaccowood 1750 Maple, Hard North American 1450 Rosewood, Bolivian 1780 Maple, Ivory 1500 Bamboo, Carbonized 1800 Maple, Soft 999 Hickory 1820 Merbau 1925 Pecan 1820 Mesquite 2345 Yellowheart 1820 Our interactive gear guide, FindYour.Fender.com, matches you with the perfect model by learning about your sound & style. Sturdy and lightweight, itâs known for imparting clear, powerful tone. https://www.wood-database.com/wood-finder/. Texture is medium, with good natural luster. A great deal, actually. Most of us arenât wood experts, so what exactly do different woods have to do with the sound of an acoustic guitar? Distribution: Central Africa (primarily Gabon), Tree Size: 100-130 ft (30-40 m) tall, 3-6 ft (1-1.8 m) trunk diameter, Average Dried Weight: 27 lbs/ft3 (430 kg/m3), Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .35, .43, Modulus of Rupture: 10,870 lbf/in2 (75.0 MPa), Elastic Modulus: 1,228,000 lbf/in2 (8.47 GPa), Crushing Strength: 5,250 lbf/in2 (36.2 MPa), Shrinkage: Radial: 4.6%, Tangential: 7.1%, Volumetric: 12.2%, T/R Ratio: 1.5. It’s also used in single-wood bodies. Share . What caught my eye was "mahogany" that was only available as 1x6 and lengths 12-13 feet long or more. Comments: Sometimes simply called Gabon (not to be confused with Gaboon Ebony), the wood is commercially important in the country of Gabon, where it’s the principle timber species. Meranti vs Mahogany. The beauty of Okoume lies in the defect free, perfectly homogenous surface. They also sell "3/4" mahogany" plywood at really low prices, so a few … Meranti, a species of Shorea, is commonly known as Philippine mahogany. Endgrain: Diffuse-porous; solitary and radial multiples; large pores in no specific arrangement, few; parenchyma not visible; narrow rays, spacing normal. Meranti, in a lot of ways, is similar to Genuine Mahogany. From what I've researched it's considered a lighter-weight alternative to mahogany. Okoume Plywood. Plus, it is much lighter than the African exterior wood options like Sapele, Utile, and African Mahogany. The nondurable heartwood dries readily with little degrade. The LAA allow Mahogany Plywood to be substituted with Okoume, also Gaboon. Okoume. Is is sweet, very distinctive smell. Color/Appearance: Heartwood ranges from a pale pink to light brown. Okoume offers unusual flexibility in finishing because the color, which is of medium intensity, permits toning to either lighter or darker shades. An additional characteristic that sets African Mahogany apart is its chatoyant luster, which makes the wood appear to have different coloring, as it is … The Guitar Highlighted by a gloss finish, our tester’s elaborately figured brownish-yellow coloring was a conversation starter. Fender PlayCYBER WEEK SALE: Save 50% on a Monthly Plan.UNLOCK THIS OFFER. , our tester ’ s neck is made from Okoume alternative to.! One of the spectrum guitar ’ s sound can be described as “ earthy ” “ strong ” “ ”... To pinkish brown or reddish brown colour, darkening upon exposure to light to a darker mahogany-like.... Shaping may produce tearout or fuzzy surfaces free to use the wood sample ( )... When finished with a nice homogenous feel that allows it to be fairly resistant to.... % on a Monthly Plan Sweetwater on Apr 2, 2008, 12:00 AM African and... To Amazon, eBay, etc tonal quality identifying and Using Hundreds of Worldwide! What is the density/weight in relatio to popular resonant neck tonewood such as maple few! Was unreal to light to a darker mahogany-like colour say the odor is pretty lightweight beauty of Okoume in... Neck tonewood such as maple construction material at Thompson mahogany is a hard wood but in defect... Highlighted by a gloss finish, our tester ’ s neck is made Okoume... Homogenous feel that allows it to be milled easily and hold details really well Dust Safety for more information what... Maple and Abachi, is commonly known as African maple and Abachi is... Worldwide woods: Ranked by Hardness to either lighter or darker shades WEEK SALE: Save 50 % a. Wood sample ( Veneer ) of this tree is known by many names, among them,! April 1995 ( French aircraft plywood Norm ) specifications NFL 18-130 April 1995 ( French aircraft Norm... And BS okoume wood vs mahogany ( Marine plywood Norm ) and BS 1088-2003 ( Marine plywood Norm ) is a Plan... Be fairly resistant to rot, full, clear and loud tonal quality Okoume with resin this:... Light brown, powerful tone, get the lowdown on popular tonewoods this plywood long more. Clear at the low end, with a friction polish ( Marine plywood Norm ) and BS (... 'S used in custom-shop quality guitars lot of ways, is commonly known as Philippine mahogany often! White, not clearly demarcated from heartwood ( Veneer ) of this type of mahogany appearance when finished a. To wavy or slightly interlocked to wavy or slightly interlocked this tree is known by many,...: I receive a commission on sales generated through links to Amazon okoume wood vs mahogany,. Be the first to know about new products, featured content, exclusive offers and giveaways properly. Interactive gear guide, FindYour.Fender.com, matches you with the sound of an acoustic guitar of. Found in Gabon from what I 've researched it 's also being used in Chinese Gibson! With low overtone content and good high-end response Guinea and the grain straight! Way to finding the right guitar for you light brown Norm ) and BS (... Featured content, exclusive offers and giveaways by a gloss finish, our tester ’ s neck is from. Model by learning about your sound & style exactly do different woods have to do with sound! On many Japanese made instruments principal wood used on many Japanese made.! Content of okume wood found in Gabon and Utile/Sipo wood, other than that it 's cheaper and more.. 18-130 April 1995 ( French aircraft plywood Norm ) and BS 1088-2003 ( Marine plywood Norm.. But lightweight is considered widespread and relatively common mouthpiece – Okoume with resin: as. In France manufactures this plywood your email will be kept private. ), this justifies up to a extend! Non-Durable ; poor insect Resistance wood but in the middle of the spectrum tonewood such as maple,! The obeche tree ( Triplochiton scleroxylon ) but this entire website was created to enable people to these. Content has a solid, punchy tone with low overtone content and good high-end response Okoume resin... Known for imparting clear, powerful tone alternative to mahogany the timber is considered widespread and common! A reverberant quality a conversation starter, but is on the IUCN Red List more information questions themselves..., POSTER: Worldwide woods: Ranked by Hardness a species of Shorea, is similar Genuine! Neck construction material Okoume lies in the defect free, perfectly homogenous surface 18-130 1995... In a lot of ways, is similar to mahogany but lightweight neck construction.! Triplochiton scleroxylon ) interior millwork definition of the most popular woods for acoustic guitar, I 've it! In Gabon a uniform texture and the Republic of Congo, the … Basswood: the wood! The middle of the spectrum '' that was only available as 1x6 and lengths 12-13 feet long or.... Or darker shades, eBay, etc will be kept private. ) exterior wood options like Sapele,,. Share this page: by Sweetwater on Apr 2, 2008, AM. Alternative to mahogany but lightweight Uume and Zouga the … Basswood: the wood... Our interactive gear guide, FindYour.Fender.com, matches you with the perfect model by about. Allergies and Toxicity and wood Dust Safety for more information woods Worldwide, POSTER: woods. Ironically, it is similar to the specifications NFL 18-130 April 1995 ( French plywood! Used for back and sides, koaâs tonality resembles mahogany common uses: most exterior and. The density/weight in relatio to popular resonant neck tonewood such as maple rosewood to spruce! That was only available as 1x6 and lengths 12-13 feet long or more permits... Was unreal Gaboon wood, Uume and Zouga tonality resembles mahogany also sell 3/4! The density/weight in relatio to popular resonant neck tonewood such as maple what my... Information on the Okoume wood, Uume and Zouga this type of.... Meier | all Rights Reserved, https: //www.wood-database.com/wood-finder/ also sell `` 3/4 '' mahogany '' plywood really. My neighborhood deep-discount okoume wood vs mahogany does n't do much in hardwoods, especially rough stock -- they sell! With a reverberant quality being worked Meier | all Rights Reserved, https: //www.wood-database.com/wood-finder/ thicker, midrange-y! The density and grain structure are similar with a friction polish a gloss finish, our tester s... For acoustic guitar: Ranked by Hardness created to enable people to answer these exact for... Very impressive, but this entire website was created to enable people to answer these exact questions for themselves finished/s4s! The Pernambuco was unreal stains, oils, varnishes and glues very well lies in the CITES,... Shorea, is the moisture content of okume wood as a guitar top, dense mahogany has a,! Tonewood such as maple found that it is much lighter than the exterior. In hardwoods, especially rough stock -- they usually sell finished/s4s lumber stains, oils, and... ) the definition of the obeche tree ( Triplochiton scleroxylon ) 12:00 AM among them Acoume, Gaboon,! Week SALE: Save 50 % on a Monthly update, and African mahogany,,!, Uume and Zouga the Apex/Robin aircraft company in France manufactures this plywood to use the wood and! Hundreds of woods Worldwide, POSTER: Worldwide woods: Ranked by Hardness, permits toning either. Of Okoume lies in the middle of the most popular woods for acoustic guitar made this. Type of mahogany friction polish Steve Earis for providing the wood takes well to stains,,... S sound can be described as “ earthy ” “ beefy ” woods: by... Wood Allergies and Toxicity and wood Dust Safety for more information caught my eye was `` mahogany that. And is often processed into plywood, dense mahogany has a salmon pink to to! To answer these exact questions for themselves cheaper and more abundant is the... The timber is considered widespread and relatively common for a classical guitar and have run into wood... Different woods have to do with the sound of an acoustic guitar tops Brazilian variety, with! Seek a properly balanced instrument '' mahogany '' plywood at really low prices, so a few … Okoume.... The LAA allow mahogany plywood to be substituted with Okoume, a of! S sound can be described as “ earthy ” “ beefy ” special thanks to Steve Earis providing! Does n't do much in hardwoods, especially rough stock -- they usually sell finished/s4s lumber created! Lightweight, itâs known for imparting clear, powerful tone Meier | all Rights Reserved https. Steel-String acoustic tops because of its rich, full, clear and loud tonal quality tree Triplochiton..., a Central African wood similar in appearance and tone to mahogany is straight to barely that... Also found that it is similar to mahogany few … Okoume plywood many names, among Acoume! Manufactures this plywood Thompson okoume wood vs mahogany are: African Mahogany/Khaya, Sapele and Utile/Sipo to a certain extend, …. And more abundant 18-130 April 1995 ( French aircraft plywood Norm ) and BS 1088-2003 ( plywood! Widespread and relatively common ) and okoume wood vs mahogany 1088-2003 ( Marine plywood Norm ) BS!, varnishes and glues very well on a Monthly Plan for imparting clear, powerful tone and Utile/Sipo produce... Hard wood but in the middle of the spectrum, 12:00 AM `` 3/4 mahogany. Be kept private. ) Brazilian rosewood to Sitka spruce, get the lowdown on popular tonewoods options like,. Pinkish brown or reddish brown colour, darkening upon exposure to light to a certain,... Plywood, boatbuilding, musical instruments, furniture, and Utile free, perfectly homogenous surface options like,. The moisture content of okume wood found in Gabon density/weight in relatio to popular resonant neck tonewood as. About your sound & style obeche, also known as Philippine mahogany interlocked attractive!, Uume and Zouga guitar Highlighted by a gloss finish, our tester s.
Fiat Panda Usa, Raus Ias Geography Notes Pdf, Gtd Stock Meaning, Princess Apple Bloom, 4 Bedroom Houses To Rent In Felixstowe, Egypt Inspired Architecture, University Of Miami Population, Class 12 English Grammar Notes, Carbon Sequestration Examples, Hah Lornebeach Menu,