Results 1 to 15 of 15

Thread: Wood Identification

  1. #1
    Purveyor of Sunshine sgarrity's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    San Diego, CA
    Posts
    5,658

    Default Wood Identification

    Obviously not a mandolin but I thought where else could I turn to for this question?

    Any guesses on what kind of wood this is? I think I have deduced what it is but thought I’d see what the experts think....
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

Name:	42FD0E53-EC15-483C-A313-112B05B1A428.jpg 
Views:	143 
Size:	1.40 MB 
ID:	191873   Click image for larger version. 

Name:	4DE77790-4A58-4EF0-884F-103A90987608.jpg 
Views:	132 
Size:	1.06 MB 
ID:	191874   Click image for larger version. 

Name:	A59F4DAA-AA90-455C-84E2-0C8888C55CB8.jpg 
Views:	166 
Size:	614.4 KB 
ID:	191875  


  2. #2
    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Saint Augustine Beach FL
    Posts
    6,633

    Default Re: Wood Identification

    First thought is Cocobolo.
    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

  3. #3
    Registered User Lane Pryce's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2003
    Location
    Asheboro,NC
    Posts
    2,281

    Default Re: Wood Identification

    Looks like a walnut species to me. I’m no expert.
    J.Lane Pryce

  4. #4

    Default Re: Wood Identification

    Cocobolo would be my guess as well.

  5. #5
    Teacher, repair person
    Join Date
    Oct 2017
    Location
    Southeast Tennessee
    Posts
    4,078

    Default Re: Wood Identification

    I agree it is most likely cocobolo.
    Although it resembles some Brazilian rosewood in figure, it looks a bit too orange for me to call it Brazilian.

  6. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to rcc56 For This Useful Post:


  7. #6
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Howell, NJ
    Posts
    26,875

    Default Re: Wood Identification

    My first thought was Brazilian but after looking at the images below it could be Cocobolo.

    http://www.sprucetreemusic.com/wp-co...rgeoiswood.jpg
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  8. #7
    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Saint Augustine Beach FL
    Posts
    6,633

    Default Re: Wood Identification

    Who is the maker of the dulcimer? Looks nice.
    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

  9. #8
    Teacher, repair person
    Join Date
    Oct 2017
    Location
    Southeast Tennessee
    Posts
    4,078

    Default Re: Wood Identification

    It's a hard call. Brazilian can range in color from medium tan to red, and through many shades of brown to nearly black. I have seen some on older Ramirez guitars that were somewhat similar to the dulcimer, but redder, and without so much of an orange base.

    The orange hue on the dulcimer does closely match several sets of wood that I have seen that were clearly designated as cocobolo.

    It's certainly a lovely piece of wood.

  10. #9
    Purveyor of Sunshine sgarrity's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    San Diego, CA
    Posts
    5,658

    Default Re: Wood Identification

    Mystery is solved and Bob wins. It's Brazilian. Heard from another owner of this make of dulcimer. Apparently the builder liked to write on the inside in sharpie marker what the woods were. I've attached a pic of the front to show you why seeing this was almost impossible. I had to hold it into direct sunlight and angle the light through one sound hole so I could try and read through another. I'd tried a flashlight several times to no avail. But in the right light you can make out the words Brazilian Rosewood written in black marker....never would have found that! And yes, those are slices of black walnut shells as sound holes....

    The maker is Bill Taylor. He was from East Tennessee and a bluegrass musician as well a dulcimer builder. There was recently an estate sale in Florida where the person had a collection of 50 mountain dulcimers. All but a handful were by Taylor and Tom Fellenbaum. Tom made mandolins and bouzoukis as well but just his dulcimers were in the collection. They did an online auction and I figured I'd snag one. My mother recently got interested in dulcimer so I figured I'd buy one and learn with her. There was only one or two pics of each dulcimer and only the tops. No back pics. So it was a bit of a leap of faith but it worked out on this one!!
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

Name:	C4AD158D-42BA-4C78-8516-6AC1A45EB5B8.jpg 
Views:	129 
Size:	1.05 MB 
ID:	191876   Click image for larger version. 

Name:	B96ECB12-DF01-4EAA-8D5C-8173139FDB5A.jpg 
Views:	137 
Size:	652.3 KB 
ID:	191877  

  11. The following members say thank you to sgarrity for this post:


  12. #10
    Registered User Tom C's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Warwick, NY
    Posts
    3,985

    Default Re: Wood Identification

    I love the walnut sound holes. Nice looking instrument.

  13. #11
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Dec 2020
    Location
    Lewiston NY
    Posts
    269

    Default Re: Wood Identification

    A project I made about 4 years ago. Book matched walnut back and sides all from the same slab. The grain and color is much different than the gorgeous instrument shown above. The top is spruce (only piece I purchased) the fret board is flame maple, the end blocks are walnut and the peg head is walnut with cathedral grain. Fret markers walnut dots. Basic idea came from an article in one of my woodworking magazines. If any one is interested PM and I'll try to find it in my highly organized files. Be patient.?Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_20210209_193359.jpg 
Views:	58 
Size:	1.21 MB 
ID:	191903Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_20210209_193419.jpg 
Views:	56 
Size:	1.16 MB 
ID:	191904Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_20210209_193448.jpg 
Views:	56 
Size:	1.03 MB 
ID:	191905Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_20210209_193437_burst_01.jpg 
Views:	48 
Size:	1.27 MB 
ID:	191906
    Ratliff R5 2007, Capek A5 2003, Washburn M5S-SB Jethro Burns 1982, Mid-Mo M-2, Epiphone MM 30 Bk mandolins, Harmony Batwing 1970's, George Bauer bowlback early 1900's Philadelphia.


    "Don't cloud the issue with facts!" Groucho Marx

  14. #12
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Dec 2020
    Location
    Lewiston NY
    Posts
    269

    Default Re: Wood Identification

    By the way basic tuning is open D and it's real easy to get started. To see a master YT Dave Hass (among others.
    Ratliff R5 2007, Capek A5 2003, Washburn M5S-SB Jethro Burns 1982, Mid-Mo M-2, Epiphone MM 30 Bk mandolins, Harmony Batwing 1970's, George Bauer bowlback early 1900's Philadelphia.


    "Don't cloud the issue with facts!" Groucho Marx

  15. #13
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Howell, NJ
    Posts
    26,875

    Default Re: Wood Identification

    As long as we're doing the Dulcimer Cafe thing, here is how the 6 1/2 fret became a thing. Shout out to Rick Turner.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  16. The following members say thank you to MikeEdgerton for this post:


  17. #14
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Dec 2020
    Location
    Lewiston NY
    Posts
    269

    Default Re: Wood Identification

    Great bit of history. Lot of important names there. Thanks Mike.
    Ratliff R5 2007, Capek A5 2003, Washburn M5S-SB Jethro Burns 1982, Mid-Mo M-2, Epiphone MM 30 Bk mandolins, Harmony Batwing 1970's, George Bauer bowlback early 1900's Philadelphia.


    "Don't cloud the issue with facts!" Groucho Marx

  18. #15
    Purveyor of Sunshine sgarrity's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    San Diego, CA
    Posts
    5,658

    Default Re: Wood Identification

    Had no clue Rick Turner was involved in that. Now they’re adding all kind of frets yet they call them 1/2 or + frets. On most dulcimers the octave is at the 8th fret but it’s called the 7th fret and the one before it is the 6+ or 6 1/2. And then there are the fully chromatic dulcimers. Might as well just play mandolin or guitar at that point! Lol

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •