PS - I think the official spelling is tucUrensis but I've found it is often spelled as tucErensis, or especially tucArensis. Knowing that can come in handy if you're Googling.
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| Nicaraguan Rosewood? - Better pics added 4-4-13 http://luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=39866 |
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| Author: | klooker [ Thu Mar 28, 2013 9:09 am ] |
| Post subject: | Nicaraguan Rosewood? - Better pics added 4-4-13 |
I was at a wood boutique that I frequent & I came upon what was labeled as Nicaraguan rosewood. Unfortunately, they didn't have anything wider than 5-1/2" but what they did have was straight grained, clear and well quartered (vertical grain if you prefer). The color was sort of a medium reddish brown, leaning more red, sort of like Bubinga. It wasn't nearly as dense as Honduran Rosewood which was in the adjacent bin but it had a very nice resonance/tap tone. The dealer had no pertinent info on specifically what it is. I tried to search it and came up with dalbergia tucurensis which is sold as Panama rosewood or possibly Guatemalan rosewood? I've also seen reference to Cocobolo, it was definitely not Cocobolo. Anyhow, I didn't buy any but now I'm having second thoughts, it was $18.52/bf. Any insights or experience with dalbergia tucurensis or Nicaraguan rosewood? Thanks, Kevin Looker |
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| Author: | WaddyThomson [ Thu Mar 28, 2013 9:35 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Nicaraguan Rosewood? |
Three or four piece backs aren't a problem! 5 1//2 should be fine for that. |
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| Author: | CharlieT [ Thu Mar 28, 2013 9:57 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Nicaraguan Rosewood? |
Kevin - I have a few sets of D tucurensis and they are just like you described in terms color, density and resonance. For some comments from others on it, check out this thread over at UMGF. It's about Hunduran rosewood but there is a lot of discussion about tucurensis as well. http://theunofficialmartinguitarforum.y ... ly-1233977 |
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| Author: | klooker [ Thu Mar 28, 2013 10:05 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Nicaraguan Rosewood? |
I also thought it would make a nice 3-piece back but didn't know if it's easy to find wider stock or if the $18.52/bf price was good, seemed very cheap to me. Thanks for the replies. Kevin Looker |
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| Author: | Tony_in_NYC [ Thu Mar 28, 2013 10:21 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Nicaraguan Rosewood? |
Bruce Sexauer love D. Tucarensis. I think he prefers it over Brazilian. Go get some!! |
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| Author: | Glenn LaSalle [ Thu Mar 28, 2013 10:57 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Nicaraguan Rosewood? |
Post some pics. I have about 7 or 8 boards of D. Tucarensus (Panama Rosewood) ranging from 4.5 to 7.5 in wide. Some is very consistent in color, while a couple of boards has some nice dark striping going on. I haven't worked with it yet, but when my new shop is done (june timeframe) I plan on resawing some of it. Glenn |
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| Author: | klooker [ Thu Mar 28, 2013 5:20 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Nicaraguan Rosewood? |
I'll have it on Monday & will post some pics then. Thanks |
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| Author: | Herr Dalbergia [ Fri Mar 29, 2013 4:13 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Nicaraguan Rosewood? |
Me also like tucarensis, and 4 piece back more then 3 pieces.... |
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| Author: | klooker [ Tue Apr 02, 2013 4:47 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Nicaraguan Rosewood? |
Ok, So here are some pictures. Not the most exciting stuff. It actually looks a lot like Honduran Rosewood but it's not nearly as dense or oily. Kevin Looker |
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| Author: | Glenn LaSalle [ Tue Apr 02, 2013 6:13 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Nicaraguan Rosewood? |
looks alot like some of the boards i have as well. Glenn |
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| Author: | absrec [ Tue Apr 02, 2013 10:18 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Nicaraguan Rosewood? |
If it's anything like Honduran Rosewood, I'd say go for it. I picked up a nice piece of Honduran and made a ton of fretboards from it and they look and sound great. I was told that it is the closest in density to Brazilian. Don't know how true that is, but it is quality for sure. |
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| Author: | CharlieT [ Tue Apr 02, 2013 11:26 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Nicaraguan Rosewood? |
klooker wrote: It actually looks a lot like Honduran Rosewood but it's not nearly as dense or oily. That sounds like D tucurensis. |
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| Author: | MikeyV [ Wed Apr 03, 2013 10:07 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Nicaraguan Rosewood? |
That board looks a little Stevensonii-ey, judging by the smallish pores. The feel immidiately gives it away, like you said. Stevensonii is HARD, DENSE, and cool to the touch, like Cocobolo. Pings like a sheet of glass. Tucurensis is usually alot less dense, coarser pores, and has a more woody tap, without the glassieness. I do have a few fingerboards cut from the same board that really are in between Stevensonii and Tucarensis, and they look exactly like the boards you pictured. There are at least two species that are commonly called guatemalan/Panama rosewood. There's D. tucurensis, and D. Cubiliquitzensis (sp?). I've also heard it said that these two are the same species, but a different name. Like all wood-stuffs, I'd bet there's a lot of variability in a single species, due to gegraphy, soil, etc. Just look at the different looks Brazilian produces. Beautiful boards! nice score. I'm wrapping up a D. tuc 12 fret dread as we type. I got a few sets from Gilmer, and a few from Cook woods. The Gilber sets are vERY orange in color, very pretty. |
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| Author: | Herr Dalbergia [ Wed Apr 03, 2013 5:28 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Nicaraguan Rosewood? |
hm....reminds me even to Machiche / Mexican Cherry....but could be a lot judging from the picture. Tucarenis I don't think soooooooo much... |
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| Author: | klooker [ Wed Apr 03, 2013 6:41 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Nicaraguan Rosewood? |
It could be Machiche, the seller had it listed as Nicaraguan which to what I could find, crosses to either Cocobolo or Tucurensis. It's definitely not Coco. It looks like Honduran but like I said, not as dense or as oily. I resawed it today & it actually smells sort of like Honduran. How do you distinguish between Machiche & Tucurensis. The photos I've seen on the internet look very similar. Kevin Looker |
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| Author: | klooker [ Thu Apr 04, 2013 10:12 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Nicaraguan Rosewood? |
Here are some better pics. I don't know why, but on my browser they are showing in actual size - BIG. In the past, they would show up smaller & you could click to enlarge. I hope these big pics are not too annoying. Kevin Looker |
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| Author: | MikeyV [ Thu Apr 04, 2013 10:17 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Nicaraguan Rosewood? |
Those pores look Exactly like the Tuc I have. I've never handled Machiche, so I can't speak to that. |
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| Author: | forgottenwoods [ Thu Apr 04, 2013 10:48 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Nicaraguan Rosewood? - Better pics added 4-4-13 |
To separate closely related wood species you need to look at the cell structure in the end grain. Here is a start.. http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/fplrp/fpl_rp665.pdf |
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| Author: | CharlieT [ Thu Apr 04, 2013 10:54 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Nicaraguan Rosewood? - Better pics added 4-4-13 |
Kevin - I'm glad you posted the larger pics as they show the pore size more clearly. The larger pores are consistent with what I've seen in the tucurensis I have. The color looks right to me, too. Based on the density you described, if it ring like a bell when you thump it sure sounds like tucurensis to me. |
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| Author: | Herr Dalbergia [ Thu Apr 04, 2013 2:27 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Nicaraguan Rosewood? - Better pics added 4-4-13 |
Now i am also bit more on the tucarenis. oxidized red, the pores....also havent handled my machiche for a while...will check later... |
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| Author: | James Ringelspaugh [ Thu Apr 04, 2013 3:14 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Nicaraguan Rosewood? - Better pics added 4-4-13 |
Another vote for D. Tucurensis |
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| Author: | A.Hix [ Thu Apr 04, 2013 3:36 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Nicaraguan Rosewood? - Better pics added 4-4-13 |
Kevin, that is Dalbergia Tucurensis, no ifs, ands, or buts. I have cut several thousand guitar sets of that stuff, so I know it well. It is an excellent tonewood. Nice board. D.Tucurensis and D. Cubliquitzensis are basically the same tree, just tucurensis comes mainly from Nicaragua (hence nicaraguan rosewood) and cubliquitzensis (guatemalan rosewood) is found mostly in Guatemala. The two can vary a bit in color and density, I think is just from slightly different soil conditions. The wood is very sweet smelling when you cut it. |
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| Author: | A.Hix [ Thu Apr 04, 2013 3:37 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Nicaraguan Rosewood? - Better pics added 4-4-13 |
Machiche stinks when you cut it, and it is very splintery almost like wenge. |
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| Author: | CharlieT [ Thu Apr 04, 2013 3:59 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Nicaraguan Rosewood? - Better pics added 4-4-13 |
I'm pretty sure tucurensis and cubilquitzensis are one and the same regardless of country of origin. Have a look at these links, which show they are just synonyms of each other. You may have to scroll down a bit to find the synonym references. http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/ht ... .pl?311181 http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/ht ... .pl?311183 There does seem to be a lot of variability in its appearance, but it all has in common a lighter density than most other Central and South American Dalbergias, large and prominent pores and a very nice, sustaining tap. I've seen some pretty prominent luthiers call tucurensis the closest thing, tonally, to Brazilian, which I don't doubt considering the properties of the sets I have. Hopefully John Arnold will chime in as I know he has a lot of this wood and knows a lot more about it than I do. |
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| Author: | CharlieT [ Thu Apr 04, 2013 4:09 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Nicaraguan Rosewood? - Better pics added 4-4-13 |
PS - I think the official spelling is tucUrensis but I've found it is often spelled as tucErensis, or especially tucArensis. Knowing that can come in handy if you're Googling.
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