The porous nature of rosewood needs to be worked on with pore fill before finishing with lacquer. Solid guitar body. The best woods for fretboards are rosewood and ebony. It is good to try several before finding the type of body wood that resonates with the desired tone. Easy to work and takes a nice polish. Or you can use it with another top (such as Sitka Spruce) to “mellow” out or add warmth. Whilst this is great on the budget, it won’t be quite as nice on the ears! Koa: In addition to being a great soundboard material Koa is also great for the back and sides. Maple: Maple works well in the back and sides of the body if the guitar because it has a ‘low response rate’, a bit like Mahogany. This also helps in the band situation and makes it appealing to lead players who are looking for note definition. Unlike Mahogany though, Maple has more emphasis on higher notes and brings ‘focus’ to individual notes. It tends to retain the highs while giving room for the lows. The wood that is used to create a guitar makes a huge difference to the sounds that the guitar will produce. Required fields are marked *. There are many influences on the sound of the guitar (body shape, bracing, strings, bridge saddle etc), but the type of wood used is one of the most influential. Mahogany tops are great for playing blues. I am a new guitar builder and need to look at all of the angles, wood type, guitar materials, etc. Rather than spending their days in an office cubicle, there are […], Learning how to build a guitar offers appealing personal and professional benefits for both amateur and serious musicians. Highs are typically soft and not overly pronounced. One thing to consider when buying a bass guitar is the hardness or softness of the woods used. Thanks.. I’m not a guitar builder and I don’t have expertise with 12-string guitars. Various woods have distinct sound qualities, especially when used for the top of an acoustic guitar, which is the most important wooden tonal element of the instrument. Electric Guitar Wood. Mahogany is a fairly dense/hard wood and is relatively heavy and strong-ish. The physical properties of different types of wood will all have a bearing on their inherent tonal qualities. Koa wood is available in a plethora of golden hues ranging from light to dark. So yeah, I’d say Martin and if you want it as low profile as possible, then the Low Oval is their slimmest shape. Guitar Tone Woods A tone guide for Guitar Tone Woods. This will yield a tone with balanced highs, mids and lows, which means this wood combination is a great clean slate to make your own tone. This is one of those woods that sounds better with time. Mahogany is a wood that is used for both acoustic guitar tops (soundboards) and for back and sides. This is pretty much what its all aboutDoes the wood matter for what tone you get from the output jack of your guitar ? Sapele: Sapele is similar to Mahogany but there are some subtle differences. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If you have been playing guitar for a bit of time and are […], Ever since the punk rock ethos caught the fancy of the young guitar players, especially those belonging to teenage outfits performing gigs at local clubs […], There is something magical about building something with your own two hands. The wood on any one guitar could be different for the top (soundboard) of the body, back and sides of the body, the neck, the fretboard, bracing, the bridge & the headstock. It can enhance the mid range tones and add meatiness/thickness to the sound. It is relatively heavy but lighter than maple. Let me know what you think in the comments below. Whilst it is more commonly used in the back and sides (see below) it also makes for a great top if it suits what you are playing. There are various other tonewoods used these days too like Ovangkol (similar to Rosewood). It is moderate in weight while its tonal qualities include plenty of bites and good sustain. Rosewood has rich overtones and that high response rate allows for a sharp attack into the note and a lot of resonance. They are also great in situation where you are playing with other instruments. Spruce is light but strong and comes in a number of varieties with the most common variety for guitar tops being Sitka Spuce. I'm replacing my cheap "strat" body with something fancier but I need very cheap wood that won't sound to ****ty. Very different to Maple, Rosewood has a ‘high response rate’. Many bass guitar bodies are constructed in mahogany. But what it does mean in practical terms is that it produces a strong/meaty mid range sound with more subtle overtones (a very ‘non-abrasive’ sound) which leads to an ‘earthy’ ‘mid-rangy’ sound. This means it complements the sound of the top without messing with it too much. Can you tell me snything about. The low end will start out deeper and fill in the more it is played. Solid-body electric guitars are carved from either one or two pieces of wood. Bracing (in addition to other parts of the guitar) will also affect the tonal characteristics – so the way that the guitar is braced will also be important. Most American guitar manufacturers use swamp ash because of its lightweight quality in addition to a pleasant timbre. While mahogany is the main material for acoustic instruments, it is still popular with electric guitars because it is resonant, durable, economical, easy to work with, and physically appealing. When used as a guitar speaker, wood imparts tone, character and volume to the guitar. The urge to build is a common feeling among many. Take a look at this post on build your own guitar kits and how to care for your guitar. The fretboard and neck wood can have some affect on tonal quality but is unlikely to be noticeable. It also has a large swirling grain pattern to it. It looks stunning with its strong grains. Choose the appearance that best suits your personal taste. It has great mid-range like Mahogany but also expands well into the high-end tones and low-end tones, producing deep bass notes and bright treble notes. This helps to balance out high pitched and often irritating sounds that are common in knife edged tremolo contacts. The looks and sound of Blackwood guitars are among the best that can be produced in a Classical guitar. Generally, the porosity of rosewood is responsible for warmer tones. This is going to depend on the tone you desire and how much money you can/are willing to spend on the guitar. I find Martin necks tend to be quite low profile – and most Martin guitars sound great, IMO. Gibson guitars use a variety of different tonewoods including Mahogany, Rosewood, Koa and Walnut for their back and sides and Sitka and Mahogany for their tops. Required fields are marked *. The type of material used for the body matters a lot. If you paired Walnut back and sides with a Cedar top and a smaller guitar this would be great for finger-style. More expensive guitars, such as the Gibson Les Paul and PRS 513, are typically carved out of mahogany, sometimes with a maple top. A guitar body in alder is likely to produce less bass and mid-range. A wide variety of best guitar body wood options are available to you, such as after-sale service. Blackwood produces an outstanding warm, mellow and well balanced tone and is a highly valued tone wood. They have a tendency of softening and dampening sharp highs. It is said to have mid range qualities somewhere in between Mahogany and Rosewood. Mahogany: Mahogany is a dense wood and gives a ‘slower response rate’ – don’t ask me what that means in scientific terms! Yes. >>Learn more about the differences between Sapele and Mahogany here. Its brown color and grain patterns look great under translucent lacquer coating. There are many types of wood you can use for guitar speakers including composites or manufactured wood. Laminate wood is made by bonding several thin layers of wood together. Overall, it has a low mass. Your email address will not be published. Polityką Plików Cookies. Alibaba.com offers 867 best guitar body wood products. Unfortunately, basswood can dent easily since there isn’t much grain and color. It needs keys , has a lot of scratches looks like it’s made out of rosewood spruce ebony fret.i. It lends a parlor type of sound hence it is twangier though not overly bright. When it comes to sound, a guitar with maple body shouts with strong upper mid-range and bright highs. Some of the finest tonewood comes from the US Pacific NW and our guitar wood is hand-selected to be highly resonant, beautifully colored and figured - to look and sound it's best! Add to cart. WILLOW wood for bass guitar body, 48.5mm, 1 pc. Traditionally, alder goes well with opaque finishes and darker translucent shades sometimes. Usually, the top and back of an all-solid body will pair two solid sheets each to form the top and back, with a visible centreline join. Can you tell me a good sounding guitar that has a neck like an ovation. Spruce: Spruce is the most common top wood. It is probably not ideal in a band setting because it might be prone to feedback issues. It creates warm and rich sounds with great volume and resonance. The fretboard and neck wood can have some affect on tonal quality but is unlikely to be noticeable. I think your best bet would be to take it into a guitar store if you have one nearby and they should be able to tell you the tone-woods it’s made from and can probably do any repair work that’s needed or can refer you to someone who can do the work (unless you were going to do it yourself). With a strong and precise full-bodied sound, alder body is ideal for excellent lows and beefy mid-ranges. There are other factors that come into play: where the tree has been grown, how old it grew, and the treatment that followed wood cutting. The reason rosewood guitars are a bit expensive is that this material is rare to find and prohibited in some places. I was given a cindra guitar, from Brazil. Alder. Select from the woods below to see the full variety of Solid Body Electric Guitar Wood … Rosewood stands out with its rich variety of purple and brown colors. The email you entered isn't valid. When used as a top it produces a warm, earthy, mid-range dominant sound with subtle overtones. And is it just a cheap alternative to mahogany? It is also accommodating for finger-picking, flat-picking and strumming. It may not bring the loudest voice but its character is distinctive. The electric guitar’s body wood is arguably the most important wood used in the building of a guitar, at least when it comes to the sound of the guitar. If you are in the market for a new guitar, your first guitar, or even looking to custom build, you may be wondering about the best wood for acoustic guitars. Cedar: Cedar is a bright sounding wood option, though produces a warmer tone than spruce (the most common top wood – see below), when used as a top. Its highs are more omnipresent as opposed to jumping out like shattering glass. Manufacturer: Wood For Guitar Price: €288.67. Spruce has a wide dynamic range and resonates well with a wide range of tones. While other components of an electric guitar such as pickups can be changed, the body stays put so it is good to get the right one in the first place. The grain varies quite a bit between trees, but the sonorous properties are very consistent and always top of the line. Engelmann and European Spruce are also used for soundboards – this is great for those with a softer touch as it responds well to that soft touch – it doesn’t sound as good when you play aggressively. If you paired it with a Spruce top and a larger guitar it would be bolder and more aggressive for strummers and flat-pickers. FIGURED POPLAR bass guitar body blank. Solid bass bodies are soft with tight grains. The advantage of Adirondack is it’s dynamic tonal range and the ability to play loud without losing clarity of sound. Plus, it offers a decent level of sustain. In my opinion you will likely want to go for that high grade sitka spruce top but potentially use tropical mahogany (if you want it really warm sounding) Rosewood if you want the sound to be brighter and crisper and something like Sapele if you want it to be warm but not quite as warm as Tropical Mahogany. This soundboard is great for guitarists who like to play aggressively. But as it ages (the more it is played) it will mellow out and become richer and warmer sounding and show more emphasis toward mid range tones. Any ideas would be gladly welcome. Goes well with bluegrass players looking for that punch in both the low end and high end – but it’s very versatile and will go well with a lot styles depending on the top. The wood on any one guitar could be different for the top (soundboard) of the body, back and sides of the body, the neck, the fretboard, bracing, the bridge & the headstock. I can’t say I’m familiar with Cindra guitars. As such, it gives a wide array of tones but fewer mids than a basswood guitar. Laminate wood does not make for the best tone, especially for tops. It goes great with a Koa top. Apart from the type of wood used in an electric guitar, the blanks and pieces involved contribute to the tone and feel. check more. A thin laminate top will give you the appearance you are looking for without overshadowing the tone of the core body wood. The highs may sizzle a little bit but they are not so harsh. And, like Mahogany this means that it has fewer overtones which leads to notes having a quick decay (less resonance – dies off quicker). Electric guitar body wood. Maple is also common though more common in electric guitars than acoustics. Copyright © 2015 - 2020 - SixStringAcoustic.com - Privacy Policy. Acoustic vs Bass Guitar: Which is better for Beginners. Usually there is a higher quality layer on the top and cheaper layers underneath. https://sixstringacoustic.com/the-different-acoustic-guitar-neck-sizes-and-shapes. A guitar with a Koa soundboard will start out life with a very bright sound. The back and sides of the guitar are important tonally and can really compliment the sound that is created through the top. IF you are always playing with the amp cranked to 11, the gain full up, and with a distortion pedal maxed out, then the wood of the guitar will make very little difference in the "tone" of your guitar. When used as back and sides it is sometimes stained to produce a darker color – particularly when used with a spruce top to add contrast. Walnut: Walnut has some of the qualities of Koa in that it changes its tonal character with time. I was planning on building a six string acoustic but this being my first time I have no idea where to begin. I like mellow mid range tones but also want it to be able to sound higher when I need it to. Guitars come alive when they are in the hands of the players and no two instruments can yield the same voice even if they look alike. Manufacturer: Wood For Guitar Price: €110.89. These larger rings and sections add to its strength, and the complexity of the tones. The mahogany and maple body is rich, warm, and resonant with mahogany’s lows and good sustain, augmented by the maple top’s clarity and definition. You can see then why the soundboard is so important. The wood configuration, particularly when it comes to the body of the guitar, isn’t as vital for electric guitars. The voice of a walnut guitar body is usually warm and full with firm low ends and overall tightness. Thanks for reading and I hope you now are a lot more educated on the different types of wood that can make up an acoustic guitar and what sounds those woods will create and the styles each wood is best suited for. Best known as the wood of classic ’50s Fender guitars, ash is most desirable in the form of swamp ash—wood taken from the lower portions of southern-grown wetland trees that have root systems growing below water level. Martin has the “low oval” which is their slimmest and Taylor have the “slim”. i would go with a mahogany back and side this is just me but i think okoume is to soft for a good back i know when working with it you get pull outs very easy, Your email address will not be published. The prerequisites include some basic woodworking skills […], Building a guitar body template is not that difficult, provided you have the tools and materials ready and also have detailed knowledge of the steps […], The need to paint a guitar could arise if you are not happy with the factory colors of your guitar and would like to give […], Learning how to play guitar is as essential as familiarizing yourself with the best maintenance practices. I’m looking to buy a high-end guitar so a cheaper material/sound may be a deal breaker for me. So they have a variety of different sounding guitars – if you can be more specific with the model of Gibson that you are wanting to emulate that would be helpful. It must also possess the desired tonal qualities that a guitarist is looking for. Rosewood back and sides with a Sitka Spruce top is sometimes referred to as the “Holy Grail” of tonewoods as some people consider this the best combination you can have – personally I think tone tastes are individual. Knowing the different characteristic of woods now, would this influence your decision in buying your next guitar? Ooop! * Looking to build a guitar? This is often used on classical guitars but also sometimes on steel string acoustics. Generally, it is used in slimmer guitars because it can be tough on factory equipment. You can check out more on neck widths at the following. Ash. However, regardless of the design, size and shape, the species of wood used to craft the body of a bass guitar does a lot more for the instrument than simply contribute visual aesthetics and weight. Adirondack Spruce is another variety of spruce that is great for soundboards. Different parts of the guitar suit different woods and it is often the case the wood of the top will be different to the rest of the body and the wood of the neck will be different etc. Some timbers are more suited for the body while others like spruce do well in acoustic guitar tops. When selecting a wood to make a guitar out of, it’s important to know how it will affect the various characteristics of the guitar when finished. Guitar necks are traditionally made from maple, in part because of its strength, and in part because the material can highlight and amplify the wood in the body. Koa: Koa is a pricier wood as it’s less common. szt. 1. szt. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. After prolonged use, grime builds up on the strings […], happynewguitarday.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. E.g. It has a bright top end like Koa but stronger mid tones coming through. Speaker sound is related to wood density just as it is in a piano soundboard, or a guitar body. The right side of the image I’ve prepared below [Example 1] is the best example of how a tree might be processed to accommodate for all three types, but it doesn’t mean that some trees aren’t run through the saw mills to be divided by only one type of cut. Body wood, or the types of wood used to create the back and sides of a guitar, does more than look pretty. Mahogany: Mahogany is great for the backs and sides of a guitar as it has a great mid range character. The woods used to build guitars—acoustic guitars in particular—are called tonewoods, and they have enormous effects on the sound and price of an instrument. A guitar body that consists of a single piece of wood is often more expensive, as the manufacturing process requires close attention to detail and careful treatment of the wood to avoid damaging it. Your tone is that of the amp and pedal. As with using Mahogany as a top, it is great for blues as back and sides – but combined with other tops it can work well with a large range of different styles. Not every wood makes a good guitar body. Wood has a direct effect on music. Often preferred for fretboards and necks, maple wood is one of the easiest woods to identify because of its bright tone and distinct grain pattern. Body, Neck and Fingerboard. Tone wood refers to the woods used in a bass to enhance the sound, or tone, of the bass guitar. I am looking at purchasing a new dreadnought steel acoustic, and have landed on a guitar with a Sitka Spruce top and Okoume back and sides. A relatively expensive alder wood comes with beautiful brownish grain patterns and light weight, giving warm tones with lots of highs. It brings a bright tone to the guitar, along with long sustain. The woods we offer are unique and hand selected to combine the finest tonal qualities available, with stunning visual beauty. This creates a rich tone with lots … Your email address will not be published. check more. It reduces the deep breathy sub lows, leaving the mid-range tones highly pronounced in the response curve. Certain wood varieties that were used to make guitars in the 50s no longer exist. Add to cart. 21 Guitar Playing Tips Every Beginner Should Know, Tips for Learning How to Play the Guitar and Sing at the Same Time, Acoustic Guitar Stands: Ways to Keep Your Guitar When Not Playing, Takamine Serial Numbers: What They Can Tell You and How to Decode Them. In some cases, mahogany is topped with maple to give a balanced ensemble. The soft nature of basswood can trigger weaker low ends. This wood is found in the equatorial forests of West Africa. Very helpful and interesting the ways wood can influence sound and style. Koa is another option. Thanks again and God bless you and yours! I have a plan to build a custom 12 strings guitar.. May i ask for your opinion about which wood material it will be best to build a nice 12 strings that have a great sound like my ovation but can be warmth like gibson sound.. But looking at the Ovation Glenn Campbell – it has a high grade Sitka Spruce on the top and fibreglass body (unique to ovations). It has a good sustain and the sonic characteristics can be compared to those of mahogany. Body Woods Alder Similar to Basswood, alder is lightweight with soft tight pores. Out of all of the wood on the guitar the soundboard makes the most difference to the sound. If you are on a serious budget then this could be an option but I would avoid it at least for the soundboard if you can – often you can pick up something cheap that has a solid top but laminate back and sides. This was very informative and I will be using your advise in the near future. This is the most popular laminated or carved-top body type. Ok im thinking of some sick specs for a custome guitar im going to get.. but i dont know what type of wood the body should be?.. This inexpensive wood is very easy to cut and finish in the factory thanks to its light weight and large pores. The right choice of guitar wood will effect the tonal qualities, amplitude, weight, stability, playability and appearance of your next guitar. Maple: Hard maple is best suited for necks and fingerboards due to its density, heavy weight and hardness. Black Limba 3 piece Solid Body Guitar Blanks Terminalia superba Beautifully variegated and colored, Black Limba is easy to work and finish. Sitka Spruce is a great all round soundboard material and responds well to both aggressive playing and more subtle playing. Hi there, thanks for the guide! AppearanceThis is the most widely noticed of a guitar’s characteristics. Not every wood makes a good guitar body. All other comments or questions very welcome also. This article is going to focus on the tonal influence of the body woods but check out other pages on this site to see how other parts of the guitar affect its tone. Top Photo by Larry Jacobsen [CC BY 2.0], via Flikr Koa top Photo by David Wirth [CC BY 2.0], via Flikr Spruce top Photo by Larry Jacobsen [CC BY 2.0], via Flikr Koa back & sides Photo by Larry Jacobsen [CC BY 2.0], via Flikr Rosewood back & sides Photo by Larry Jacobsen [CC BY 2.0], via Flikr, Filed Under: Buying Guides, Guitar selection, Enjoyed your reserch on woods. Maple is a very light coloured wood. Soft ash (swamp ash), on the other side, has a warmer feel. Your email address will not be published. Most woods used on basses are classified as "hard woods", but we are … The kind of woods that were used in old guitars are different from what is seen in modern guitars. Electric Guitar Body; Electric Guitar Necks; FretBoards; Guitar Top Wood; Shop By Price. I like Ovations sound too though – but it is a very different sound. It has a bite in the mid-range and yields airy highs. Rosewood: Rosewood is a very popular wood for guitars and has been used a lot traditionally too. This all round ability is most likely the reason it is so common as a soundboard material. It must also possess the desired tonal qualities that a guitarist is looking for. Here are the most commonly used woods of a guitar body. How the wood has been treated also dictates how the instrument sounds and looks. Starting with the best tone woods is essential to achieving the best quality sound, look, and feel. Some timbers are more suited for the body while others like spruce do well in acoustic guitar tops. I have an ovation glenn campbell edition.. And i really like the sound of it.. Mostly i’m a strummer.. And still learning to finger picking.. Both feature open grain so a lot of prepping is required in the factory to make sure that they are filled with lacquer or fillers for a smooth surface. Experienced guitarists know the importance of choosing the best wood for a good electric guitar body. You can use it with a Mahogany top to really get that mid-range dominant, compressed, warm, thick kind of sound. If this is what you after, then this is a great wood option for you. The wood of the body will have the most influence and the top of the body will have the most say in how the guitar sounds. Do you know much about/have any experience with Okoume? Last updated: August 22, 2019 by Nate 10 Comments. Whether they sound better or worse depends on the taste of the player. Możesz określić warunki przechowywania lub dostępu do plików cookies w Twojej przeglądarce. 4a Flame Maple "Slab" #3. To select the best cuts of wood for guitar building you need to know something about the wood itself and the tree it came from. Measurements, Tools, & Intonation, How To Build A Guitar – Make From Parts Or Scratch, How To Paint Your Guitar & What Kind Of Paint To Use, Discover How To Perform Guitar Care Properly. The main advantage of using solid wood is that it is far more resonant, and thus has far better tone than a laminate guitar. Save my name and email in this browser for the next time I comment. This is why the larger the soundboard the louder the guitar will be (but that’s about the shape and not the wood so let’s get back on topic :-)). What you go for will depend on your budget, your personal tonal preferences and the style of music you like to play. This is a perfect combination for a guitarist looking for fundamental sounds or expressive tones for hard picking blues. What better way to personalize a guitar than to build it yourself? These properties of wood vary by species and each affect the guitar in its own way. If the sound of a particular wood is not as pleasing to your ear as the look is to your eye then think about a laminate top. The cheapest top option: The cheapest option for the soundboard is to use laminate wood. This is a great wood for those playing in a band situation, or with other instruments in general, as it does well to cut through  in the mix so it is heard and also because of the quick decay of sounds it is less prone to feedback issues. While it is almost as dense as hard ash, maple wood features durable tight grains that are easier to finish. Overall, it has good sustain. With a slightly warmer tone than maple, walnut looks good with an oil finish. Fender used ash for electric guitar and bass bodies more or less exclusively from 1950 to mid-1956, and to the present continues to use ash on a relatively small number of instruments. A lot of people try making things that they need around the house […], Interested in building guitars? Black Limba has wonderful tonal properties and is suitable for both solid-body guitars and acoustic guitars. It is characterized by it’s light colour and often looks great contrasted against darker colored back and sides tonewoods. The sound produced by the strings of the guitar is transferred through the bridge onto the soundboard (the top) and is amplified by the top as it vibrates. The best wood for electric guitar bodies should be structurally strong. Hard ash is famed for bright tones with excellent sustain. Tonewoods either eliminate or amplify the frequencies your strings produce, affecting the overall tone of the instrument. Thanks for your help, and thanks for the guide! Many players who play heavy metal and other aggressive styles play guitars with a basswood body and a maple neck. As for the sound characteristics, ash wood is firm in bass tones and offers good sustain. Sorry I couldn’t be more help on this one. The easiest way to buy your 828-398-8704 The best wood for electric guitar bodies should be structurally strong. The neck of the acoustic guitar is usually made from Mahogany, particularly with steel string guitars and often Spanish Cedar for Nylon string guitars. Solid wood construction means that the guitar utilises solid sheets of wood. Build Your Own Guitar With These Best DIY Guitar Kits, Is Guitar Setup Cost Worth It? Guitars and basses with blonde finishes typically have ash bodies because the wood “takes” that particular finish especially well. Koa brings well balanced sounds matching the bright and warm tones of mahogany and rosewood guitars. And the shape/size of the guitar will also be very important in determining the final tone that you get. Like ash, alder is most often used on its own as a body wood. Again, the sound falls under the upper mid-range rather than the highs. Adding a maple top to a solid mahogany back yields a guitar body that exhibits many of the best tonal properties of both woods. This wood provides a warm timbre coupled with the profound bottom end. Here are the most popular woods used in guitars. Any ideas? $0.00 - $54.00 $54.00 - $88.00 $88.00 - $122.00 $122.00 - $156.00 $156.00 - $190.00 Sort By: Quick view Compare . Other woods for guitar bodies include the American tulip wood, Japanese ash, and korina. While sound and tone may be most important, because it is a musical instrument, after all, the looks of the guitar are what everyone wi… I’m not familiar with any guitars that have the same neck as an Ovation but there are certain neck profiles that are slimmer within the different brands. Koa, in my opinion, looks amazing – but that of course is in the eye of the beholder. >>Learn more about the difference between Sitka Spruce and Engelmann Spruce here. It makes for heavy and brilliantly sounding guitar. The strong sound produced is easier to hear in a multi instrumental environment. It should be noted that some guitars feature other materials like aluminum and carbon on the body. Check out the link below for a more in depth discussion about fretboard woods. I cant find very much information on the Okoume wood, other than that it is similar to mahogany but lightweight. Again this wood sounds better with age and is typically found on more high end guitars.