Purpleheart as a tonewood?

[Peter R]

Anyone got any experience of guitars with a purpleheart back/sides? What properties does it offer in a guitar?

Peter R

[tholmes]

No experience here....but it sure is pretty!


Tom

[dthumb]

I've never seen it used, myself. I would be a bit leary of purple heart because it is a very very dry wood and condusive to splitting, checking and climatic changes. I've used it in some furniture and some yacht interiors...actually, some outdoor furniture as well. It "moves" differently than a lot of other woods but, it is very dense and hard. I suppose there is a way....I just don't know how you'd stabilize it (to instrument standards) or what a guitar would weigh (alot) made from it.

[dobieboy]

I've seen it used as binding..

Michael

I've played a classical and flamenco guitar made with it. Very punchy. Not as coloured, in the sound, as rosewood. The owner and builder of the guitars swear by it.

[Kevin A]

Ralph Novak uses it quite a bit in some of his solid body instruments. It is a very cool wood..

http://www.novaxguitars.com/sales/xr.html

[Pvee]

I used it for top wood on a Tele style guitar. Very hard and brittle to work with.

Wallace guitars had made an acoustic with a purpleheart fret board.

.

[YummyPork]

I've used it in some furniture and small woodworking projects. It's a beautiful wood but it's a pain to work with because it is so hard and brittle. Any guitar maker who used this would have to up their tool and tool sharpeing budget

[Mr. IJaK]

Ooh, I can imagine. It's tough, so you work at it really hard... then you make a massive split in it! Woo. Oh, and it's extremely ugly. Distinctive, but can't say I'd be seen dead with a guitar using that wood.