This is the commercial name for timber that comes from the tree Aucoumea klaineana, an African hardwood also known as “Gaboon” or alternately “Angouma.” It has been widely used throughout Europe over the past century.

Is okoume a hardwood or softwood?

Aucoumea klaineana, or Okoume, is an African hardwood that can only be found in the Congo, Gabon, and Africa's equatorial Guinea. The tree grows in close stands and can reach over 100 feet. It also grows quickly so regeneration is usually not a concern.

Is okoume wood good?

Yes, okoume wood is good for guitars. Okoume wood is great for guitar backs or sides, but it can be hard to find quality pieces of the wood at an affordable price. Okoume is a nice warm tone which will give warmth and thickness to your guitar, especially compared with spruce or other similar woods.

What wood is okoume similar to?

It is considered very soft, rendering it unsuitable for use in situations requiring durability, such as flooring. On the Janka scale, a standard measure of wood hardness, Okoume's rating is only 380. This is similar to the hardness of basswood (367) and redwood (402).

What does Okume mean?

(Forestry) the dark mahogany-like wood from a western and central African burseraceous tree, Aucoumea klaineana, used in plywood, for furniture, and as a veneer. [C20: altered from Gabon] ---------- okoumé

Harley Benton's woods : Okoume / Nyatoh vs Mahogany

Does Okoume sound like mahogany?

This wood is softer, and leans toward the warmer side of the classic mahogany tone. Because it is softer, okoume often is used as a laminate, giving it additional rigidity. All of these woods are great tonewoods that speak with that unmistakable mahogany accent, and have that gorgeous warm mahogany look.

Is Okoume sustainable?

Sustainability: This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices, but is on the IUCN Red List. It is listed as vulnerable due to a population reduction of over 20% in the past three generations, caused by a decline in its natural range, and exploitation.

Which wood is best for electric guitar?

Not all woods are the same because they each sound different due to varying weights and densities, but the best woods for electric guitars are mahogany, alder, basswood, maple, koa, rosewood, ash, and walnut.

What is Okoume marine plywood?

Okoume marine plywood is lightest in weight among marine plywood products available. ... Okoume is strong and easy to work with for tooling. It has moderate resistance to rot and mildew. It is used for hull and deck components, bulk heads, and hatches, where weight is an important factor.

Is Sapele a mahogany?

It is occasionally used as a substitute for Genuine Mahogany, and is sometimes referred to as “Sapele Mahogany.” Technically, the two genera that are commonly associated with mahogany are Swietenia and Khaya, while Sapele is in the Entandrophragma genus, but all three are included in the broader Meliaceae family, so ...

Is rubberwood a hardwood?

Durable. Contrary to most Western beliefs, rubberwood is not as flexible as you think. It's quite a durable hardwood, belonging to the maple family. It has a strength of about 9500 psi, stiffness of 1.3 million psi, and hardness of 500 pounds.

What wood is alder?

Although classified as a hardwood, alder is one of the softest of all hardwoods and is more commonly referred to as a semi-hardwood. On a hardness scale, alder ranks just above pine and poplar. Alder has a light brown color with subtle grain patterns that are straighter than other hardwoods, such as oak or ash.

What wood is mahogany?

There are many species of mahogany, mainly grown in North and Central America. Known for its straight grain and characteristic red brown colour, it polishes and oils very well and can be buffed to a very high shine. An exceptionally durable hardwood, it is the ideal choice for furniture and fittings around the home.

Where is Okoume grown?

klaineana, or okoume, is a large timber-producing tree native to the west coast of equatorial Africa. It can grow up to 60 m tall, and often has buttresses near the base of the tree that can grow up to 3 m.

What is poplar wood?

Poplar wood is a species of wood most commonly used in the making of furniture, cabinets, wooden toys, plywood, etc. It is considered a hardwood, but is just about as easy to work with as pine boards or other soft woods.

What is meranti wood?

A rich, straight-grain wood. Image Credit: roman_sh/iStock/Getty Images. Meranti is a versatile wood with many subspecies, sources and purposes. Philippine or Lauan mahogany is another, somewhat generic term for meranti that is harvested and is available in abundance on a worldwide basis.

Is okoume wood waterproof?

Although not known for its water resistance, Okoume plywood is an exceptional choice for building racing boats as well as for other applications in which strength and light weight are desirable.

Can you get 3mm plywood?

3mm plywood sheets can be used for a multitude of purposes, from bath panelling and sheds to storage containers and floors. ... From wall insulation and structure to roofing, 3mm plywood has the added benefit of being thin enough that it can be bent into shape too, for added versatility in how it is used.

Is okoume wood good for electric guitars?

With beautiful luster and light weight (it's been used for decades in boat and airplane building) Okoume is ideal for electric guitars. Sonically, it's similar to Mahogany, but with a brighter high end and more dynamic range. It glues easily and finishes very well.

Is meranti wood good for guitars?

Meranti is a low cost timber which is used for it's strength rather than tonal properties. This allows factories to build low-cost guitars that still work, although the tone will be poor when compared to the woods above.

What wood is a Stratocaster made of?

Alder is the most common choice for Stratocasters, Jaguars and Jazzmasters as well as the Jazz Bass due to its warmer balanced tone. More specifically, Red Alder is used by Fender as it is fast growing and readily available.

Is mahogany furniture bad for the environment?

Making furniture from mahogany wood is sustainable as long as the material comes from sustainably managed forests. ... Though both local governments and international groups are making conservation efforts, the risk of illegal and over-logging still looms over tropical forests and their biodiverse wildlife.

Is Cedar a sustainable wood?

First and foremost, Real Cedar is a sustainably managed resource, and wood products like cedar are the only major building material that are completely renewable. ... Customers who choose western red cedar are reducing their material consumption versus other building materials.

What is Gaboon wood?

Gaboon Ebony is an exotic wood native to Western Africa. It is an extremely hard, dense, and heavy wood, with a very fine texture. The sapwood is pink to pale red-brown in color, while the heartwood is a uniform jet-black or black-brown streaked.