Tasmanian Tonewoods for custom built stringed instruments

According to Australian Guitar Maker Gary Rizzolo (known as the Wizard) Tasmanian Tonewoods offer, a resonance not found in any other species.

Tonewoods

BLACKHEARTED SASSAFRASS

Blackhearted Sassafras. Botanical Name: Atherosperma Moschatum.

Of all the Tasmanian Timbers Sassafras has the most dynamic colouring with distinctive golden tones, dark browns, black and even green streaking running through the wood. Few woods on the market can match the striking colour contrasts found in this species.Tonally in the range of the Mahoganies and walnuts with the characteristics of both good balance across the range, Easy to work bend and finish, light and strong. Expect an open sound with nice separation and sparkling highs.

Density (air dry) kg m³	Shrinkage			Sound velocity (along grain) m s¹	MOE GPa (10^6 lb/sq. in)
	Dimension	Unit	Green to 12% MC
630 627-634	Tang.	*	6.5	4396	*
	Rad.	*	2.5

TASMANIAN BLACKWOOD

Tasmanian Blackwood. Botanical Name: Acacia Melanoxylon.

Tasmanian Blackwood is one of the most highly valued tonewoods. A distant cousin of Hawii Koa. But in the words of a lot of luthiers Tasmanian Blackwood has more density  and has a better tap tone than Koa. Blackwood produces a beautiful lustre, fiddleback and quilted available on a small scale, the variety of tonings range from light golden browns to deep browns, sometimes a reddish tint and occasionally showing black streaks. Stable and easy to work, acoustically it has warm woody tones similar to that of Mahogany and the brightness of Rosewood. Blackwood is an all around excellent tonewood well suited for various playing styles. Blackwood also makes an excellent Soundboard.

Density (air dry) kg m³	Shrinkage			Sound velocity (along grain) m s¹	MOE GPa (10^6 lb/sq. in)
	Dimension	Unit	Green to 12% MC
640 629-675	Tang.	0.27	4.2	4960	13 (1890)
	Rad.	0.16	1.6

TASMANIAN MYRTLE MYRTLE BURL

Tasmanian Myrtle. Botanical Name: Nothofagus Cunninghamii.

Myrtle is a striking wood with rich reds, browns and almost orange tones, the colour is vibrant combining subtle variations in tone with the texture and sheen of wavy and fiddleback features to produce a surface alive with character and individuality. Myrtle produces beautiful Burl and is becoming a highly sought after tonewood for acoustic and solid body electric guitars. Bends well, easy to work and finishes to a high luster, Robust tap tone.

Density (air dry) kg m³	Shrinkage			Sound velocity (along grain) m s¹	MOE GPa (10^6 lb/sq. in)
	Dimension	Unit	Green to 12% MC
705 681-729	Tang.	0.32	6.8	4680	14
	Rad.	0.18	2.7

TASMANIAN MOUNTAIN ASH MOUNTAIN ASH BURL

Tasmanian Mountain Ash. Botanical Name: Eucalyptus Regnans.

Can be highly figured and Fiddleback, takes a stain well. Has warm and clear tones, great clarity like a cross between Mahogany and Maple. It's use has been limited to the Australian builders, but it makes beautiful sounding backs and sides, and necks. beautiful to work with, very stable and very strong, as well as been lightweight. Excellent for drop tops and solid body guitars.

Density (air dry) kg m³	Shrinkage			Sound velocity (along grain) m s¹	MOE GPa (10^6 lb/sq. in)
	Dimension	Unit	Green to 12% MC
613 574-678	Tang.	0.35	13	5662	16
	Rad.	0.25	6.5

Soundboard Tonewoods

TASMANIAN HUON PINE

Tasmanian Huon Pine. Botanical Name: Lagarostrobos Franklinii.

An ancient native conifer, huon pine has been dated at over two thousand years of age making this species one of the oldest living trees on the planet. Beautiful golden yellow colour, fine grain and easy to work. Huon Pine being softer and heavier than spruce it makes quieter guitars but has a very rich sustained sound. Steel string guitars with a smaller body tend to sound bigger.

KING BILLY PINE

King Billy Pine. Botanical Name: Athrotaxis selaginoides.

It has extremely beautiful coloured wood, with the sapwood being yellow and the heartwood a reddish pink to brown with impressive growth rings of distinct colouring a pliable timber easily worked, it's physical properties is comparable to Western Red Cedar.

TASMANIAN CELERY TOP PINE

Tasmanian Celery Top Pine. Botanical Name: Phyllocladus  Aspleniifolius.

Native Conifer, because of it's stability, durability & appearance celery top is highly prized. Pale white to yellow when first cut and obtains a golden hue with age. A light but very dense timber, fine grain and easily worked. Gary Rizzolo of Rizzologuitars has used it with great success.

Density (air dry) kg m³	Shrinkage			Sound velocity (along grain) m s¹	MOE GPa (10^6 lb/sq. in)
	Dimension	Unit	Green to 12% MC
646 624-668	Tang.	0.19	3.4	4823	*
	Rad.	0.12	1.6

Data bibliography

Density and unit shrinkage data; Illic J, Boldand D, McDonald M, Downes G and Balekmore P. (2000) Wood Density Phase 1 - State of Knowledge. Technical report no. 18. Australian Greenhouse Office

MOE values; Bootle (2004)

Sound velocity data - Gottstein fellowship report Australian tonewoods (2008)
http://www.gottsteintrust.org/media/AMorrow.pdf

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Examples of Tasmanian exotic tonewoods below.

Tasmanian Blackhearted Sassafras	Tasmanian Compression Blackwood
Fiddleback Blackwood	Tasmanian Myrtle	Tasmanian Fiddleback Mountain Ash
Tasmanian Highly Figured Myrtle Burl	Tasmanian Highly Figured Blackwood	Tasmanian Musk
Tasmanian Musk Burl	Tasmanian Blackhearted Sassafras	Discover Tasmanian Blackwood
Tasmanian Blackhearted Sassafras	Tasmanian Blackhearted Sassafras	Tasmanian Teardrop Eucalyptus

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