verhoevenc Posted March 27, 2009 Report Share Posted March 27, 2009 I had a guy offer a perfectly sized osage orange neck blank that's perfectly quartered to me. I was wondering though, what is it's viability as a neck wood? Let's weigh in boys! Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avengers63 Posted March 27, 2009 Report Share Posted March 27, 2009 All I have to add is that it turns darker as it ages, it's hard, and it's heavier than maple. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattia Posted March 28, 2009 Report Share Posted March 28, 2009 Folks like it for fingerboards, bridges, bridge plates. I've even seen it compared to brazillian rosewood, tonally speaking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orgmorg Posted March 28, 2009 Report Share Posted March 28, 2009 Unbelievable tap tone, very stable, very heavy (52 lbs/cu ft.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chennik Posted March 29, 2009 Report Share Posted March 29, 2009 Osage Orange is very stable IF you find a good piece of it. The nature of the tree is pretty gnarly, it has multiple trunks, low crown, leans and curves in what trunk you do have, which means alot of reaction wood. I have a coworker that makes bows out of it, and he said that it's important to look closely at the grain, much as we would for anything else we would use in guitar building. Osage can have a pretty straight and clear grain by appearance, but if the tree gets a spiral growth pattern, you actually could have short grain running through say a piece that was perfectly quartersawn through the log. A well selected piece of Osage Orange will not steer you wrong though. It's incredibly durable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orgmorg Posted March 30, 2009 Report Share Posted March 30, 2009 Osage Orange is very stable IF you find a good piece of it. The nature of the tree is pretty gnarly, it has multiple trunks, low crown, leans and curves in what trunk you do have, which means alot of reaction wood. Yep, that's osage, all right! One of the more crazy-growing trees I have encountered. Yet, I have found that even with all the wacky grain, knots and fissures, it stays remarkably straight while drying. Especially considering how dense it is. Absurdly strong, as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avengers63 Posted March 30, 2009 Report Share Posted March 30, 2009 From what I understand, Monkey Pod grows cross-eyed too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ihocky2 Posted March 30, 2009 Report Share Posted March 30, 2009 I have to ask, how does Osage Orange smell to work with. The "fruits" that grow on them (or whatever you want to call them) tend to smell like wintergreen when crushed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orgmorg Posted March 30, 2009 Report Share Posted March 30, 2009 The smell is sweet, the way rosewood is, but different flavor, if that makes any sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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