Redwood

[Dave M]

Redwood is mentioned as a top wood. Is this Sequoia?

I am fascinated by the story of the sinker redwoods in N American rivers. Drowned perhaps would be a better description.

Again when people talk of Redwood is it the sinker Redwood that is generally meant or is freshly felled redwood available as a commercial timber?

[Trevor Gore]

The usual redwood is Sequoia Sempervirens or coastal redwood which grows along the northern California coast (a beautiful part of the world if you're ever in that direction). Most of the old growth has been logged out. A fair amount of wood comes from reclaimed timber and occasionally from selective collection of windfalls etc.. Sinker redwood is wood that sank when getting floated down the rivers after felling. It collects minerals and stains whilst under water which gives the colour. I doubt it is logged in sufficient quantities to be commercially viable as anything other than a specialist timber. Originally it was a prime commercial timber due to its decay resistance. Its an interesting wood to work as it is very brittle and will throw a splitter at you from across the workshop. Looks great under a finish, the bottom picture being a better representation of its true colour.

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[jeffhigh]

Back in '79 I worked supervising the construction of the cooling tower for the last unit at Wallerawang Power station.
We specified redwood for the walkways throughout over the pack and would allow no substitutes so the contractor imported a huge quantity.
The previous year I had travelled to California and seen the forests in which logging was starting to be wound back.

I have only used it in Uke soundboards, it is beautiful.

[DarwinStrings]

This is what it can look like after 100 years on the creek bottom, just about to complete this one.

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Jim

[Dave M]

Thanks for that. It is clear you can get it in Oz but I have never seen it offered by the tone wood suppliers in the UK.

Trevor as ever your guitars look wonderful, and Jim that was interesting to see the stained sinker. That is an awful big cutout for the neck to sit in! Dave

[kiwigeo]

That is an awful big cutout for the neck to sit in! Dave

Special feature on Jim's guitars.....designed to hide a Darwin stubbie

[DarwinStrings]

Ha! Yep I suppose it is pretty big. My neck joint was designed over a nice cup of tea with Leo Fender and Frankenstein's monster. If you have a look at "Rose Cliche" in the gallery there is a detail shot of the heel and maybe the cutout will make more sense to you, quite a bit of steel gets bolted in there.

Jim