Queensland Blackwood Electric Guitar Drop Top #123 - Light Figured 4mm Thick

In stock
SKU
TI-122-123
$190.00
A droptop is decorative top used on the front of an electric guitar or bass body. Drop-tops are thinner than the caps used for carved-top guitars but thicker than a veneer. Usually a plain timber is used for the main part of the body with the drop-top laminated on the front surface. Australian Blackwood, also known as Flamed Blackwood or Black Acacia has been used for a relatively short time in instrument construction, but has already gained a reputation among luthiers as a great tonewood. Our Blackwood comes from North Queensland. It is equally beautiful to Blackwood from other parts of Australia such as Victoria and Tasmania, however it is subtly different in look and sound qualities. The colour is warmer and more golden and the wood is a little more dense and hard. This timber is extremely similar to Hawaiian Koa, in fact both timbers belong to the Acacia family. Australian Blackwood was originally used as a substitute for Koa, however it is now a popular timber in its own right. The Queensland Blackwood pieces we stock for drop-tops and caps exhibit beautiful figuring, which gives a finished instrument a stunning look. The timber is reasonably stable and easy to work with but care must be taken and sharp tools must be used to avoid chipping, as with any figured timber. *Please Note* - Outline is for reference only, the blank in large enough for all standard size guitars and basses. - Drop-top for a solidbody electric guitar or bass - Individually photographed - the set in the photo is the set you will receive - The photo in darker shade is photographed with alcohol applied to surface to replicate finished colour - Light figured with nice colour - Thicknessed to minimum 4mm - Two halves minimum 607mm long x 189mm wide
Quality - Obtaining high quality, well-flamed Australian Blackwood is difficult. This is due to the fact that most of the yield of a log is either too plain or has flaws such as open knots and rot which render it unusable in instruments. Despite this we are offering high quality, highly-flamed sets with no flaws.

Look - As mentioned previously Flamed Blackwood looks remarkably like Flamed Hawaiian Koa, and is an excellent, cheaper substitute. Blackwood is brown/gold with, in some cases, very dark brown or mauve streaks. The flames occur similar to Flamed Maple and acquire a 3-dimensional property.

Price - The price is moderate and very much dependant on the amount of figuring in the timber and other aesthetic qualities. When compared to other similar timbers, such as Koa, Australian Blackwood is reasonably priced.

Availability/Renewability - There is a very limited amount of this timber available, figured stock is especially rare. Fortunately Blackwood is not used on a large scale in any industry leaving the timber for fine cabinet making and woodworking including lutherie.
More Information
Species Australian Blackwood
Part of Instrument Top/Soundboard
For Instrument Electric Guitar, Bass Guitar