Zebrawood was first recorded in the British Customs returns for 1773, when 180 pieces of zebrawood were imported from the Mosquito Coast, a British colony (now Republic of Honduras and Nicaragua).

Other sources include Brazilian Astronium fraxinifolium, African Brachystegia spiciformis, Pacific Guettarda speciosa, and Asian Pistacia integerrima. In the 20th century, the most important source of zebrawood was Microberlinia brazzavillensis, also called zebrano, a tree native to Central Africa. The name originally applied to the wood of Astronium graveolens, a large tree native to Central America. Zebrawood is characterized by a striped figure that is reminiscent of a zebra. The name zebrawood is used to describe several tree species and the wood derived from them. Zebrawood is even heavier than Mahogany, which racks up 31 lbs/ft3 (496 kg/m3) on the scale.For the plants known as zebrawood, see Zebrawood (disambiguation). While Zebra wood is a heftier 50 lbs/ft3 (805 kg/m3) when dried. Once dried, Basswood weighs on average a mere 26 lbs/ft3 (415 kg/m3). Zebrawood is twice as heavy as Basswood (which is the lightest wood you can make a guitar from). And while that is a boon when it comes to durability, it can be a bit of a weight around your neck ( literally!). Is Zebrawood Lightweight? Or Is It Too Heavy To Play? Compared to Maples 1450 lbf Janka rating, (and even Rosewoods 1730 lbf rating), Zebra wood (in comparison) is going to be a hard nut to crack. Which means it would take 1830 pounds of force to mark this hardwood. Zebrawood has a Janka rating of 1830 lbf. The higher the rating, the tougher and more durable the wood. This rating measures the amount of force (lbf) it takes to dent wood with a metal object. Now, the way we measure woods ability to shrug off wear and tear is by checking its Janka rating. If that wooden surface can shrug off scratches and dents, then it will last a good long while. One of the main keys to wood durability is it’s density. Are Zebrawood Guitars At Least Durable?Ībsolutely. So, the cost of using Zebrawood to make guitars is not prohibitively high.īut, compared to say Spruce (which can be found growing right across North America), Zebrawood is going to cost you a pretty penny. However, unlike Rosewood, it is not a CITES (Convention On The Trade Of Endangered Species), trade-restricted wood. Zebrawood is fairly expensive, as this particular lumber is sourced and shipped in from parts of West Africa.

Related Post: Can Tru-Oil Really Finish And Protect Your Maple Fretboard? But, Is Zebra Wood Very Expensive? Harder and tougher than Maple, Zebrawood has more of a hard edge to its sound than a Maple wood guitar. And this is all down to this hardwoods density. Zebra wood gives off a bluesy sound thanks to it’s low speed vibration. What Does Zebra Wood Sound Like When Played? In other words, the type of wood your guitar is made from, may not have as much of an impact on sound as you’d think. Related Post: Nitrocellulose Lacquer Vs Polyurethane: Choosing A Finish For Your Guitar And that added weight can restrict the reverb of an acoustic guitar. On the other hand, a polyurethane finished guitar, has been coated with an (ever so slightly) heavier finish. Which means that it won’t weigh down your guitars reverberations as you play. However, the exact type of tonewood your guitar’s made from, matters much less than the type of finish you use on it.įor example, a nitrocellulose lacquer finish is incredibly light and thin. This subject is a bit of a bone of contention across the guitar community.īut, here’s the thing tonewood matters more for acoustic guitars than it does for electric guitars. Does The Tonewood Sound Really Make A Difference When It Comes To Guitars? So, Spruce is typically used for making guitar tops. Which means that it can reverberate with a bright and clear sound.Īll of this combined makes Spruce the best all-round choice timber for making classic guitars. It isn’t as dense or tough as Zebra wood either. Spruce is lighter than Maple or Rosewood. It’s plentiful, sustainable, and easily accessible in North America. The most popular timber choice for guitars is Spruce. Related Posts: What Kind Of Wood Is Most Frequently Used To Make The Best Guitars?