Best Woods For Feel

MattRDavis

MattRDavis

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Just curious... what woods are known for providing excellent feedback? I've heard great things about Kam Phi Rosewood and Old Growth Maple... but, nobody has ever provided evidence or reasoning why these woods provide such good feedback...

Basically... what I'm asking is, what woods, regardless of rarity, cost, etc. provide the best feel and what makes them so exceptional?

Thanks in advance,
-Matt
 
Most any wood that will make a good musical instrument will transmit a lot of feel along the cue. It's about how they transmit the subtle vibrations from the hit. Typically, anything in the rosewood family is pretty highly regarded. Some of the best:

Kam-Phi Rosewood
African Blackwood
Brazillian Rosewood
Bocote
 
thoffen said:
Most any wood that will make a good musical instrument will transmit a lot of feel along the cue. It's about how they transmit the subtle vibrations from the hit. Typically, anything in the rosewood family is pretty highly regarded. Some of the best:

Kam-Phi Rosewood
African Blackwood
Brazillian Rosewood
Bocote
Click to expand...

I have heard that Stradivari used wood that aged in water and this was one of the reasons for the sound, along with treating with borax and other things. But many people believe that water aged wood adds a distinctive quality to wood as far as vibrations passing through.

Reclaimed wood right now is a growing business, both water reclaimed and reclaimed from old sources.

I think old wood no matter where it comes from is a great idea to use in forearms and shafts.

Here is an interesting link to reclaimed wood.

http://www.terramai.com/products/rare/rosewood.html
 
MattRDavis said:
Just curious... what woods are known for providing excellent feedback? I've heard great things about Kam Phi Rosewood and Old Growth Maple... but, nobody has ever provided evidence or reasoning why these woods provide such good feedback...

Basically... what I'm asking is, what woods, regardless of rarity, cost, etc. provide the best feel and what makes them so exceptional?

Thanks in advance,
-Matt
Click to expand...

I am not a cuemaker, but play acoustic guitars. Offen is correct in that what will make a good tonewood for acoustic guitars, will likely make for good feedback in a cue. Cruise some of the highend guitarbuilders websites, and you see what is being used.

I did alot of research concerning what wood would provide excellent feedback in a cue when I was getting ready to order my new cue. Rosewoods have long been used, as well as ebony. There are many varieties of rosewood, it almost makes the mind boggle.

There are the 'true' rosewoods:
brazilian
madacasgar
indian
honduran

All of the above are considered the 'true' rosewoods, all have varying color differences. Brazilian is highly prized, endangered, and almost non-existent these days. What is available is generally what had been in a cuemaker's stock for some time.

Then you have what I will call 'cousins' in the rosewood family:
cocobolo
kingwood
bacote
tulipwood

The list is much longer. The coloring of these woods are pretty much all over the map. Cocobolo and bacote are likely the most popular amongst players.

I might suggest googling 'exotic hardwoods' and you will likely be crossed-eyed by the time you are done reading all the info.

When picking a wood, please note that additional cost from the cuemaker may well be involved. Partially due to the cost of the wood being used, and partially how difficult the wood is to work with. Some woods dull lathe blades quite quickly, some woods dust are toxic, and some woods, like the one I picked, bois de rose (a madagascar rosewood) bleed like a stuck pig.

Lisa
 
Since the butt is really of two-pieces ( not counting the short sleeve ) , you'll have to mix two woods that complement each other.
I think a Pernambuco or Brazilian rosewood front with bocote or purpleheart handle would be awesome.
 
Jeff said:
I have heard that Stradivari used wood that aged in water and this was one of the reasons for the sound, along with treating with borax and other things. But many people believe that water aged wood adds a distinctive quality to wood as far as vibrations passing through.

Reclaimed wood right now is a growing business, both water reclaimed and reclaimed from old sources.

I think old wood no matter where it comes from is a great idea to use in forearms and shafts.

Here is an interesting link to reclaimed wood.

http://www.terramai.com/products/rare/rosewood.html
Click to expand...

I've heard about some people experimenting with "timeless timber" reclaimed from underwater -- for both cues and musical instruments. I think the results were less than spectacular. The wood would have changed at a cellular level, so it's something else entirely.
 
thoffen said:
I've heard about some people experimenting with "timeless timber" reclaimed from underwater -- for both cues and musical instruments. I think the results were less than spectacular. The wood would have changed at a cellular level, so it's something else entirely.
Click to expand...

I personally think the reason for the great sound in "old" wood instruments has a large part to due with the simple fact the wood has aged, period.

Most people will tell you that new violins sound better as the years go by.

I would love to go back 20 or 30 years and get a boti or Palmer and compare it to the same older version. I bet there would be a difference in the hit and feel.
 
Last edited:
JoeyInCali said:
Since the butt is really of two-pieces ( not counting the short sleeve ) , you'll have to mix two woods that complement each other.
I think a Pernambuco or Brazilian rosewood front with bocote or purpleheart handle would be awesome.
Click to expand...

What about bocote with a purpleheart handle?! That's what I have on order from Mr. Z.
 
Jeff said:
I personally think the reason for the great sound in "old" wood instruments has a large part to due with the simple fact the wood has aged, period.

Most people will tell you that new violins sound better as the years go by.

I would love to go back 20 or 30 years and get a boti or Palmer and compare it to the same older version. I bet there would be a difference in the hit and feel.
Click to expand...
An instrument simply aging, does not improve in tone. The instrument must be played, for the tone to improve. Luthiers and players describe it as the instrument opening up. Some have done experiments, exopsing the instruments to extreme vibrations. It was found, that the vibrations did improve the tone of the instruments. I have a feeling that, using a cue, improves the cue's hit over time. Of course, some think I am nuts for thinking such, so take it with a grain of salt. :)

Tracy
 
RSB-Refugee said:
An instrument simply aging, does not improve in tone.
Click to expand...

Actually what I hear is that very slow drying of lumber enhances the musical properties of wood. Drying at warm temperatures or hotter (kiln) has a definite effect on wood properties. Air drying for at least two years is essential.
 
Jeff said:
Actually what I hear is that very slow drying of lumber enhances the musical properties of wood. Drying at warm temperatures or hotter (kiln) has a definite effect on wood properties. Air drying for at least two years is essential.
Click to expand...
The drying should be done before the wood is worked. I thought, you were talking about, finished instruments improving with age. :o

Tracy
 
zeeder said:
What about bocote with a purpleheart handle?! That's what I have on order from Mr. Z.
Click to expand...
I would assume you mean Zyler?

I'm Mr. Z. as well, but haven't received your order, yet! haha!!

That cue should feel and hit beautifully! Enjoy!
Zim
 
RSB-Refugee said:
An instrument simply aging, does not improve in tone. The instrument must be played, for the tone to improve. Luthiers and players describe it as the instrument opening up. Some have done experiments, exopsing the instruments to extreme vibrations. It was found, that the vibrations did improve the tone of the instruments. I have a feeling that, using a cue, improves the cue's hit over time. Of course, some think I am nuts for thinking such, so take it with a grain of salt. :)

Tracy
Click to expand...

Exactly correct! If an instrument remains cased and never played, it's going to sound the same 10 yrs down the road as when new. I have to agree with the assumption that the same holds true with cues. If you have a cue that you play with consistently, and it just seems to get better with age, that's because it is...it's opening up, so to speak. Thanks Tracy!

Lisa
 
RSB-Refugee said:
An instrument simply aging, does not improve in tone. The instrument must be played, for the tone to improve. Luthiers and players describe it as the instrument opening up. Some have done experiments, exopsing the instruments to extreme vibrations. It was found, that the vibrations did improve the tone of the instruments. I have a feeling that, using a cue, improves the cue's hit over time. Of course, some think I am nuts for thinking such, so take it with a grain of salt. :)

Tracy
Click to expand...
and Jeff said:>>> I have heard that Stradivari used wood that aged in water and this was one of the reasons for the sound, along with treating with borax and other things. But many people believe that water aged wood adds a distinctive quality to wood as far as vibrations passing through.


You're both in the "ball park" !

It's my understanding, the wood that the Stradavari were made from was wood reclaimed from a bridge that had been dissassembled and replaced. The combination of the vibrations caused by horse drawn carts for several decades and whatever other traffic was around at the time, the fact that it was old growth timbers, and it was water soaked and slow dried all are thought to contribute to the tonal quality of a Stradivarius. Of course they had their construction techniques down pretty well also!

I also agree that tonal woods that are good in instrument making are usually good cue woods but frankly I've experimented with some of the reclaimed shaft wood and was less than impressed with the feel. One wood that I think makes a great hitting cue, that not many cuemakers like to use is Osage Orange. If you think it's not tonal, try cutting one down with an ax! It's also about the only wood that grows locally (southern Ohio), suitable for cuemaking IMHO.

just more hot air!

Sherm
 
So it says that Stradivari used alpine spruce for most of his violins... anyone conduct any tests or have any experience with that specific type of wood?

-Matt
 
Zims Rack said:
I would assume you mean Zyler?

I'm Mr. Z. as well, but haven't received your order, yet! haha!!

That cue should feel and hit beautifully! Enjoy!
Zim
Click to expand...

Yep, that'd be the one...lol. Hopefully you'll have my order shortly after I finish school! :D
 
Hi Matt:

In regard to spruce (there are many species of spruce) in violins: spruce is
only used for the sound board (top) on musical instruments. On violins the sides, back and neck are usually made from tiger maple. Of all the various woods used in musical instruments spruce is the one that is the MOST NOT suitable because of its softness. However, it is the one wood most used for sound boards because of its superb tonal qualities. With that said, I have been reading posts claiming that "tonal" woods make good Q woods. The "tonal" woods used in string instruments are to soft for Q's (cedar, redwood, spruce). The rosewoods and maples used in instruments make up only a small percentage of the tonal quality. Like a shaft is responsible for most of the quality of a "hit" the soundboard is responsible for most of the tonal quality of a stringed instrument.
But, please keep in mind in cues/guitars/violins the total is always the sum of the parts.

Bob Flynn
Denali Cues/Guitars
 
JoeyInCali said:
Since the butt is really of two-pieces ( not counting the short sleeve ) , you'll have to mix two woods that complement each other.
I think a Pernambuco or Brazilian rosewood front with bocote or purpleheart handle would be awesome.
Click to expand...
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^:)

-Andy
 
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