Wenge needs a good treatment to been used in musical instruments. But if you do it accurately and carefully, the result will hugely surprise you.
Wenge is hard, steady, and not a very flexible tonewood: proprieties very valued in classic guitar headplates. Besides, it has a stunning appearance, very similar to Blackwood. About the sound, Wenge is between Ebony and Rosewood, with precise and good medium and low tones.
In Maderas Barber we have Wenge headplates for classic guitar with the best quality for your instrument, try this dense and heavy tonewood with an amazing acoustic.
BOTANIC NAME: Milettia laurentii.
COMMON NAMES: Wengue, Panga-Panga
ORIGIN: Central Africa
DESCRIPTION: Density 830 kg/m3. Heartwood is medium brown, sometimes with a reddish or yellowish hue, with nearly black streaks. Upon application of a wood finish the wood can become nearly black. Grain is straight, with a very coarse texture. Low natural luster.
RECOMMENDATIONS Can be difficult to work with hand and machine tools. Blunts tool edges. Sands unevenly due to differences in density between light and dark areas. Very large pores can be difficult to fill if a perfectly smooth/level finish is desired.
DRYING: Slow drying speed. Low risk of deformations.
USES: Guitar fingerboards, bridges, headplates, backs and sides. Bodies for electric and bass guitars.
