Ayous - also known as obeche - is a light-colored, smooth, uniform-grain wood native to Africa. It machines well, be it by sawing, sanding, or scraping. Used for a long time in low-quality guitars, it has gradually emerged as a great, economical choice, similar in tone to mahogany but much more affordable.
During the 70's it was used by some british guitar brands such as Shergold and Burns, and nowadays, the prominent builder Paul Reed Smith has used ayous in several of his models.
Its lightness and ease of work and how well it receives dyes are several of its many qualities. Because of its affordability and light weight, it is the ideal candidate to complement one of our many exotic wood Drop Tops, whether you are building a bass or a guitar.
Glued ayous bodies are very economical and an excellent choice for use on your first project. Remember that not only are they glued, but they have gone through a drying process and have also been sanded. Few tonewoods beat them at this price range.
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