Bubinga

Didelotia Africana or Guibortia

Bubinga is a wood that I have used for 20 years. I have recently discovered that it's a better tonewood than it's been given credit for.

Harder & heavier than Indian or Brazilian Rosewood, Bubinga is usually referred to as African Rosewood even though it's not a Dalbergia. It has a medium texture with a sweeping figure and it is extremely rare to see any high figuring like the photos on this page.

Trees  normally grow to to 10 foot diameters and it is plentiful and always available.  

Each board is valued at $6,000.00 (1997)
2010 probably $12,000.00

 

Not only were these pieces huge it takes a minimum of 3 very strong people to move each board.
Before we cut this one up it took 4 people to move this board 8 feet. 
All the figured guitars that you see on this page are from these slabs of wood.


Ed Roman Bubinga Quicksilver Guitar 
Oiled Finish  No Clear Shiny Coat



African Rosewood  AKA Bubinga
Highly Figured
Exclusively Available from Ed Roman

Natural Bubinga With Clear Coat
Naturally Red Color

There is absolutely no color pigment added to this finish
This finish is exclusively available from Ed Roman


Figured African Rosewood


Above Roman Intruder Stretch Bass

Bubinga Sides With Maple & Ebony Center Oil Finish


Here is the first Instruments built with the African Rosewood slabs that are at the top of the page.

We will be doing many Quicksilvers & other Bass Guitars in this wood also.

It is important to remember that what you are looking at in this picture is unfinished. 

Quicksilver Guitar Bubinga Body  Kramer Metal Neck  (Ed Roman Custom Body)

Quilted Bubinga 
This piece is French polished and not lacquered.
The shiny lacquer bodies will look awesome.



Custom Bubinga Table With Glass Top


Figured Bubinga


Figured Bubinga


 

Custom Figured Bubinga




Bubinga Sapwood


Custom Made Bubinga Reef Tank
Made By Shinn Custom Woodworks

Bubinga
 
 

This African import is a very heavy Rosewood, but some customers like it for solid body guitars.  Actually it's not a Rosewood because it's not in the Dalbergia Family, Some companies like Warwick try to pass it off asRosewood. Many people think that Rosewood is the shit.

Most of the material that begot the perception of quality in the rose wood family is now long gone old growth trees, so perhaps it's time to reevaluate our preferences. By the way, the publics desire for rose woods has also motivated manufactures to fib from time to time. Pau Ferro is not a rose wood, but is easily passed off as one. Bubinga is passed off as Chinese Rose wood even though it is not of the rose wood genus. 

A very stiff strong wood with a rusty brown color. Bright midrange and bass tones. 

From Africa; Gabon, Cameroon, Zaire, Equatorial Guinea, Congo, Liberia and Nigeria.
Color is medium red-brown, with lighter red to purple veins. The grain is typically straight. Fine pores are diffused throughout the wood, which often contain a reddish gum. Texture is usually medium, and surface is highly lustrous. Excellent polishing qualities.
Common uses included boat building, fine furniture, tool handles, figured veneer, flooring, and handles.
Specific Gravity is .88 (very dense). Turns well.  Salmon pink with streaks of brown.
 

 

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