Members BlackHatHunter Posted June 6, 2010 Members Share Posted June 6, 2010 I recently started noticing more and more guitars popping up - especially acoustic guitars - made of ovangkol. I'd never noticed that wood before so I looked it up. Found this on the Taylor site: Ovangkol is an attractive hardwood indigenous to tropical West Africa. Usually, its coloration runs from yellow-brown to a mottled olive-brown to dark brown, and it features stripes that run from gray to almost black. When it has significant purple coloration, however, ovangkol's variegation and grain pattern closely resemble East Indian rosewood. It also shares some tonal characteristics with rosewood, but boasts the livelier "sparkle" found in such medium-density hardwoods as mahogany, walnut, and koa. What do you think of it? Like it, love it, hate it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hudman Posted June 6, 2010 Members Share Posted June 6, 2010 I recently started noticing more and more guitars popping up - especially acoustic guitars - made of ovangkol. I'd never noticed that wood before so I looked it up. Found this on the Taylor site:What do you think of it? Like it, love it, hate it? I love the way it looks. It sounds a lot like rosewood to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fastblueheeler Posted June 6, 2010 Members Share Posted June 6, 2010 I don't like it because I can't pronounce it. But that's what my Taylor 414 was made of. As far as how it sounded? - OK I guess but I never really bonded with the guitar and sold it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Stackabones Posted June 6, 2010 Members Share Posted June 6, 2010 I've got it on my Lanikai O-8E, an 8-string uke. I love it. It looks great and sounds just fine. Here's a clip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members katopp Posted June 6, 2010 Members Share Posted June 6, 2010 I love the looks, but I've been told, that there is a lot of variation within the logs, so it's harder to pick a good 'un. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PieterH Posted June 7, 2010 Members Share Posted June 7, 2010 I bought my Taylor 414CE partly because I loved the way the wood looked, partly because I was after the rosewood sound but couldn't afford the 700- or 800 series, and mostly because I loved the way the guitar felt and sounded when I tried it. The sides and back on my guitar are beautiful! I seem to remember Warwick were one of the early regular users of Ovangkol and still use it on necks and some bodies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members seagullplayer77 Posted June 7, 2010 Members Share Posted June 7, 2010 I seem to remember Warwick were one of the early regular users of Ovangkol and still use it on necks and some bodies. ^ This. I see Warwick basses on CL that are made of ovangkol on a pretty regular basis. My guess is that the reason they started using it for acoustic guitars is that traditional woods (like rosewood) are becoming increasingly harder to find since they've been over-harvested. IIRC, there are lots of restrictions on importing rosewood, among other woods. Gibson got in trouble with the EPA not too long ago for importing wood from questionable sources. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Oldskool Texas Posted June 7, 2010 Members Share Posted June 7, 2010 Looks nice, sounds pretty unremarkable - not bad, just not especially noteworthy. I guess it splits the difference between mahogany and rosewood, tone-wise. I don't dislike it or anything, but I wouldn't seek it out, either. I played an ovangkol Taylor, but bought the rosewood one instead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members liko Posted June 8, 2010 Members Share Posted June 8, 2010 Bling-wood. High-contrast. Looks like cheaply-stained oak. African rainforest tree threatened by deforestation and climate change (course I'm not one to point fingers; my favorite Taylor 114 uses sapele for neck/back/sides). In short, no. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitarcapo Posted June 8, 2010 Members Share Posted June 8, 2010 It also shares some tonal characteristics with rosewood, but boasts the livelier "sparkle" found in such medium-density hardwoods as mahogany, walnut, and koa. Well I guess that just about covers all the bases. It sounds like everything. Or maybe the back and sides don't really contribute much of anything to the sound afterall? :poke: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Pine Apple Slim Posted June 8, 2010 Members Share Posted June 8, 2010 Looks nice, sounds pretty unremarkable - not bad, just not especially noteworthy. I guess it splits the difference between mahogany and rosewood, tone-wise. I don't dislike it or anything, but I wouldn't seek it out, either. I played an ovangkol Taylor, but bought the rosewood one instead. These. Sound of the ones I heard were not particularly distinctive and I really dont care for the look.Id take koa ove it any day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jerry_L Posted July 1, 2011 Members Share Posted July 1, 2011 According to the wood comparison chart provided by Taylor, Ovangkol has one of the widest tonal ranges, extending well into the bass. That must be why it doesn't sound distinctive acoustically, since it's pretty balanced across all frequencies, but is not as penetrating as the scooped mid profile of rosewood. However, Taylor's are often noted for their amplified sound, and the wide range and rich mids of ovangkol give you a lot to work with when plugged-in, so you can truly "tailor" your sound. Not to sound like too much of a fan-boy, but I have a 410 and a 414ce and I like they way they sound. I also have a Martin 000-16CGTE and DM35 and they sound great, too. The DM35 is the loudest acoustically, though, without question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Freeman Keller Posted July 1, 2011 Members Share Posted July 1, 2011 Not to sound like too much of a fan-boy, but I have a 410 and a 414ce and I like they way they sound. I also have a Martin 000-16CGTE and DM35 and they sound great, too. The DM35 is the loudest acoustically, though, without question. Normally I don't pay any attention to zombie threads, but I've never heard of a DM35 and Martin doesn't list one on their web site. What is it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rickoshea Posted July 1, 2011 Members Share Posted July 1, 2011 I'd be interested to know who built the guitars from Ovangkol that you fellas tried. Its a beautiful tonewood, very close to Rosewood and Walnut in its tone. of course .. theres one frig of a lot more to guitar tone than the back and sides of the thing :poke: BlackHat .. I just finished a build using Ovangkol : beautiful tone, and a lovely wood to work with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Freeman Keller Posted July 1, 2011 Members Share Posted July 1, 2011 I'd be interested to know who built the guitars from Ovangkol that you fellas tried. Its a beautiful tonewood, very close to Rosewood and Walnut in its tone. of course .. theres one frig of a lot more to guitar tone than the back and sides of the thing :poke: BlackHat .. I just finished a build using Ovangkol : beautiful tone, and a lovely wood to work with. Really nice Rick, but if you look closely you'll see that only the last two posts are up to date. Another zombie That said, I think Ovangkol is a lovely wood, but unfortunately the only guitars that I've played made out of it are Taylors and I'm not a Taylor fan. Can I try yours? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DeepEnd Posted July 1, 2011 Members Share Posted July 1, 2011 Normally I don't pay any attention to zombie threads, but I've never heard of a DM35 and Martin doesn't list one on their web site. What is it? Probably a Sigma DM-3S: http://www.zimbio.com/Guitars/articles/DnrgRgsFks-/Vintage+Martin+Dm+3s+Sigma+Jumbo+Acoustic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jerry_L Posted July 2, 2011 Members Share Posted July 2, 2011 Normally I don't pay any attention to zombie threads, but I've never heard of a D M35 and Martin doesn't list one on their web site. What is it? Sorry for the confusion, the guitar is actually a D-35. Mine is a 2003, but they are still in production and widely available AFAIK. I find my Taylor's responsive and rewarding to play, but the D35 really nails the classic acoustic rock guitar sound. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jerry_L Posted July 2, 2011 Members Share Posted July 2, 2011 I'd be interested to know who built the guitars from Ovangkol that you fellas tried. Its a beautiful tonewood, very close to Rosewood and Walnut in its tone. of course .. theres one frig of a lot more to guitar tone than the back and sides of the thing :poke: Good point, I think the top contributes more to the tone anyway, not to mention the neck. That guitar looks great, nice work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Terry Allan Hall Posted July 3, 2011 Members Share Posted July 3, 2011 I can take it or leave it, as I'm not a big fan of rosewood, and both it and cocobolo sound a lot like rosewood to me. It is very pretty wood, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Etienne Rambert Posted July 3, 2011 Members Share Posted July 3, 2011 IMO, with a Cedar top, it might be worth exploring. I'm not a big Rosewood/Spruce fan. I've played two Macassar Ebony back & sides guitars with Spruce tops. They sounded like Maple/Spruce to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BlackHatHunter Posted July 6, 2011 Author Members Share Posted July 6, 2011 rickoshea, what a beauty you built! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jsy361 Posted May 31, 2017 Members Share Posted May 31, 2017 Having had a few spruce tops / rosewood combos (GA8, Martin 000-28), i started to realize that my playing style was (gasp) not a great fit with rosewood. I know that rosewood is the bees knees to most but the scooped mids weren't for me. I am a singer songwriter and wanted a versatile guitar with some nice mids but some high end sparkle. Recently picked up the 414ce with ovangkol and i really have to say that this is the sweetest more resonant sounding guitar i've ever laid my hands on. With gloss, it is mesmerizing to look at and it really almost gives me a blend of rosewood, mahogany and a touch of koa. I've become a fan of ovangkol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jsy361 Posted June 3, 2017 Members Share Posted June 3, 2017 I must say having had a number of roseeood and mahogany guitars that I love and am surprised by the unique and dynamic sound of ovangkol. For versatility and richness from low to mid to highs it brings it all. It almost could be called rosehogany w a touch of koa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mikeo Posted June 5, 2017 Members Share Posted June 5, 2017 Having had a few spruce tops / rosewood combos (GA8' date=' Martin 000-28), i started to realize that my playing style was (gasp) not a great fit with rosewood. I know that rosewood is the bees knees to most but the scooped mids weren't for me. I am a singer songwriter and wanted a versatile guitar with some nice mids but some high end sparkle. Recently picked up the 414ce with ovangkol and i really have to say that this is the sweetest more resonant sounding guitar i've ever laid my hands on. With gloss, it is mesmerizing to look at and it really almost gives me a blend of rosewood, mahogany and a touch of koa. I've become a fan of ovangkol. [/quote'] I played a Taylor 414CE for many years. It was a fine guitar, and made me a nice chunk of change on a weekly basis. I sold the guitar cause it gave me wrist issues, and I devolved a ganglion cyst. Some day the thing ached and throbbed and some days it just looked like an ugly growth on top of my wrist. My primary doctor said leave it alone. I thought I'd go see and orthopedic guy and I did. He drained it 3 times and it would come back in a few weeks. I opted not have surgery. We broke it with a huge book, the old fashion way a few times along the way. It eventually didn't return. Somewhere along the way I sold the Taylor, and went to a Martin that had a touch smaller less flat of a neck. Other than that the Taylor 414 was very nice, and it sounded nice unplugged too. I also think Ovangkol sits somewhere between rosewood and koa. I love the 14 series in general. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Glenn F Posted June 9, 2017 Members Share Posted June 9, 2017 I don't get the comparison with EIR. I have a Lakewood M-18. It is loud, a bit bright--bell-like in tone. Bass is there, but not overwhelming. In contrast, Lakewood's M-32 is EIR, and tonally completely different. Much more muted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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