Olneya Tesota​​

Notes on Desert Ironwood from luthier, Raymond Kraut

It has an exotic aesthetic similar to rosewood and is exceptionally dense due to a very long, slow growth period. It is not protected under CITES (and it's only a matter of time after what happened to the tree in Northern Mexico, harvested down to near extinction), and it's genuinely rarer than any other tonewood we could name.

Why?

The tree has many voids, even in the larger trunk specimens, making it nearly impossible to achieve back and side sets. Once the tree dies, it often regrows, incorporating the old growth, creating unusual patterns and unpredictable hardwood. Correctly processing Desert Ironwood for back and side sets is extremely difficult due to its unpredictable nature. You ever know what you're going to run into. The name "ironwood" is a bit misleading because it is actually lighter than Ebony. It is an exceptional wood for guitar building in that it is highly stable and bends really well for sides. The color varies from amber to gold to jet black. Its tonal qualities are similar to Brazilian Rosewood.

Desert Ironwood will not be available for years to come, as Brazilian Rosewood once was and still is, even after CITES. Our specimens for lutherie are from long-deceased trees on and around our land. A tree can be dead for over 100 years, and the hardwood can remain perfectly intact.

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