Keystone
Guitar Tonewoods for Luthiers

Guitar backs and sides.

The selection of the guitar backs and sides allows the maker to fine tune the overall aesthetic beauty of the instrument, and influence the tonal characteristics of the finished guitar.
Scroll down to see a selection of backs and sides
On the subsequent pages are individual sets,(individually priced) in species that vary to dramatically set to set, to offer for sale from a single picture.

guitar made by Peter Johnson.
All of the prices shown below include VAT at the prevailing rate.
The online shopping facility is intended for UK mainland and Ireland only, anyone wishing to purchase from outside UK mainland and Ireland should contact us for details.
See home page for contact details and full carriage costs details.

INDIAN ROSEWOOD (Dalbergia latifolia)

Indian Rosewood has been the mainstay of guitar makers large and small around the world since the mid 60s, when Brazilian Rosewood became subject to export restrictions. As this is now by far the most popular material for backs and sides, it stands to reason that we would carry large stocks of this beautiful wood, which is just as well, as this rosewood varies from various shades of brown to strong shades of purple. If you have a preference you should state when ordering and we will do our best to accommodate your requirements.

Indian Rosewood guitar backs & sides

Western AAAA £102.00 Western AAA £84.00 Western AA £67.00 Western A £50.00 Classical AAAA £94.00 Classical AAA £78.00 Classical AA £65.00 Classical A £50.00

Acacia Blackwood (Acacia Melanoxylon)

A very good substitute for Hawaiian Koa, Acacia Blackwood or Tasmanian Blackwood as it is sometimes called, has similar tap tone to Koa, and striking similarity in appearance, and there are some beautiful high figure sets available.

Acacia Blackwood guitar backs & sides

Western figured £150.00 Western plain £90.00 Classical figured £135.00 Classical plain £80.00

Figured Jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata)

Not just visually stunning this high figure fiddle back example will produce a fantastic guitar with a tonal quality, (according to makers who favour this species) that is not dissimilar to Indian rosewood.

Figured Jarrah

Western AAAA fiddleback figure £175.00 Western AAA fiddleback figure £160.00 Western AA fiddleback figure £135.00 Western A fiddleback figure £120.00 Classical AAAA fiddleback figure £156.00 Classical AAA fiddleback figure £144.00 Classical AA fiddleback figure £122.00 Classical A fiddleback figure £110.00 Western Bee's wing figure £110.00 Classical Bee's wing figure £100.00

Vanuatu Walnut / Pal-dao (Dracontomelum-dao)

Lighter in colour and weight than American walnut, with a subtle figure and warm light brown finish, relatively easy to bend, An enjoyable and rewarding wood to work with.
£108.00 per set.

East Indian Satinwood (Chloroxylon swietenia )

A beautiful subtle wood, the colour is usually a creamy yellow, and the fine grain has a lovely sheen when finished. Satinwood sometimes exhibit’s the highly prized bees wing figure, but the interlocking nature of the grain can make it a bit tricky to work.

East Indian Satinwood guitar backs & sides

Classical up to "00" size AAA grade £170.00 Classical up to "00" size AA grade £145.00 Classical up to "00" size A grade £125.00

Amazaque (also called Shedua and Ovangkol)

This is a species which is finding some popularity with both custom makers and factories,For its tonal quality, relative ease of working and affordability. From Africa this wood has an appearance of dark grey lines over a gold to olive brown background.western size sets only.
£50.00 per set

Spanish Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens)

Introduced into Spain centuries ago from Asia Minor, and is traditionally the preferred tonewood for most flamenco guitar makers, but it’s becoming scarce and expensive. It has a creamy-yellowish colour. Spanish Cypress works well, is quite stable if the wood quartersawn, but is a little difficult to bend.

Spanish Cypress guitar back & sides

classical AA grade £115.00 classical A grade £105.00 classical B grade £80.00

Figured Maple (Acer macrophyllum)

Also known as fiddle back - examples of this wood are quite striking and the preferred figure of violin makers.

Figured Maple guitar backs & sides

Western AAA grade £72.00 Western AA grade £60.00 Western A grade £40.00 Classical AAA grade £66.00 Classical AA grade £55.00 Classical A grade £36.00

ipple of the figure, but will make a sweet sounding instrument.

Bocote-Mexican rosewood (Cordia Gerascanthus)

Bocote comes from the Ziricote (Cordia) family, has similar tonal characteristics to rosewood, works well, is easier to bend than Ziricote, but has yet to establish its self as the great, mid price tonewood that it is, with factory makers.western size sets only £102.00 each

Padouk ( Pterocarpus soyauxii)

Bright orange when first worked, it will darken down eventually to a more subtle shade of brownish purple. A good tone wood, stable and relatively easy to work.jumbo & acoustic bass sets only.
£55.00 per set.

Wenge (Millettia laurentii)

Even colour, chocolate brown, quite hard heavier than Indian Rosewood, with pores within the grain. This wood can make a very nice instrument, and is relatively inexpensive.western size sets only.

Wenge guitar backs & sides set

AAA grade £60.00 AA grade £52.00 A grade £45.00

Zebrano or Zebra wood (Microberlina Brazzavillensis)

Creamy gold in colour with very strong dark brown lines usually cut fully on the quarter, to give a pleasing stripy effect. Works reasonably well to a good finish.western size sets only.
£48.00 per set.

Bubinga (Didelotia Africana or Guibourtia sp)

Sometimes called African Rosewood, Bubinga is a very good value tone wood capable of making a good quality Instrument at a low cost. Its pinkish red appearance will oxidise down to a darker redish brown in time,western sizes only. £55.00 per set.

Cuban Mahogany

Cuban Mahogany (Swietenia mahogoni-India)
A wonderful and traditional tonewood for guitar making,
That is a delight to work, and will polish up beautifully,
This stock is new growth, plantation grown in India.

Mahogany guitar backs &sides

Western AA grade £60.00 Western A grade £40.00 Classical AA grade £55.00 Classical A grade £36.00

Figured Eucalyptus

Figured Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus grandis)
An interesting and unusual species, ideal for the luthier
Who is looking for something a bit different.

Figured Eucalyptus guitar back and sides

AA grade £95.00 B grade £55.00

Movingue

Movingue (Distemonanthus benthamianus Baill. Family: Leguminosae)
Other Names
Other Names; Anyaran, Anyanran, Anyan (Nigeria) ; Barré (Ivory Coast) ; Eyen (Cameroons); Oguéminia (Gabon); Movingui (Benin).

The pale yellow sapwood is narrow and not clearly defined ; the heartwood is pale to bright yellow or yellow-brown. It is fine textured, the grain is often interlocked, sometimes wavy, and the wood has a very lustrous surface.Often used as a Satinwood substitute, but it is a very attractive wood in its own right.
£55.00 per set.