Silkwood Maple, also known as Queensland Maple or Flindersia brayleyana, is a hardwood species native to Australia that is sometimes used for making acoustic guitars. It has a number of properties that can make it a good choice for guitar making.

One of the main reasons why it is good for making acoustic guitars is its tonal properties. It has a warm and balanced tone with good sustain and projection. It is often compared to mahogany in terms of its tonal characteristics, but with a slightly brighter tone.

Silkwood Maple is also known for its stability, which can help prevent warping or cracking over time. It is a relatively lightweight wood, making it a good choice for guitar backs and sides, as it can help increase the guitar’s overall resonance.

Another benefit of Silkwood Maple is its appearance. It has a straight and consistent grain pattern with a light to medium brown colour, which can make for a visually appealing guitar.

Silkwood Maple is also a sustainable wood source, as it is commonly harvested from sustainably managed forests in Australia.

Overall, Silkwood Maple’s tonal properties, stability, appearance, and sustainability make it a viable option for guitar making, particularly for those interested in using more unique or lesser-known tonewoods.

David from Australian Guitar Timbers mills all his own logs which then sit in strip and air dried for at least two years before being cut into blocks. The timber is then placed in a Solar or Electric Kiln and dried further to between 8 and 10% moisture content. Nearly all of the logs David has are sourced locally here in Queensland with the exception of the Tasmanian Timbers. Rather than trees being sent to be chipped they are saved and collected to be repurposed. Australian Guitar Timbers collects timber in a sustainable way and loves that they can convert the timber into a much loved instrument part.

Silkwood Maple Back and Sides

Why is Silkwood Maple good for making acoustic guitars

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River Oak Back and Sides #3

Silkwood Maple Back and Sides #5

Fiddleback Blackwood Bridge #1