Questions: African Wenge

by Jeffrey R. Elliott

Originally published in American Lutherie #59, 1999

 

See also,
Questions: Wenge by John Calkin

 

Milan Sabljic of Belgrade, Yugoslavia asks:

I would like to know is it safe to use African wenge to make classic guitar bridges.

Jeff Elliott of Portland, OR responds:

I’ve never tried it, but I don’t see any reason not to. It’s dense, it sounds (taps) well, and it’s beautiful. Also, Gibson used it for steel string guitar bridges in the 1970s. I think it would work very well. ◆