If you are interested in making a "one-of-a-kind" guitar from tone wood that is both rare and visually stunning, then there's a good chance you'll be able to find a perfect set among the exotic tone woods offered here.

Visit this site (guitarmaker.art) on a desktop or laptop computer to download the current price list, and see full descriptions and larger images of each set.

Most of the following sets have been in my workshop collection for many years and are now extremely rare, if not impossible to find, and therefore inherently valuable.

If you are a guitarmaker with a customer who is potentially interested in ordering a guitar from you that could be built from one of these sets, I will place the wood on hold for you until your order is confirmed and you have received a deposit to cover the cost of acquiring the set.


Acacia, Black (#101)
This particular set of black acacia (also known as Australian blackwood) comes from Tasmania. It is exceptional in terms of the number of colors present in the set. The pre-bent sides have been prep'd for a classical or flamenco-shaped body — dimensions and photos of the sides, which are easily re-bent or re-shaped, are available on request.  US$350



Blackwood, African (#102)
African blackwood, mainly sourced from the dry savanna regions of central and southern Africa, is one of the most dense woods that are used in guitar-making. It is particularly prized for use in classical guitar construction when sound quality and projection are a priority. Export restrictions have made this wood extremely rare, especially in the form of a perfect guitar-making set.  US$900



Bubinga, Quilted (#103)
A beautifully-matched set of quilted bubinga from Equatorial Africa, which is large enough to make any type of a guitar from a steel-string acoustic to a classical guitar. This is a very rare set, primarily because of the spectacular quilted sapwood areas that run along both the back and sides.  US$850



Bubinga, Quilted (#104)
A butterfly-matched set of quilted bubinga from Equatorial Africa, which is large enough to make any type of a guitar from a steel-string acoustic to a classical guitar. This is a rare set, primarily because of the spectacular 'quilt' that runs throughout the set.  US$650



Cocobolo (#105)
A highly-figured set of Mexican cocobolo at its most spectacular. A great tone wood for instruments that require both sustain and projection. The reds and blacks are enhanced even further when the instrument is surfaced and finished.  US$1,100



Cocobolo (#106)
Another highly-figured set of Mexican cocobolo, which is a great tone wood for instruments that require both sustain and projection. The reds and blacks are enhanced even further when the instrument is surfaced and finished.  US$750



Cocobolo (#107)
Another highly-figured set of Mexican cocobolo, which is a great tone wood for instruments that require both sustain and projection. The reds and blacks are enhanced even further when the instrument is surfaced and finished.  US$500



Cypress, Spanish (#108)
A very 'clean' set of Spanish Cypress that will make a great 'blanca' flamenco guitar. The vertical lines on the sides are saw marks and will not be present once the wood is properly sanded and prepared. Although the wood may appear to be a grey'ish hue, it is virtually white with a hint of very light brown — which is normal for this particular species.  US$350



Ebony, Macassar (#109)
Macassar ebony (also known as striped or Amara ebony) makes for a guitar with exceptional sound projection — primarily because of it high density. This particular set from Indonesia is beautifully-matched and highly-figured. Macassar ebony is becoming increasingly more difficult to find due to export restrictions.  US$850



Mango, Curly (#110)
This particular 'curly' set comes from Hawaiian mango. Because of the spalting that is present, the wood is a kaleidoscope of colors. Under normal circumstances, this curly heartwood is a golden brown, but also includes yellows and streaks of pink and grey/black. The dark patch on the upper side is caused by testing the wood's potential beauty with a thin layer of shellac — which is easily removed.  US$450



Mango, Curly (#111)
Wonderful figure and great color. The dark patch is caused by testing the wood's potential beauty with a thin layer of shellac — which is easily removed. There is no side set with this particular mango wood, however, it may be used to make a stunning soundboard, or possibly the top veneer on a solid-body guitar.  US$150



Maple, Curly (#112)
This set of curly maple, also known as tiger maple, fiddleback maple or flamed maple, provides a consistent 'curly' grain pattern over the full set, which is large enough to make either a classical or flamenco 'blanca' guitar, or even a larger steel-string instrument.  US$350



Myrtlewood, Curly (#113)
This set of curly myrtlewood came from an umbellularia tree in Oregon. The pre-bent sides have been prep'd for a traditionally-sized classical or flamenco 'blanca' body — dimensions and photos of the sides, which are easily re-bent or re-shaped, are available on request.  US$250



Olive, Wild (#114)
This is a hard, dense and finely grained wood with grey'ish brown coloring. It is easy to work with and produces a particularly smooth finish. This unique set came from the Mediterranean region of southern Europe.  US$500



Padauk (#115)
A unique and therefore rare set of padauk that features color variation and exceptionally-matched figure. This particular wood is also know by the name 'vermilion'. It is primarily sourced from trees in Central and tropical west Africa.  US$450



Rosewood, Brazilian (#116)

An exquisite set of beautifully-matched Brazilian rosewood that includes within its spectacular figuring — colors of black, brown, green and red. Virtually impossible to find except among old collections of high-end luthier's wood, as is the case with this particular set.  US$3,800



Rosewood, Brazilian (#117)
A special set of Brazilian rosewood — particularly suited to the construction of a high-end classical guitar — with beautifully-matched back and sides that are highly-figured.  US$3,100



Rosewood, Brazilian (#118)
A special set of Brazilian rosewood — particularly suited to the construction of a high-end classical guitar — with beatifully-matched back and sides that are highly-figured.  US$2,500



Rosewood, East Indian (#119)
An unusual grey and brown grain in both the back and sides characterizes this particular set of East Indian rosewood, which would be most suitably used in the construction of a classical guitar.  US$450



Rosewood, East Indian (#120)
Chocolate brown East Indian rosewood with straight grain. The pre-bent sides have been prep'd for a classical or flamenco body with a 'cutaway' — dimensions and photos of the sides are available on request.  US$350



Rosewood, Madagascar (#121)
Virtually impossible to find in this quality and stunning figure. Although similar variations of this wood can be sourced from India, this particular set comes from the African island of Madagascar just before all exports of the wood were prohibited. The back is comprised of four perfectly book-matched sections.  US$2,500



Rosewood, Siam (#122)
Sometimes referred to as Cambodian rosewood, this particular wood is dense with similar tonal qualities found in Macassar ebony and African blackwood. The pre-bent sides have a strip of sapwood that covers about 1/3 of the width — dimensions and photos of the sides, which are easily re-bent or re-shaped, are available on request.  US$450



Sepele (#123)
A beautifully-matched and rare set of quilted sepele from Equatorial Africa. This wood is also known as 'aboudikro' and because of some export restrictions it is very difficult to find, especially with this type of quilted figure.  US$750



Snakewood (#124)
It took almost 6 years of searching, throughout Central and South America, to find this exceptional set of snakewood. The back consists of four perfectly book-matched panels, and the sides are wide enough for the construction of any classical or flamenco guitar.  US$3,500



Tigerwood (#125)
A very well-matched and rare set of West African Tigerwood with 'spots' and a grain that reflects the magnificent beast that it was named for — especially when the guitar is finished to enhance the natural beauty and inherent color of the wood.  US$800



Ziricote (#126)
Beautifully-matched back and side set of African ziricote with very attractive and rarely-encountered sapwood on all pieces in the set. The dark area on the upper side piece is a temporary 'test' area where shellac was used to verify the color.  US$2,450



50,000 Year Old Kauri (#127)
The world's oldest wood, which was recovered from the frigid depths of a New Zealand lake. Documentation is available to verify its age. This special set of very-workable Kauri has begun to mineralize, which provides a shimmer on its surface when polished. The vertical lines on the back are saw marks that will disappear when the wood is first prep'd. Woolly mammoth tusk is available for nut, saddle or inlay use when constructing a one-of-a-kind 'Ice Age' guitar.  US$1,500