How to tell between Gidgee and Myall?

[demonx]

I was sold this slab as Gidgee, but I wonder if it might be Myall?

It's hard, it's very heavy, but I really don't know the differences to look for

[GregL]

Hi Allan,

I have used both Gidgee and Myall (Western Myall) and they are similar, but I found the Myall to be just a little bit more "brittle" - maybe less "tough", a bit more "crumbley" - not that it's crumbley or brittle when compared to most other woods! Also the Myall I have used was a bit darker coloured, a bit more "dark-chocolatey" in colour than Gidgee. (Of course, that could have just been the pieces of timber I had!).
If it's for a drop-top or a cap on an electric, I really don't think it's going to matter which species it is - they look almost identical and they're both mighty hard and heavy!

Thanks,
GregL

[demonx]

If it's for a drop-top or a cap on an electric, I really don't think it's going to matter which species it is - they look almost identical and they're both mighty hard and heavy!

Thanks,
GregL

It matters when I go to tell the customer what it is!

[peter.coombe]

I have some of both and my guess would be Gidgee, although that is a guess.

Peter

[curly]

G'day Alan ,
Gidgee is consistently heavier than Myall so cubing it out and weighing is an option . Gidg (A.cambagei) averages 1250 kg/cu often more , Myall (A. pendula ) averages 1100 though I've handled stuff under a ton .
Both have a sort of sweet nutty aroma , myall is a bit more violet smelling , myall keeps it's aroma on old surfaces more .
Gidgee is really mean to work , Myall is just mean ! Surfaces fresh off the belt or drum sander in Gidg will often develop a weird yellow blush of extractives , I've not seen it in Myall .
Visually they can completely blur into each other though perhaps Myall is a little coarser in texture .
Just to add confusion there's easy 50 more arid zone Acacias with really similar appearance and properties . Nelia , Lancewood , Bowgada , Bowyakka , doolalia ..........
All the best .
Pete

[demonx]

Just to add confusion there's easy 50 more arid zone Acacias with really similar appearance and properties . Nelia , Lancewood , Bowgada , Bowyakka , doolalia ..........
All the best .
Pete

So... From the pics that's a "shrugs shoulders"...!

Guess I'll just go with Gidgee. That's what it was sold to me as but I seem to be buying things lately and then finding out its something else!

[Nick]

I seem to be buying things lately and then finding out its something else!

"Ah yes sir! It is indeed a gen-u-in Gibson, Velly collectable! For you only two hunnedbuck."

[driver2xx]

looks like myall.
gidgee doesnt grow that big or that wide
ken

[J.F. Custom]

looks like myall.
gidgee doesnt grow that big or that wide
ken

Ahh, but it does I'm afraid Ken.

Just not very often! To say the least...

Jeremy.

[demonx]

Also, this does have what Pete described as yellowish (I'd say more mustard coloured ?) powdery type residue when run through the drum sander.

If I remember I'll run some through and snap a pic.

[needsmorecowbel]

Ahh, but it does I'm afraid Ken.

For some reason Jeremy when I read this I pictured you rubbing your hands together maniacally laughing

"mwahahahahahahaha"

Stu

[kiwigeo]

Yeah spill the beans Jeremy......we want pics....and a price

[curly]

The biggest Gidgee I have processed was a metre diameter by the tape in the butt log . It was pretty fluted and had the obligatory hole up the guts . Nonetheless it could have milled 400 wide on the quarter . 600 diameter logs are not so rare though the bigger trees tend to be much more faulty . For fingerboards I favour smaller straight healthy trees that the rough environment hasn't got to yet . It's better lamb than mutton !
Mustard would be a fair description of the blush that Gidg sometimes develops when sanded . It's blotchy and random across the board face . Has no effect on finishing I've heard of and only seems to happen when rough sanding . This yellow extractive can rub off on the hands too when doing big batches . When wet milling Gidg my hands get stained for weeks !
Pete

[Trevor Gore]

.....we want pics....

A gidgee back. Seriously dense wood.

DSCF6384s.jpg (140.83 KiB) Viewed 19138 times

This guitar is now ready for lacquer. I'll put some more pics up when it's finished.

When wet milling Gidg my hands get stained for weeks !

Have you tried rubbing them with lemon juice? Works for mild staining, at least. (And for blackwood staining, too.)

[J.F. Custom]

Yeah spill the beans Jeremy......we want pics....and a price

Hopefully in two weeks gentleman... New financial year.

Final tweaking of the site is in process now and yes, there are a few Gidgee sets available on launch.

Price is commensurate with rarity and difficulty to process from raw log to final product.

It's as exotic as it gets in terms of 'unobtainium'.

Jeremy

[kiwigeo]

Hopefully in two weeks gentleman... New financial year.

Veruca-Salt.jpg (92.8 KiB) Viewed 19132 times

[simso]

DSCF6384s.jpg

This guitar is now ready for lacquer. I'll put some more pics up when it's finished.

Beautiful

[Nick]

A gidgee back. Seriously dense wood.

Woah mamma! Seriously beautiful wood too Trevor, it's damn close to knocking my favourite Blackwood off it's no1 pedestal!

[demonx]

Yeah spill the beans Jeremy......we want pics....and a price

Price is commensurate with rarity and difficulty to process from raw log to final product.

It's as exotic as it gets in terms of 'unobtainium'.

Jeremy

Well, if it's anything like the Gidgee that I've cut, I'd put it in the "bugger that" pile as far as processing into back and sides sets. The best/straightest cutting blades I've ever owned see gidgee and decide to do a runner, they'll twist and go everywhere except straight. The stuff is a complete bastsrd to cut, so hats off to you guys and yeah, the price should reflect the "difficulty to process:.

Looking forward to this site & shopping cart being up. It'll be a big step forward for you guys.