Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
Wood choice for claves
John Crissman
>I am planning on turning some claves (cla'- veys) for a friend who is a percussionist. Claves are a pair of round woodblocks that when held loosely and struck together produce a percussive tone.
I am looking for a wood that is figured, has tight grain and is heavy. Of course the price must be right as each one needs to be 1.5" x 8-9". I want them to be pretty resonant with more bass tones.
Any suggestions?
Re: Wood choice for claves
Ron in Drums PA
>African Khaya has been used on xylophone. Sometimes it's sold as African mahogany.
Re: Wood choice for claves *LINK*
RevDoug
>The commercial ones that I've used were all rosewood. I would think that anything that is as hard as that would work. Any of the "iron" woods maybe?
Turn 'em round,
RevDoug
Wood Spun Round
Re: Wood choice for claves
Stuart Johnson
>I just spent some time banging different pen blanks together and African Blackwood had the lowest and cleanest bell like sound. I tried, Walnut, Cherry, Mesquite, Maple, Locust, Persimmon along with the African Blackwood.
Thanks guys! I will let ya'll know.
John Crissman
>
Re: Wood choice for claves
Ken Grunke
>Padauk has a nice ring to it.
Re: Wood choice for claves
Brad Vietje
>John,
Of the Rosewoods I've used, I think East India Rosewood was the least expensive. You might look at Bocote, which isn't really a Rosewood, but is often called "Mexican Rosewood". I think the real hard Rosewood species will tend toward a more higher note, no ? More toward the treble than the bass side ?
For hard domestic woods with nice figure, you might consider Black Locust or Osage Orange.
Please let us know what your research yields, and post a photo if that's possible.
Safe spinning,
Brad Vietje
Thetford, VT