Replies

1. 
   rslatm | May 30, 2003 09:13pm | #1

   Try http://www.woodfinder.com
1. 
   NormInFujino | May 31, 2003 04:19am | #4

   I'm not sure about this, either, but I was under the impression that what is considered "white oak" here in Japan is the tree called nara (Quercus serrata, Quercus mongolica var. grosseserrata, and Quercus aliena), and mostly comes from northern Europe (Siberia). Some true white oak (Quercus alba) is indeed imported from the U.S. (I've seen it at a specialty wood store in Tokyo), but I doubt the quantity is that great overall. Some nara is still harvested in Hokkaido, too, but again I'm not certain how much. It's a question I'll have to do a bit of research on since I'm going to be in the market for some nara in the near future.". . .and only the stump or fishy part of him remained."

   Green Gables: A Contemplative Companion to Fujino Township

1. 
   ampermc | Jun 02, 2003 06:05pm | #5

   Thanks for all the info! I've been looking for Japanese White Oak and Paulownia to use in some musical instrument projects. I've been fascinated by the White Oak ever since I picked up a few sets of Pro-Mark drumsticks, which markets a line of sticks that are made in Japan of White Oak (shira-kashi/ Q. alba, I believe). According to Pro-Mark, all the oak used in their sticks originates "in the mountinous regions of Japan", and seems to have a denser grain pattern than any of the oak I've seen here in NJ. These drumsticks have become some of my favorites, as have the Hard Maple (US-grown) sticks that are sold by both Pro-Mark and Vic Firth.

   Since it seems that US-grown Acer Saccarum seems to be the best quality obtainable, I'll stick to domestic sources for that. My Yamaha maple drums are made of "North American"-grown (per Yamaha) maple. I also really like the Yamaha beech drums, for which I believe Yamaha uses Japanese-grown beech.

   Some of you may know that Paulownia is the traditional wood used for the koto. I have heard that samples of US-grown Paulownia are very similar in quality to Japanese Paulownia, but I have not yet been able to obtain any samples. There is a small mill in PA that I found on WoodFinder that lists the availability of wide Paulownia planks, so I'm going to give them a call.

   My goal is to find shira-kashi, kiri (paulownia), and beech (not sure of the Japanese name for beech) planks wide and thick enough to be used for the bodies of solid-body electric guitars and basses, hopefuly quartersawn to maximize resonance.

   Alternatively, can anyone point me in the direction of Japanese custom luthiers that can build in these woods and are able to deal with US customers (in English...my Japanese is very, very limited!).

1. 
   Jamie_Buxton | Jun 03, 2003 12:26am | #6

   There was an article a while back in FWW about paulownia.  You might hit the index on the FWW site and find it.   As I recall, paulownia is actually a native of the southeast US, and (I think) not a native of Japan.  However, it is one of the woods used for traditional-style Japanese furniture like tansu chests.   One of my local (San Francisco) hardwood dealers has some American paulonia.

1. 
   NormInFujino | Jun 03, 2003 12:59am | #7

   >>As I recall, paulownia is actually a native of the southeast US, and (I think) not a native of Japan.

   Jamie, paulownia may be native to the U.S., I don't know, but for sure it is a long-time native to China and Japan. We have a large old tree of paulownia on the hill above our house. It was an important motif in the Tale of Genji, which dates back to the 11th century. Here's a passage from the chapter called The Paulownia Court:

   "In a certain reign there was a lady not of the first rank whom the emperor loved more than any of the others. The grand ladies with high ambitions thought her a presumptuous upstart, and lesser ladies were still more resentful. Everything she did offended someone. Probably aware of what was happening, she fell seriously ill and came to spend more time at home than at court. It may have been because of a bond in a former life that she bore the emperor a beautiful son, a jewel beyond compare. The emperor was in a fever of impatience to see the child on the earliest day possible. When he was brought to the court, the paulownia was full in bloom in the garden."

   In the old print below, the paulownia with its characteristic bell-shaped blossoms can be seen in the lower foreground.

   View Image

   Here's picture of the blossoms from the paulownia on the hill above our house:

   View Image

   ". . .and only the stump or fishy part of him remained."

   Green Gables: A Contemplative Companion to Fujino Township

   Edited 6/2/2003 6:01:23 PM ET by Norm in Fujino

2. 
   Jamie_Buxton | Jun 03, 2003 08:02am | #8

   I got it backwards.  I was working off memory, which ain't what it used to be.   The Fine Woodworking article is in #93 (March '92).   It says that the tree is native to China and Japan.  However, it has somehow immigrated to the US in the mid-1800s, and grows happily here.   The article also mentions that the Japanese trees were "nearly eradicated by a virus disease", so there is an export market for American Paulownia to Japan.  

2. 
   theRev | Jun 03, 2003 02:28pm | #9

   I think I can be of help with a Japanese luthier. Let me check my files and get back to you. I met a guy last year who studied in Nova Scotia but is now back here in Japan.

   Found it.

   His name is Masahi Kimura. E-mail-

   [email protected]

   Scott

   Edited 6/3/2003 7:33:13 AM ET by the rev

2. 
   lostarrow | May 30, 2003 11:21pm | #2

   amper-

    I t would be news to me if I found that Japan even had white oak big enough to make a walking stick.I supposed that all of our prime oak logs go Japan and Europe. A few years ago there was an article in FWW or Woodshop news telling about this new process that Japan has developed to turn logs into square beams without sawing them square. The reason being is that Japan no longer has timber large enough to manufacture beams out of logs. As I remember it, they heat or boil the log and then put it in a four sided press and squeeze the log square. I think that any white oak you get from Japan probably came from the "good ole' USA"

   Be not afraid of going slowly.  Be afraid only of standing still.   chinese proverb
3. 
   fdampier5 | May 31, 2003 01:25am | #3

   white oak is probably American in origin. a local sawmill sells a lot overseas

     Paulonia too is avaiable here in america  primarily southern states like Virginia etc.