Redwood

Family: Cupressaceae - Order: Pinales - Class: Pinopsida

Scientific name: (Sequoia sempervirens)

Trade name: Redwood / Coast Redwood

Also known as California redwood, coast redwood, coastal redwood, Sequoia and Vavona.

Origin: Pacific coast of North America

Instrumental uses:
Soundboards, head plates and bindings.

Tonal properties:

Redwood has its own character. Robust and crispy response, especially in the upper mids, dry and clear with some warmth, with fine projection. provides very good note definition. Combines very well with mahoganies or rosewoods.

The grain is straight and sometimes irregular with a fine texture that is helping very much on the resonance and sustain overall.

Easy to work, glues and finishes well.

Is stiff and very resistant with an average dried weight nearly of 26 lbs/ft3 or 415  kg/m3. 

It is native along much of coastal California (excluding southern California where rainfall is not sufficient) and the southwestern corner of coastal Oregon within the United States. Is one of the biggest and oldest trees on the planet. A very large-sized tree can reach 115 m tall with a trunk diameter of 9 m.

Heartwood color can range from a light pinkish brown to a deep reddish brown. Sapwood is a pale white/yellow.

CITES status is unrestricted. Is reported on the IUCN Red List as endangered.