Acoustic Wood Choices Questions on Types of Woods

Date: Sat, 25 May 2002 18:13:13 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: NATO wood

What is this Nato wood ? There aren't Nato
trees growing around here in South Carolina. And all I
hear about NATO is that it's something we ought to be
getting US out of. Is this a synthetic or composite or
what ?

thanks much for your time

regards,

Dale Cauthen

Greetings Dale,

The Johnson is a decent value...and is really comparable to the Saga Style III. Both are import banjos and offer traditional features at a tremendous price...

However, I like the focus of the Gold Tone line and believe you're getting an even better value on any Gold Tone model.

I hope to further review the banjos in question and soon have video samplers of all of them...

In reference to NATO wood, I found this info on Durable Wood Products U.S.A.:

Mora
Mora excelsa and Mora gonggrijpii.
__________________________________________________________________

Family: Leguminosa

Other Common Names: Nato, Nato rojo (Colombia), Mora de Guyana (Venezuela), Marobukea, Mora (Guyana), Mora Moraboekea (Surinam), Pracuuba (Brazil).

Distribution: M. excelsa: Widely distributed in the Guianas and less so in the Orinoco Delta of Venezuela; dominant on river levees and flood plains forming dense stands. M. gonggrijpii: Restricted to Guyana and Surinam, a dominant species best adapted to hillsides on heavy clay soils.

The Tree Usually 100 to 120 ft high and 2 to 3 ft in diameter with clear boles 60 ft and more above very large buttresses that may extend 15 ft up the trunk. Trees of M. excelsa 160 to 200 ft high and 4 ft in diameter are reported.

The Wood General Characteristics: Heartwood yellowish red brown, reddish brown or dark red with paler streaks; sapwood 2 to 6 in. wide, distinct, yellowish to pale brown. Texture moderately fine to rather coarse, rather harsh to the feel; luster medium to high; grain is straight to commonly interlocked, very variable; astringent taste and slightly sour odor.

Weight: Basic specific gravity (oven-dry weight/green volume) 0.76 to 0.84; air-dry density 59 to 65 pcf.

Mechanical Properties: (First set of data based on the 2 -in. standard, the second on the 2-cm standard.)