I made the soundboard from the wood of a tree that had just been cut down in front of my son's house in Upwey, here in Victoria. The freshly cut wood looked absolutely gorgeous - a bright orangey-peach - and I decided that I needed to put some aside, without knowing what it was.
Years later, it had toned down to a somewhat nondescript brown, with some pattern in it, and I decided to use it because of the association with my son. I like to incorporate personal features into the instruments I make, because I don't sell them, and so please only myself and my whims.
If anyone can tell me what the wood is, I'd really appreciate an answer.
The back and sides are of Mountain Ash, cut locally (in Emerald, in the Dandenongs). At the moment in time that I was completing this instrument, I decided that it was time to learn French polishing, but I didn't want to jump in, boots and all, so I decided to do just the back and sides. I think it's reasonably successful, but in retrospect, I think I should have tried to buy a lighter shellac! I'm not unhappy with the orangey nature of the finish (because I still had orange on my mind with respect to the soundboard). Also, I know from past experience with Mountai Ash that it can be a bit bland, but that a little bit of added colour really brings out the fiddleback.
Other features include:
The fingerboard, bridge and headplate are of Ebony;
The bindings and back-stripe are of Indian Rosewood;
The neck is of Fijian Mahogany;
The rest of the instrument (other than back and sides) is finished with Rustins Danish Oil.
Oh, and I forgot to mention that for all the instruments, I make all the rope, and black-white-black etc purfling, and cut all the mother-of-pearl myself (not that there's much MOP in these instruments; only a bit in this and one other).
Frank.