Today’s article takes another look at a tonewood, though it’s one you may not be familiar with: Ovangkol. At first, it may be a difficult word to spell, but that’s ok, because Ovangkol makes up for it by being a quality tonewood for acoustic guitars. If you are looking for an acoustic guitar that produces a warm, well-balanced, woody sound similar to Rosewood, a guitar made of Ovangkol should be on your radar. In this article we discuss Ovangkol wood, and offer up 3 picks for an Ovangkol guitar.
What Is Ovangkol?
Ovangkol, (also called Shedua), isn’t a rare wood, but it is far less known than more common guitar woods like Rosewood and Mahogany. It is straight grained, and at a density at 51 lbs/ft3, is about the same as East Indian Rosewood. However, with a Janka Hardness measurement of 1,330 lbf, it is softer than Rosewood, which has a hardness of 2,440 lbf. Ovangkol is typically harvested in West Africa, and is not listed in CITES Appendices. This means that the tree is a species of least concern.
In terms of tonewood popularity, we place Ovangkol in the secondary category along with woods such as Sapele and African Blackwood. Meaning, you’ve probably heard about it, but may not have played a guitar made from it. Just to be clear, when we say “second category”, we are referring to the popularity of this wood, not its tone!
Appearance of Ovangkol
Ovangkol’s appearance is somewhat unusual. It has a straight grain, and a range of colors that can include reddish-brown, golden-brown, and even gray stripes. It often displays darker brown streaks.
Though the grain is usually straight, it may be slightly interlocked. The texture is on the course side, with some natural luster.
Ovangkol Guitar Tone
Ovangkol is often described as having a tone that is similar to Rosewood. Although there is truth to this, Ovangkol is not a Rosewood clone. Like Rosewood, it is typically used for the back and sides of acoustic guitars. Less commonly, you will see a fretboard made from it.
Many tonewoods are described as being somewhere “between Rosewood and Mahogany”. But in this case, it is an accurate description. Ovangkol shares Rosewood’s strong overtone overtone content, but at the same time has moderately more midrange emphasis, which leans towards the sound of Mahogany. However, it does not emphasize the midrange nearly as much as Mahogany. The diagram below depicts Ovangkol’s frequency response:
Ovangkol vs Rosewood
Ovangkol’s tone is compared to Rosewood because of its similar range, as well as its overtone profile. The overtone emphasis lends harmonic color and complexity to the tone. The biggest difference between Rosewood vs Ovangkol is in the midrange, where Ovangkol tends to be slightly fuller.
For comparison, here is the frequency response of Rosewood:
As you can see from the frequency chart, Ovangkol is the opposite of Rosewood in the midrange. While both have similar total frequency range, Ovangkol is lightly boosted through the midrange frequencies. Rosewood is known for its slightly “scooped” midrange, and Ovangkol fills that out somewhat, though it’s not as mid-focused as Mahogany or Sapele. In bass response, its range is similar to Rosewood.
Ovangkol vs Sapele
Sapele is similar to Mahogany in that it accents the fundamental note more than the overtones of the note. Therefore, Ovangkol will sound more like Rosewood than a guitar made from Sapele. In terms of frequency response, it has a greater range than Sapele, reaching both lower and higher.
How Good Is It, Really?
This clip from W Sound Guitar Store shows what Ovangkol can do on a Taylor AD17e:
3 Great Choices for an Ovangkol Guitar
If you are considering a guitar made of Ovangkol, we have rounded up 3 great choices. One of the great things about an Ovangkol guitar is that not everyone has one, because they are not nearly as common as other more popular tonewoods.
1. PRS SE A40E
We recently reviewed the Maple version of this guitar, and what we found extends to the SE A40E as well.
One of the standout features of the PRS SE A40E is its solid Sitka spruce top, which is an important feature for any acoustic guitar. The Ebony fretboard and Bird Inlays make this guitar look far more expensive than it is, and the Angelus body shape makes for comfortable playing. The Fishman GT1 pickup system has your amplification needs covered. Like the SE A50E, the A40E plays like an electric guitar, making it a great acoustic guitar choice for the player who primarily plays electrics.
2. Fender CD-140SCE
The Fender CD-140SCE is a classic dreadnought at a great price point. It features a solid spruce top, which is always a feature we like to see. The neck is mahogany, and the fingerboard is walnut, which is a nice twist on the traditional recipe. In fact, you could almost call this a “Rosewood” guitar constructed of alternative tonewoods! Fishman CD electronics are onboard to amplify your acoustic tone when needed.
3. Epiphone J-200 EC Studio Parlor
We really like the J-200 EC Studio Parlor’s scaled down Jumbo shape. It’s got a jumbo size vibe, but in a more compact form factor. The J-200 EC has a solid spruce top as well. The hard maple neck, complete with a walnut center stringer, has a slim-taper C-Shape neck, which makes this guitar well suited to both strumming or fingerpicking. A Fishman Presys II preamp and Sonicore pickup delivers a great amplified acoustic tone.
Conclusion
If you enjoy the sound of Rosewood guitars, you should consider giving Ovangkol a spin. We think of it as a sleeper wood, because most of us haven’t had too much experience with it.
With Ovangkol, you’ll get a harmonically complex tone similar to Rosewood, but with slightly more midrange emphasis. And, being relatively sustainable, it is an environmentally sound choice, and this is something we can all feel good about.