Swamp ash

evilrockarolla · May 5th, 2008, 06:29 AM

Is swamp ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica or Fraxinus Nigra. It seems that both are sometimes called swamp ash. However, up here in Ontario nigra is called black ash. I am thinking about making a tele out of black ash, is it any good for guitars?? Wikipedia says it is, but I think they may be confusing the two woods, because they are both known as swamp ash?? Anyone??

Telemarkman · May 5th, 2008, 06:36 AM

Swamp Ash isn't a species. It's a common designation for ash that grows in humid areas. In the US that usually means southern ash - I don't know about Ontario. But Nigra means "black" anyway, so Black Ash would be the correct name for that species.

tonewoods · May 5th, 2008, 11:30 AM

"It's a common designation for ash that grows in humid areas."

Well, "swamp ash" may refer to a few species in the botanical world (the Wikipedia article and the Audibon books lead us to believe "swamp ash" is Fraxinus nigra or Fraxinus pennsylvanica), but in the world of luthiery "swamp ash" merely refers to ash in any species that is light in weight...

That's the problem with using popular names as opposed to Latin names....
It can get very confusing...

May 5th, 2008, 06:29 AM	#1 (permalink)
evilrockarolla TDPRI Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Barrie,Ontario, Canada Age: 33 Posts: 27	Swamp ash Is swamp ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica or Fraxinus Nigra. It seems that both are sometimes called swamp ash. However, up here in Ontario nigra is called black ash. I am thinking about making a tele out of black ash, is it any good for guitars?? Wikipedia says it is, but I think they may be confusing the two woods, because they are both known as swamp ash?? Anyone??

May 5th, 2008, 11:30 AM	#3 (permalink)
tonewoods Tele-Holic Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Orcas Island, Washington Age: 57 Posts: 595 18 Photos	"It's a common designation for ash that grows in humid areas." Well, "swamp ash" may refer to a few species in the botanical world (the Wikipedia article and the Audibon books lead us to believe "swamp ash" is Fraxinus nigra or Fraxinus pennsylvanica), but in the world of luthiery "swamp ash" merely refers to ash in any species that is light in weight... That's the problem with using popular names as opposed to Latin names.... It can get very confusing... __________________ Bruce "Mangler of Bluegrass" "Mandolin Graffiti"

May 5th, 2008, 06:36 AM	#2 (permalink)
Telemarkman Friend of Leo's Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Norway Age: 61 Posts: 4,159	Swamp Ash isn't a species. It's a common designation for ash that grows in humid areas. In the US that usually means southern ash - I don't know about Ontario. But Nigra means "black" anyway, so Black Ash would be the correct name for that species.