Anyone here ever build using a Okoume wood body?

[Kloun]

I was thinking of ordering a body made out of Okoume wood because, well it's cheap, and it appears to have--unlike basswood--a pretty decent grain pattern that may work for either a blonde or sunburst finish. Now, I have worked with swamp ash, alder, and basswood, but never Okoume so I don't know what it's like to paint. I think it is an open pore that would need grain filler. And I don't know how heavy it is compared to alder or basswood. I heard it is light like basswood, which is a plus for me, but then again I don't know because I never used it before.

So has anyone ever used an Okoume body and how does the weight compare? And do you think you could do a good blonde or sunburst with it?

I found some pics were Fender actually used the wood as a part of an "exotic" wood run, and they don't look bad at all.

 

[Freeman Keller]

Never used Okoume as a guitar wood but a long time ago I used to build and race power boats. Okoume plywood was my wood of choice, light and strong, reasonably priced and nice looking.

My wood database says its about 27 pounds per cubic foot, about the same as alder and lighter than mahogany or ash. No reason it wouldn't make a very nice guitar. As far as finish, I always look at a piece of wood before deciding on finish.

 

[crazydave911]

Nope, but always wanted too

Dave

 

[Peltogyne]

According to https://www.wood-database.com/okoume/ it has a Janka rating of 400. Slighter easier to dent than Basswood's 410. It seems like it's a pretty basswood substitute.

 

[Macrogats]

I used very thin Okoume ply for a top and back on my Telecoustic experiment, but botched up the finishing work.

Here’s a couple of contrasting shots of the back. Unfortunately I was early in my building guitars stage and didn’t practice on scrap.

That’s a walnut stain, then I added oak and tried bursting it.

Then tried some wipe on finishing product. Not the greatest look.

It CAN look decent enough - but make sure you practice, practice, PRACTICE on scrap!

 

[Marn99]

Okume is a very nice, albeit slightly softer, genuine mahogany substitute. To be completely honest I've Always wanted to try it myself!

 

[YannTELE60]

Currently building one mustang okoume body!! I also building a mahogany tele at the same time.

 

[YannTELE60]

let me plug them soon I ll tell

you more.

 

[crazydave911]

Very nice 'Stang . As I said always wanted to

 

[Yonatan]

This is from my first build, which was a parts build. I used a Chinese thinline type body, and someone suggested that it is Okume (which I french polished), though I don't really know for sure what species it is.

At any rate, this guitar sounds amazing, and it's not heavy at all.

I used ZPoxy for grain filler.

 

[VillainSean]

I've never build a guitar with Okoume, but i do own a FCS tele made from it.
It seems a bit heavier to me that the usual ash/alder bodies guitars, and it has a very warm resonance with regards to the overall tone of the guitar.

The finish on mine rather porous, but that may have been how they wanted it done.

#edited

The front is porous, the back & sides look to be sealed, if that makes sense.

 

[Kloun]

This is from my first build, which was a parts build. I used a Chinese thinline type body, and someone suggested that it is Okume (which I french polished), though I don't really know for sure what species it is.

View attachment 844515

That grain pattern sure looks like Okoume to me!

 

[jaycoe]

I saw on a G&L custom shop order form from "The Axe Palace" that Okoume was offered as a body wood choice for the Legacy model...I guess G&L felt well enough of this wood in order to include it in its list.....if that helps.