| Author | Message | ||
| jalevinemd
Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 54 Registered: 12-2003 |
I know woods go by several different names. Could someone please tell me if pau ferro is rosewood? If not, what is it? Thanks, Jonathan | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 1364 Registered: 9-2002 |
Nope. If I remember well is "Pau Ferro" Portugese for "Iron wood" (or "Iron Skin" ...not sure about that). Rosewood is something else I think. Although the two could be related?? I don't know much about tree's. Oh ...hum ...let's asked Treebeard when he passes by. Paul TBO | ||
| davehouck
Senior Member Username: davehouck Post Number: 610 Registered: 5-2002 |
Here is something I found: "Pau ferro (Machaerium scleroxylon), one more among many names for this attractive wood (Morado, Palo Santos, Caviuna, Bolivian rosewood, Brazilian ironwood, etc.) makes a nice guitar, but for a heavy and rosewood-like wood, interestingly has more of a maple than rosewood taptone. As well as being appealing with its warm look and strong contrast in the grain pattern, it is very nonporous so that it is almost fun to finish. There is one caveat, however, and that is that it does cause allergic reactions in about 15% of the population." http://www.sonic.net/todd1216/paoferro.htm | ||
| lowlife
Member Username: lowlife Post Number: 66 Registered: 12-2003 |
This is interesting. If this allergic reaction does occur in 15% of the population, then that might explain why two of the fingers on my left hand have a rash, which broke out about 2 months after I bought my Excel (which has a Pao ferro fret board). There's no way I'm selling my Excel if this turns out to be true. I'm going to have to find some sort medication. Dave, thanks for the info. Ellery (Lowlife) | ||
| bassman10096
Senior Member Username: bassman10096 Post Number: 440 Registered: 7-2003 |
I recently visited a house whose entire interior was floored and trimmed (moldings, stairway, beam ceiling and I forget what else) in Morado. Needless to say, it was breathtaking, apart from its location 2 miles inland from Medocino, CA, nestled in a grove of 100+ foot tall redwoods. I still find it one of my better "general audiences" daydreams. Absolutely stunning (if potentially allergic!). Bill | ||
| jalevinemd
Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 55 Registered: 12-2003 |
Dave, Thank you sincerely for that extremely informative answer...and with a little Latin thrown in, no less. You don't happen to list Park Ranger or Natural History Museum Curator next to Musician in your list of hobbies/occupations? LOL! Ellery, Type I hypersensitivity reactions usually occur immediately, though sometimes repeated exposures are necessary before the immune response kicks into high gear. If yours is truly an allergic reaction, it won't go away, and while a topical cream (like hydrocortisone) may help, it will likely persist and possibly get worse. I'll ask one of the allergists at my hospital if he has any recommendations. We have to keep you and that Excel together. Jonathan | ||
| davehouck
Senior Member Username: davehouck Post Number: 615 Registered: 5-2002 |
Jonathan; the information was quoted from the cited link; my brain does not retain that type of information; and no, I can not even name the trees that surround my house <g>. Ellery; when doing my search, I found reference to the allergic reactions in a couple of places. In one such reference the context was in working with the wood, i.e. sawing, sanding, etc. Thus my initial thought was that a finished surface might not be a problem. However, after reading your report, I don't know. It will be interesting to see what Jonathan is able to find out. It just seems to me that if fretboards could cause such a problem, we would have heard about it from 15% of Excel owners. | ||
| davehouck
Senior Member Username: davehouck Post Number: 616 Registered: 5-2002 |
I ran another search and pretty much all references for allergic reactions to Pau Ferro are in context to dust resulting from working with the wood. | ||
| jalevinemd
Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 56 Registered: 12-2003 |
Ellery, Spoke with an allergist/immunologist at my hospital. To see if the fretboard is the culprit, she recommended abstaining from playing it for at least a week and apply hydrocortisone cream to the affected area. Once the rash has completely disappeared, try playing again and see if the same thing happens. If so, the pao ferro is the culprit. Blood tests won't help. Unfortunately, if you are allergic, other than treating the symptoms, there's nothing more you can do. Jonathan | ||
| adriaan
Advanced Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 250 Registered: 6-2002 |
If you're playing nickel strings - that's a very common allergy to have. If so, try if steel strings help you out. | ||
| wideload
Junior Username: wideload Post Number: 31 Registered: 6-2003 |
Lowlife; Sounds like an ebony board is in order (or could this be the genesis of a future custom of the month?) Its only money! Or is it just that you're itching to play your Alembic? OK, I'll stop now. Larry | ||
| bkbass
Junior Username: bkbass Post Number: 39 Registered: 11-2003 |
How about semi sealing the fingerboard with a simple wax coating like Pledge or something? | ||
| lowlife
Member Username: lowlife Post Number: 67 Registered: 12-2003 |
Adriaan: I use DR Low Riders on both of my Alembics, the Excel has Pao ferro freboard and the Spoiler has an ebony fretboard. Jonathan: I've put the Excel back into it's case where it will remain during this 7 to 10 day test, duing which time I will only use the Spoiler. The hydorcortisone cream is easy enough to find. Thank you for your research. Larry: Don't stop, I may by itchy (not bitchy) but I still have a sense of humor So my friends, here I am, king of the funk, a real happy slapper, just beggin' an' cryin' the blues. I'd give you the finger, but I still need it. Ellery (Lowlife) | ||
| lowlife
Member Username: lowlife Post Number: 68 Registered: 12-2003 |
Just checking in with this thread to give everyone an update. It's now 5 days since I've touched my Excel, and yes, with the assistance of some hydrocortisone cream, the rash (and itch) have almost disappeared. My intention is to wait another couple of days until my skin shows no visible trace and then expose myself (in a good way) to the Pao ferro again. I'm still not convinced that it's the wood. Ellery (Lowlife) | ||
| davehouck
Senior Member Username: davehouck Post Number: 631 Registered: 5-2002 |
Let us know what happens; this is an interesting and educational experiment. | ||
| jalevinemd
Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 57 Registered: 12-2003 |
Ellery, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it's not the wood. Jonathan | ||
| lowlife
Member Username: lowlife Post Number: 70 Registered: 12-2003 |
OK, I couldn't wait any longer. Last night, which was about 7 days, I decided to play my Excel. No, my fingers did not fall off of my hand, and I felt no itch at all. I played for about 90 minutes, and after cleaning the bass, I also washed my hands with antiseptic soap, just to be on the safe side. This morning however, the itch had returned to the same area, and I'm sure before tomorrow, the rash will have reappeared. Is it the wood? Is is something in the case? I don't honestly know, A) I can sell the bass, take the monetary loss and the loss of a work of art. B) I can keep the bass and not play it; looks nicer than any Persian rug I own. C) I can keep the base, play it anyway and keep scratching. If there are any other options that I've missed, your feedback is most welcome. Ellery (Itchy Lowlife) | ||
| davehouck
Senior Member Username: davehouck Post Number: 646 Registered: 5-2002 |
D) Send the bass to Santa Rosa and have a new fretboard installed. | ||
| bob
Advanced Member Username: bob Post Number: 248 Registered: 11-2002 |
E) Apply some sort of clear sealer coat. I can't make a specific recommendation, but there are a number of things that would leave you with a natural appearance, yet might provide just enough protection to save your fingers - or at least enough to be an improvement. But before you do anything drastic, wait and see whether you have visual evidence in the morning, rather than just a funny feeling. The mind plays games, and you're understandably anxious about this, but it's somewhat harder to fake a rash. Still, I expect you're right, in which case I also like option D better than your first three. | ||
| jalevinemd
Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 58 Registered: 12-2003 |
Ellery, I bumped into my friend at the hospital today and she asked how you were doing. Sorry to hear about the latest results from the Alembic Center for the Advancement of Contact Dermatitis. I like Dave's idea the best...a new fretboard is just what the doctor ordered. Chin up! Sincerely, Jonathan | ||
| lowlife
Member Username: lowlife Post Number: 71 Registered: 12-2003 |
So this guy goes to the doctor and says, 'I get this rash everytime I touch this wood.' And the doctor says, 'So don't touch the wood.' Ba-rum-pum Okay, okay, I won't quit my day job. Dave, Jonathan, you're both correct that a new fretboard would solve the problem, but then this bass would no longer have the same growl or bite, which is one of it's outstanding features. I kid you not, it's that deep harsh sound that sold me, and without the Pao ferro fretboard the sound will be sacrificed IMHO. Ellery (Lowlife) | ||
| davehouck
Senior Member Username: davehouck Post Number: 647 Registered: 5-2002 |
You might want to consider getting Mica's opinion about the sound of your bass and how it might change with different woods for the fretboard. She's definitely an expert and she may have suggestions that might not occur to the rest of us. There does exist the possibility that this unfortunate problem may result in a rewarding solution. | ||
| lowlife
Member Username: lowlife Post Number: 72 Registered: 12-2003 |
Dave, you're right and I firmly believe that there are no accidents. Mica, if you're listening, do you have any suggestions to offer? Ellery (Lowlife) | ||
| bsee
Intermediate Member Username: bsee Post Number: 119 Registered: 3-2004 |
Is pau ferro the only wood with that tonal property? I doubt it. You don't have to swap to ebony, but maybe some other material could still provide the tone you need without the itch. What other woods are rock-hard that could become a fretboard? Purpleheart? Bubinga? Anything really hard in the Rosewood family? I did a little poking around and found a site that says Brazilian Walnut is very similar to Pau Ferro in tonal properties. I wonder if Alembic can get a small sample of this wood for you to see and handle for a few days to see if it makes you itch? | ||
| lowlife
Member Username: lowlife Post Number: 73 Registered: 12-2003 |
There is another point that I must consider. I was/am alergic to dogs, and I have two. I was/am alergic to cats, and I have two. I chose to sneeze, itch, etc for a long period of time and fortunately, I became desensitized. That having been said, it is possible that with continued exposure, the same thing could happen with pau ferro. Since I'm not ready to alter the bass, I guess that it's worth a try. Purpleheart would look stunning on a fretboard though. Ellery (Lowlife) | ||
| hollis
Advanced Member Username: hollis Post Number: 232 Registered: 11-2003 |
So Doc, tell me will I be able to play violin?.... Ba da bash! Ba da chee! Sealing is out of the question? |
