Panga panga

A dense East African hardwood of the same genus as wenge, sold as a cheaper substitute for it.

It comes from Millettia stuhlmannii and shares wenge's dark colour and pale coarse striping, though the pores are a little finer and the figure is usually less dramatic. It is hard and stiff, which suits fingerboards and laminated necks, and it is a common board material on mid-priced basses where even wear matters. It is commonly described as close to wenge in voice: a hard, bright attack with a tight bottom and plenty of definition. As with wenge, the open grain needs filling for a gloss finish and the splinters are unpleasant to handle.

Example: A bass with a panga panga board gets the striped look and hard feel of wenge at a lower price.

typical use: Fretboards and laminated necks.

Panga panga

See also