Swamp ash

The timber of ash trees grown in wetland, light and porous, and prized for solid bodies with a bold grain and a strong, even response.

Growing in wet ground leaves the wood with a more open cellular structure than dry-land ash, which makes it light for its stiffness and gives it a distinctive ring pattern when flat sawn. Tonally it is described as having a firm bottom end, an articulate middle and a slightly scooped upper midrange, which works well clean and with light overdrive. Its grain is attractive enough to be left visible under a translucent finish.

Example: a natural or translucent-finished bolt-on with a swamp ash body shows its grain while sounding open and articulate.

typical use: Solid bodies, particularly designs left visible under translucent finishes.

Swamp ash

See also