Scientific name: Millettia laurentii
Origin: Central and West Africa
Other names: Awong
Average density: 54lbs/ft3 – 870kg/m3
Uses: Electric guitar bodies, tops, fingerboards, necks
The color of the sapwood is whitish or pale yellow and the heartwood varies from dark brown to purplish black with fine brown streaks, it can look similar to African blackwood, though is lighter-weight. The color of green wood will darken when exposed to light. The straight grain is coarse or thick, with large pores that need to be filled if a perfectly levelled finish is desired. Wenge is cut from large straight trees growing in central and West Africa. It has been widely used for guitar and bass necks, fingerboards, bodies and tops.