Bubinga

This tonewood comes from the plant genus Guibourtia, which includes about 16 species found in equatorial Africa from southeast Nigeria, through Cameroon and Gabon and into the Congo region. They favor wet, swampy habitats as well as near rivers and lakeshores. Bubinga is finding new favor among guitar builders, though the wood has long been used to build harps. In general, the sound produced tends to be mellow and slightly dark. Figured bubinga is now used in place of maple on some guitars and is also used in layers with other hardwoods to build the necks on some bass guitars.