victoria cypress

[Simon Magennis]

I have seen a European tonewood dealer offering "victoria cypress" but I didn't get a chance to ask what it is. I believe I this term recently. Could it be another name for Alaskan Yellow Cedar?

[Clay Schaeffer]

Southern yellow cedar? <g> Maybe yellow cedar from Victoria, B.C.

[G.S. Monroe]

Victoria Cypress?
It's also called Golden Cypress, and it's from "Down Under" in Australia and New Zealand.
http://www.goldencypress.com.au/

[Simon Magennis]

Hmm ... looks like I will have to follow this up with the seller. I saw one sample just in passing at the Frankfurt music fair but the guy on the stand was busy.

[Nick Dingle]

Consensus opinion down here is that it's good for back and sides on classicals, and that it. Not soundboard material at all. I have a set of it sold a top wood, and I'm gonna try it.....one day....

It is, in fact, Monterey Cypress.....so far as I know...

[Wayne Brown]

Monterey Cypress is being used for b&s on flamenco guitars. It is said that the tone is very close to the tone of spanish cypress and the cost is much less than sp cypress.

[Miguel Bernardo]

which dealer was it Simmon? it must be a regional name, i have no idea of a cypress (true or false) with that name.

[Simon Magennis]

which dealer was it Simmon? it must be a regional name, i have no idea of a cypress (true or false) with that name.

It was actually Barbero from Valencia. I saw it on his stand at the Frankfurt music fair. I only noticed it after i was going away and they were already busy with someone else. I didn't get chance to go back to the stand and ask. I could always email but haven't.

[Miguel Bernardo]

sorry for such a late reply, in their catalogue Barber lists both euro/mediterranean cypress (C. sempervirens) and Alaskan Yellow Cedar / Nootka Cypress (C. nootkatensis), but maybe they had something special for the fair?

Anyway, their nootka is dirt cheap and very good value for money - i bought maybe 4 sets and the grain is very straight and uniform. Very different from euro cypress (it´s a distant cousin), much whiter and the smell less pungent, with hints of pepper, vinegar and parsley (to my nose, this stuff is obviously subjective).

all the best,
Miguel.

[Simon Magennis]

@Miguel
Have you used any of the sets yet?

[Miguel Bernardo]

no, but i´m about to. already jointed and joined the paltes (for a back), will start working on it in a couple of months, if all goes well. density is around 400 g/cm3.